Original Article

Floral assessment and conservation prioritization in Dugo Watershed, Mountain Province, Northern Philippines

Authors:
Sayrha Fe A. Gaya¹ and Marissa R. Parao^2
1College of Agriculture and Forestry, Mountain Province State University, Tadian, Mountain Province, Philippines
²College of Forestry, Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines

ABSTRACT

Forests play a key role in biodiversity conservation supporting local livelihoods. These ecosystems face threats from agricultural expansion, forest fires, and unsustainable land use practices. This study focused on assessing woody species diversity, their conservation status, biogeography, and local use values, and established a geospatial database in Dugo Watershed in Tadian, Mountain Province. The goal was to provide baseline data for conservation planning of the watershed. Nineteen plots recorded 81 woody species from 60 genera and 36 families. Dominant species included Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon and Ficus benguetensis Merr. The Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index measured 2.84, indicating moderate species diversity in the area. There are 14 species classified as threatened woody species consisting of: three endangered, four near threatened, two other threatened, and five vulnerable. Highpriority species such as endangered Guioa acuminata Radlk. and vulnerable Saurauia bontocensis Merr. are endemic with specific habitat requirements, making them highly sensitive to disturbance. The presence of several endemic species further underscores the watershed’s conservation value. Documented species use range from ecological functions to economic and cultural purposes, indicating strong potential for community-based stewardship. Geographic Information System (GIS) showed the distribution of species to support monitoring and management. The findings emphasize the need for community-based conservation efforts, habitat restoration, and regular monitoring to strengthen the watershed’s biodiversity and ecological resilience.

Keywords: biodiversity, community-based conservation, GIS, local use values, woody species

^{Available Online: 04 May 2026}

How to Cite:

Gaya SA, Parao MR. 2026. Floral assessment and conservation prioritization in Dugo Watershed, Mountain Province, Northern Philippines. The Palawan Scientist. 18(1):151-161. https://doi.org/10.69721/TPS.J.2026.18.1.16

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License