Quick Inventory of Noteworthy Plants in Mantalingahan Range Palawan Island, Philippines

Abstract

A quick floral inventory was conducted in the periphery of the forest in Mantalingahan Range to describe the composition, species richness and/or diversity and level of endemism of noteworthy plant species found therein.

Pre-identified sites in the four barangays of the four municipalities in Southern Palawan (Bgry.Pulot Interior, Sofronio Española; Brgy. Maasin, Brooke's Point; Brgy. Inogbong, Bataraza; and Brgy. Campong Ulay, Rizal) were surveyed following the Variable Transect Method for Rapid Assessment of Tropical Plant Communities.

The forest periphery of Mantalingahan Range is rich in diversified flora of at least 351 species distributed to 214 genera and 92 families. Species endemism is remarkably high at 57 species, 10 of which are only found in Palawan. The study sites contain a relatively high number of rare species with narrow habitat range. Economically important species are abundant while 14 vulnerable, 4 endangered and 5 critical plant species according to IUCN were encountered.

Although the method used in the survey was very rapid, the results demonstrate that Mantalingahan Range has high species richness with many endemic, rare and narrow range plant species. This mountain range can be considered, therefore as one of the most important sites in Palawan Corridor for conservation hence the best and strictest measures should be applied to prevent any degradation of such a rich genetic resource.