Floral diversity in a secondary forest managed by indigenous community: the case of Mt. Kili-kili in Benguet, Cordillera Central Range, Northern Philippines

ABSTRACT

Indigenous forest management is known to be sustainable means of biodiversity conservation but the scientific studies to support this knowledge is limited. This study presents the floral diversity of Mt. Kili-kili under the management of the Kankana-ey tribe. A total of 109 species belonging to 94 genera and 61 families were documented. Majority are indigenous and endemic species, with some endangered and threatened species. The diversity indices showed an interesting trend of decreasing diversity towards the upper slopes. The overall Shannon index was 3.69, evenness was 0.50, Simpson’s was 0.95 and Margalef’s was 14.60, values that show the high floral diversity of the mountain site. The presence of several indigenous and endemic species as well as some threatened species is a testament to the efficacy of the management employed by the indigenous community. The results confirm the need for more field based research on biodiversity for modelling purposes and for clarifying theories on biodiversity. For example, the 109 species on Mt. Kili-kili show that species richness in a pine forest may not be as poorly diverse as previously thought. This highlights the need for more field-based inventories on floral diversity for better understanding and more appropriate conservation measures.

KEYWORDS:

• Mt. Kili-kili
• field-based inventory
• floral diversity
• endemic
• endangered species

Acknowledgements

This study is part of the project titled ‘Documentation of Traditional Knowledge and Practices on Health and Development of Digital Library on Health: Kankana-ey Palina in Kibungan and Ikachakran Ethnolinguistic Group of Barlig, Mt. Province’ funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Center (DOST-PCHRDC). The authors are greatly thankful for the warm welcome and invaluable support of the Kankana-ey Tribe of Palina, Kibungan. We also acknowledge Ma’am Maricel Guron and Eugene Logatoc for the maps used in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Authors’ contributions

RSB: conceptualization of the study, data analysis and preparation of the manuscript; AVB: data gathering, data analysis and preparation of the manuscript; RSL: data gathering, data analysis and preparation of the manuscript; JTN: conceptualization of the study, data analysis and preparation of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Philippines.

Notes on contributors

Ruth S. Batani

Ruth S. Batani is a faculty member of the Department of Social Sciences, Benguet State University. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Social Science major in History and Political Science and MA in Social and Development Studies at UP Baguio, then Masters in Transdisciplinary studies in Health-Social Science at DLSU and PhD in Anthropology at UP Diliman. Her research interests include agricultural and cultural anthropology, indigenous studies and women studies.

Andrew V. Basbas

Andrew V. Basbas Jr. is a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science graduate of Benguet State University and is currently taking up MS in Conservation and Restoration Ecology at UP Baguio. His research interests include ethnobotany, environmental modelling and microbial remediation.

Rhea S. Loncio

Rhea S. Loncio is a Bachelor of Secondary Education graduate of Benguet State University. She worked in several research projects in the university, particularly those related to social studies. Currently, she is the Pansigedan Advocacy Cooperative (PAC) manager who are engaged in organic farming, women empowerment, mental health and other related issues.

Jones T. Napaldet

Jones T. Napaldet is a PhD Botany graduate at University of the Philippines Los Baños. He is a faculty-researcher under the Department of Biology, Benguet State University. His research interests include plant taxonomy, freshwater ecology and environmental science.