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Philippine Plants Specialist Group

Category: Articles
Date Posted: 2005-12-28

Philippine Plants Specialist Group under the Species Survival Commission, IUCN Recently Established

The Philippines is one of the centers of megadiversity in the world with a rich flora numbering to more than 15,000 species (about 8,000+ vascular plants, and 7,000+ composed of algae, mosses, fungi, ferns, and fern allies). However, it is also one of the 10 hotspots of the world (Myers, 2000) because of the rapid rate by which its remaining forests are presently destroyed. Among the threatened areas are about 15 critical plant sites which require urgent conservation action to prevent the further destruction of its habitats. Between 30-40% of the flowering plant species of the Philippines are endemic and some are narrowly confined to limited geographical range. At present, many are threatened with extinction for various reasons. Some species are poorly known and are based on single collections that they are thought to be now critically endangered, extinct in the wild, or extinct. The conservation status of these plants need to be documented and assessed in order that proper protection and management of the species can be applied.

While several publications on threatened plants of the Philippines are available, these are not comprehensive, or the information contained are either incomplete or outdated. The IUCN?s Red Data Book on Plants and List of Threatened Trees of the World, although covering Philippine plants, treat species at the global level. A regional or national listing is desired to serve national needs. This will require concerted effort from plant specialists and other stakeholders knowledgeable about the species. There is also a need for the establishment of a Red List Authority for the Philippines under the SSC of IUCN in order to assess the threatened status of species much more objectively.

There is, therefore, an urgent need to address the important issues pertaining to plant diversity conservation in the Philippines. This can be achieved by the formation of a working group composed of interested and concerned qualified people from the scientific, academic, bureaucratic and private organizations who will work towards finding remedies and solutions to these problems. The group members could also serve as the focal point for plants for the Red List Authority in the Philippines an effective strategy and action plan that will enhance plant conservation in the country. They could also link up with existing local and international conservation organizations for more effective implementation of activities. The group will be known as the Philippine Plants Specialist Group and will be established as one of the working groups under the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN.

Some of the objectives of the PPSG are the following:

1. To be able to form an active working group composed of scientists from research and academic institutions, GOs, NGOs, and private individuals who will be involved in the various activities pertaining to plant conservation in the country.

2. To act as the focal point for the Red List Authority for Plants of the Philippines.

3. To act as an advisory and consultative body on plant conservation in the country when such service is solicited and requested.

4. To find possible funding source to support plant conservation research and development activities in the Philippines

5. To coordinate and link up with other national and international organizations on matters pertaining to plant conservation in the Philippines.

Some of the proposed projects of the PPSG are the following:

1. A review and assessment of the threatened status of Philippine plants based on recent IUCN Red List Category.

2. Holding of meetings, workshops, seminars on topics pertaining to conservation of Philippine plants.

3. Preparation of a Strategy and Action Plan for Threatened Plants of the Philippines in collaboration with government agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders.