DENR-7 verifies 16 invasive alien species in Cebu

By Hazel F. Gloria

Tuesday 10th of July 2012

CEBU CITY, July 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 has listed and verified 16 invasive alien species (IAS) within the 28,312-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).

Species listed in a four-day inventory and field validation at CCPL conducted last April 2012 are: Swietenia macrophylla or mahogany, Gmelina arborea or gmelina, Acacia Mangium or brown salwood, Acacia Auricoliformis or auri, and Syzygium cumini or jambul.

“The results of inventory revealed that the most common IAS is the Mikania micrantha, a vine locally known as 'Ooko,'" said DENR-7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo. "Ooko is a vine that tends to strangle seedling of trees and shrubs, and ranks first among IAS that invades other plant species."

The presence of Piper aduncum or matico raised an alarm among researchers since it is considered to be one of the priority invasive alien species that needs to be controlled.

Added to the record are Chromolaena odorata or hagonoy, Bidens pilosa or cobbler’s pegs, Mimosa diplotricha or giant sensitive plant, Lantana camara or iring-iring or kantutay, Leucaena leucocephala or byatilis or luyluy, Piper aduncum or matico, and Psidium guajava or guava.

It also included Ziziphus mauritiana or Indian plum, Mikania micrantha or bittervine, Morus alba or white mulberry, and Sphagneticola trilobata or Bay Biscayne Creeping-oxeye.

Montejo added IAS also called "non-indigenous" or "non-native" species adversely affect the habitats and bioregions they invade economically, environmentally, and/or ecologically.

“These are species whose introduction and/or spread outside their natural past or present distribution threaten biodiversity,” he explained.

According to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), IAS is now a global issue that needs international cooperation and action.

In line with this, CBD calls for the control and monitoring of alien species that threaten ecosystem, habitats and species in each and every locality.

No less than 100 species have been listed as invasive based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature - Invasive Species Specialist Group (IUCN-ISSG) category and a matrix on the possible IAS within the country has been already pre-identified by the DENR Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB).

“Common characteristics of IAS include rapid reproduction and growth, high dispersal ability, phenotypic plasticity and ability to survive on various food types and in a wide range of environmental conditions which causes enormous damage to biodiversity,” Montejo articulated.

According to the preliminary results, among the 58 species listed in the matrix, sixteen (16) species were verified within the protected area of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) particularly in Barangay Tabunan wherein the remaining second growth indigenous forest is located.

However, those 58 species in the list needs to be verified yet in other areas within CCPL.

Project National Study head Dr. Carmelita Villamor led the inventory with Protected Area Superintendent Regie Bueno and technical staff from the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDD) and Protected Area, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services (PAWCZMS).

The Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) under Republic Act No. 9486 which was approved on June 7, 2007 covers a consolidated area of 28,312 hectares.

The protected area consists of the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve, Mananga Watershed Forest Reserve, Sudlon National Park, Central Cebu National Park and the Kotkot-Lusaran Watershed Forest Reserve located in the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Toledo and Danao, and in the municipalities of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, and Balamban.(PIA-7/HFG/DENR-7)