Southeastern Asia:Philippines

The Greater Negros-Panay Rain Forests ecoregion,

including the Western Visayas and parts of additional
political regions, appears as a number of isolated islands.
The islands contain a unique mix of Sundaic and
Philippine mammals and birds, including leopard cats and
endemic pigs.

Location and General Description

The ecoregion includes the large island of Negros, Panay,

and Cebu and the smaller islands of Masbate, Ticao, and
Guimaras; Sibuyan, Romblon, Tablas, and Siquijor are
moderately isolated and distinctive. The climate of the
ecoregion is tropical wet. The Visayas receive
approximately 2,419 mm of rainfall annually. July
and August are the wettest months. The west coasts of
Panay and Negros experience a dry season between
November and February.

Ferns, orchids, and other epiphytic plants are found

on the larger trees. At higher elevations there are only
two canopy layers, tree stature is lower, and there are
more epiphytes. Upper hill dipterocarp forest is found at
elevations of 650-1,000 m and contains dominant Shorea
polysperma and oaks, chestnuts, and elaeocarps. At
approximately 1,000 m the montane forest contains oaks
and laurels. The mossy upper montane forest generally is
found at elevations over 1,200 m, where humidity is
constantly high. This stunted, single-story moss- and
epiphyte-covered forest contains tree ferns up to 10 m
high.

Biodiversity Features

Greater Negros-Panay contains a unique mix of

Sundaic and Philippine mammals and birds,
including leopard cats and endemic pig and deer
species. Fifty-eight mammals inhabit the ecoregion, and
thirteen mammal species are endemic or near endemic.
Six of these species (Crocidura mindorus, two Apomys
spp., and Chrotomys, Tarsomys, and Haplonyteris spp.)
are limited to Sibuyan Island within the ecoregion
(Crocidura mindorus is also found on Mindoro); most of
these species have yet to be named.

Two endemic large vertebrates are especially notable: the

Philippine spotted deer (Cervus alfredi) and the Visayan
warty pig (Sus cebifrons). The Visayan warty pig is
critically endangered, and the Philippine spotted deer is
endangered. One found only on Negros and Cebu, the
Philippine bare-backed fruit bat (Dobsonia chapmani), is
now believed to be extinct because of guano mining,
deforestation, and hunting.

The Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), an

Asian species, is found on Negros, Panay, and Cebu within
the ecoregion. Also found on Palawan, the Negros leopard
cat is a subspecies. Threatened endemic or near-endemic
mammals include the critically endangered Negros
shrew (Crocidura negrina) and Philippine tube-nosed
fruit bat (Nyctimene rabori), the endangered Mindoro
shrew (Crocidura mindorus) and Panay bushy-tailed
cloud rat (Crateromys heaneyi), and the widespread but
endangered golden-crowned fruit bat (Acerodon jubatus).

Types and Severity of Threats

Habitat destruction is the main threat to

biodiversity/ecosystem in the Philippines, and Greater
Negros-Panay is no different. Logging and shifting
cultivation (kaingin) are cited as the primary forces of
habitat conversion. Logging takes many forms, from
industrial-scale to smaller-scale operations that use water
buffalo to haul logs out of the forest. Mangroves are used
locally for firewood, dyes, and tannins .

Hunting and the wild pet trade are also significant threats
in Greater Negros-Panay. Leopard cats have been hunted
for their pelts, and kittens are sold as pets .