Early twenty-first century biodiversity data pinpoint key targets for bird and mammal conservation in Mindanao, Southern Philippines

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mindanao, one of the three major groups of islands in the Philippines, is known for its diverse and unique species. Despite its biological significance, conservation efforts aimed at protecting its wildlife have been inadequate. To address this, a comprehensive biodiversity synthesis was conducted, focussing on the birds and mammals of Mindanao. This analysis was based on published papers from 2000 to 2022, aiming to identify conservation priorities at both species and site levels. This present synthesis of 69 bird and mammal articles accounted for 404 species of birds (83%) and mammals (17%). As expected, the analysis found that endemic species are more vulnerable to extinction than widely distributed species. The study also showed that endemic and threatened species in Mindanao are more dependent on increasing the remaining forest cover. This study highlights the importance of biodiversity data synthesis to aid in conserving unique species in Mindanao and the need to prioritize conservation efforts based on the distribution and vulnerability of species.