Plant diversity and status in Northern landscape of Mt. Malindang range and environs, Misamis Occidental, Philippines

Despite the recognized value of Malindang Natural Park as a major biodiversity refuge, little has been done to conserve and protect its flora. The commercial and social demand for floral resources has resulted in biodiversity loss. Thus, Malindang Natural Park is one of the hotspots in the Philippines needing high priority for protection and conservation. It is therefore important that plants be inventoried and assessed so that strategies for their sustainable use can be effectively implemented. Site selection, establishment of sampling plots and inventory were done with the local researches. Using TWINSPAN analysis, floristic classification, vegetation types and maps were produced and assessed to determine the status of biodiversity. Participatory inventory and assessment of the forest and agroecosystems delineated nine types viz, mossy forest, montane forest, dipterocarp forest, almaciga forest, two types of mixed dipterocarp forest, lowland dipterocarp forest, plantation forest and agroecosystem. Each forest type is characterized by a specific combination of plant species. The forest ecosystems showed a total of 1,284 species: 873 angiosperms, 20 gymnosperms, 280 pteridophytes, 85 bryophytes, 26 lichen species. It also revealed 56 endangered and locally threatened species. Among the vegetation types, the almaciga forest appeared with the most number of endemic species, followed by the Montane and the Mossy forests. The lowest species richness and endemism were found in the plantation forest. In general, the forest types scored high on the species diversity index. It is expected that this species diversity index may increase when the forest will be protected and properly managed by the local people inhabiting the park. The forests in Malindang Natural Park are still rich in biodiversity and endemic species. However, threatened species were likewise high due to land conversion and resource utilization.