Cover photo: Tamaraw female with young © Emmanuel Schutz
Mission
The AWCSG aims to bring together all initiatives, efforts and partners involved in tamaraw conservation to work towards a single and articulated plan for the long-term conservation of the species in Mindoro, Philippines.
Conservation needs
The tamaraw is a heritage species of major importance for the Philippines. It is the only wild cattle species living in the country and occurs only on the island of Mindoro. While it was once present in large numbers across the island, it has since been reduced to small populations scattered over just a few locations in the mountainous interior of the Island. There are likely no more than 580 tamaraws surviving today on the island.
One of the three known official sub-population, in Mountt Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary in the North of Mindoro, may have already vanished, while the sub-population in the Aruyan-Malati area seems to be in a vortex of extinction with only 10 to 12 animals remaining.
The population of the core zone of the monitoring, within Mounts Iglit-Baco Natural Park, is at present the largest and only viable population surviving on the island, with nearly 500 animals. The population that has been recently identified in the Upper Amnay Watershed Region may shelter more than 70 animals; a great hope for the species.
Despite this, most sub-populations remain fragile due to persisting threats and pressures on their habitat. Furthermore, the total area of occupancy of the tamaraw may be less than 10,000 ha, with the lack options for dispersion being considered as the main constraint to the long-term survival of the species.
One of the three known official sub-population, in Mountt Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary in the North of Mindoro, may have already vanished, while the sub-population in the Aruyan-Malati area seems to be in a vortex of extinction with only 10 to 12 animals remaining.
The population of the core zone of the monitoring, within Mounts Iglit-Baco Natural Park, is at present the largest and only viable population surviving on the island, with nearly 500 animals. The population that has been recently identified in the Upper Amnay Watershed Region may shelter more than 70 animals; a great hope for the species.
Despite this, most sub-populations remain fragile due to persisting threats and pressures on their habitat. Furthermore, the total area of occupancy of the tamaraw may be less than 10,000 ha, with the lack options for dispersion being considered as the main constraint to the long-term survival of the species.
Conservation approach
The areas in which the tamaraw sub-populations occur are subject to various socio-environmental contexts (previous or current pasture lands for cattle, open grass lands, mountain forest, Indigenous people conducting slash and burn land-use system…), and are under different jurisdiction systems (Indigenous People Ancestral Domain, Protected Areas, local government units…). Therefore, the conservation of tamaraw has important consequences for other Mindoro wildlife and for the people sharing their living space with the species. Conserving tamaraw provides opportunities to develop holistic programs for protecting all of Mindoro’s wildlife, helping define innovative ways to perceive the landscape, preserve natural resources and adapt land-use systems. Conservation projects will be used to overcome current challenges in ways that benefit both nature and people.
For that purpose, the AWCSG aims to create a single pan-island conservation approach and a meta-population strategy that integrates all stakeholders and addresses everyone’s concerns and issues. The main goal resides in the need to increase both population size and health, and to extend their range into new areas.
This approach focuses on:
The AWCSG supports different projects and articulates various actions towards this meta-population strategy:
Scientific Papers in BULLetin:
For that purpose, the AWCSG aims to create a single pan-island conservation approach and a meta-population strategy that integrates all stakeholders and addresses everyone’s concerns and issues. The main goal resides in the need to increase both population size and health, and to extend their range into new areas.
This approach focuses on:
- Connecting organizations involved in Tamaraw conservation with other organizations and sources of funding
- Connecting local institutional stakeholders with relevant international partners and experts
- Promoting scientific work to better understand the ecology of the species and its habitat
- Facilitating collaboration between offices and organizations
- Highlighting the fate of the tamaraw among the international community
The AWCSG supports different projects and articulates various actions towards this meta-population strategy:
- Mangyan – Tamaraw Driven Landscape Program (D’ABOVILLE Foundation)
- Tamaraw ecological research
- Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) workshop and Tamaraw Action Plan
- Protected Area General Management Plan for Mts Iglit-Baco Natural Park
- Scientific papers
Scientific Papers in BULLetin:
- Application of Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) in tamaraw conservation
- Dung hunting: an alternative method of monitoring tamaraw abundance in Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park
- Tamaraw verification surveys in the Upper Amnay Watershed Region, Mindoro
- Review of tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) status and conservation actions