The Palawan peacock-pheasant as an ambassador for Palawan's threatened forests

The main threat to biodiversity in the Philippines comes from a lack of knowledge and understanding of the value of biodiversity and conservation, combined with a lack of resources and of expertise in decision-making. This has created intense pressure on habitats and wildlife throughout the country. As the country has been identified as one of the world’s 25 ‘biodiversity hotspots’, this is a worry for global biodiversity conservation.

The Philippine island of Palawan has been targeted by WPA, Manchester Metropolitan University and local partners for the implementation of a project managing the threats to key birds in the Palawan corridor. The aim is to address the acute pressures facing the forests by galvanising conservation efforts around one ambassador species: the Palawan peacock-pheasant. This beautiful bird is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and fragmentation combined with direct persecution by hunting. By promoting the conservation of the peacock-pheasant, it is anticipated that positive management effects will also benefit the conservation of other Palawan endemics and their diminishing habitats.

So little is known about the Palawan peacock-pheasant because it is hardly ever encountered and its favoured habitat and terrain prove difficult for conducting fieldwork in. However, the project is successfully gathering information on this species and is also training others to do so.  Future work will involve understanding how local people use the forest and how they might be encouraged to contribute towards its protection, as well as an overall management plan for one of the species’ key areas.