Overview of priorities, threats, and challenges to biodiversity conservation in the southern Philippines

Human activities have severely impacted on many species and ecosystems. Thus, understanding the local biodiversity situation is crucial for implementing effective biodiversity conservation interventions. Mindanao in the southern Philippines is home to various unique species, particularly in its pristine ecosystems. However, the available biodiversity data for many terrestrial vertebrates and key areas remain incomplete. To address this issue, we synthesized published literature related to biodiversity from 2000 to 2022 in Mindanao. Moreover, this analysis used four key terrestrial vertebrates(amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) in Mindanao as research objects. According to our findings, there was a significant and positive correlation between the number of biodiversity studies and species recorded. In terms of species richness, birds were the most recorded group(n=334 spp.), followed by reptiles(n=108 spp.), mammals(n=70 spp.), and amphibians(n=52 spp.). We also found that the number of endemic and threatened species varies geographically and across taxonomic groups. Yet, we discovered a significant disparity in the information available on biodiversity in different provinces of Mindanao. For example, the western provinces of Mindanao have had no record of biodiversity for more than two decades. Furthermore, we found that the changes in tree cover loss were consistent with biodiversity records, but this correlation is only significant for birds. Finally, we highlighted some critical threats and challenges to biodiversity, including deforestation, agricultural expansion, mining, and their impact on biodiversity conservation in Mindanao. Our findings suggested that biodiversity conservation should focus not only on areas with high levels of biodiversity but also on areas lacking biodiversity information. To do this, we call for strengthening collaboration among various institutions and digitizing and centralizing of information related to biodiversity. By gaining a deeper understanding of biodiversity in Mindanao, we can better and sustainably protect critical ecosystems in this region from the increasing threats posed by human activities.