Rapid Action Fund

Organisation: Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc (PhilBio)

Project focus: The Tawsi Project: Urgent action for the conservation of the Sulu Hornbill and other threatened birds on the isolated Tawi-Tawi Island

Location: Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines

Project date: March 2021- March 2022

Species: Sulu Hornbill Anthracoceros montani, Sulu Racquet-tail Prioniturus verticalis, Philippine Cockatoo Cacatua haematuropygia, Sulu Bleeding-heart Gallicolumba menagei 

Supported by: Fondation Segré


The challenge

Tawi-Tawi Island is part of the southwestern Sulu archipelago in the Philippines and is home to 17 threatened bird species. Of these, four are Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Due to rapid habitat loss, these birds, which were once prevalent throughout the island, are now found only in isolated forest patches on Tawi-Tawi.   

PhilBio set up the Tawi-Tawi Advocates for Wildlife Support Initiative (TAWSI) Programme to protect and recover populations of Sulu Hornbill, Sulu Racquet-tail, Philippine Cockatoo, and determine if Sulu Bleeding-heart populations are still extant. However, impacts from the pandemic have resulted in funding cuts from core donors and an increase in the number of trees being cut had been reported. To ensure the survival of these bird species on Tawi-Tawi, PhilBio were dependent upon urgent financial support to implement forest rehabilitation and protection work. 

The project

To ensure the survival of these bird species on Tawi-Tawi, PhilBio are dependent upon urgent financial support to implement forest rehabilitation and protection work. Through the ASAP Species Rapid Action Fund, the project will focus on: 

  • Establishing and strengthening community-based forest protection programmes 
  • Facilitating the replanting of native seedlings 
  • Integrating threatened bird species topics into local schools’ curriculum 
  • Conducting regular hornbill monitoring by TAWSI rangers 
  • Conducting forest patrols with help from local communities and government enforcement conduct forest patrols 
  • Creating the first community-based native tree nursery in Panglima Sugala including important food species of the Sulu Hornbill 
  • Reforesting cleared habitats 
  • Raising awareness of the conservation of local wildlife 

Project reports

Project reports will be added here

Photo credit: PG Jakosalem/PhilBio

 

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