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This study determined the impacts of landscape pattern on population density of C. cebuensis within AWR, a conservation priority in Cebu, Philippines. Three land uses were identified, namely, (a) cultivated (3,399 ha/45%); (b) forestlands (3,002 ha/40%); and (c) build-up (1,050 ha/15%). Forest patches at class have irregular/complex shapes; thus the forest areas in AWR are more fragmented and heterogeneous. Estimated population density of C. cebuensis was 52 and 53 individuals per hectare in mixed and natural forests. There were only three predictors at the landscape and four at the sampling site level, respectively have able to explain the behavior of the population density of C. cebuensis. Relative humidity and canopy cover were having high positive significant correlations while tree basal area has high negative correlation (at landscape). Elevation and canopy cover have positive high significant and significant correlations, while slope and shrub cover have negative significant correlation with C. cebuensis population density. The adjusted R2 values were 0.345 and 0.212 (at landscape and sampling site). These suggest that about 34.5% of the variations of the population density of C. cebuensis have been accounted for by the former and only 21.2% by the latter. Preservation and protection of remaining forest fragments within AWR are paramount.

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Many ecosystem services (ES) are provided by watersheds to downstream populations at no cost to them. To ensure sustainability, those who benefit from these services should be engaged in the protection and management of the watershed. The Mt. Banahaw de Lucban (MBdL) provides non-market values that are not considered in management planning; thus, the underestimation of its ES adversely affects its provisioning capabilities. Adding to this shortcoming is the insufficiency of funds to sustain the current watershed conservation initiatives. This study assesses the value that domestic water users have for sustained water supply resulting from the improved conservation of the MBdL watershed through contingent valuation. The willingness to pay (WTP) of 500 respondents from Lucban, Pagbilao, and Lucena City was estimated using logit regression to develop the model. Results revealed that 95% of the respondents voted yes to the referendum and that about 65% support the improved watershed conservation program. Bid amounts, years of education, household size, occupation, and income have a significant influence on WTP. The mean WTP estimate is PHP 71.53/household/mo. The approximate present amount of improved MBdL conservation is PHP 21.50M/yr. The net present value is estimated at PHP 76 M for five years. The potential fund, if collected, may contribute to the sustainability of any watershed conservation program for MBdL.

No abstract