Leyte: The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) has called for more efforts to protect the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland (LSBP) following the sighting of the 'lost' Leyte bleeding-heart dove after more than a century.
According to Philippines News Agency, the sighting not only confirms the species' continued presence on the island but also confirms that the peatland supports the specific conditions for the species to thrive. The IIRR emphasized that with the looming threats of hunting and deforestation, LSBP may serve as one of the few viable habitats for the Leyte bleeding-heart, making it even more important to protect.
The global non-government organization expressed concern over the degradation of the peatland. Decades of land conversion and drainage have left the peatland dry and susceptible to peat fires, contributing to further environmental disturbances and habitat loss, as reported by IIRR.
The Leyte bleeding-heart, known for its distinct red patch on its chest, was photographed by Marvin Jay Sarmiento and his team during biodiversity monitoring activities under the Local Natural Environment Stewardship in Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland (LUYON) project. This significant discovery marks the first documented sighting of the subspecies on the island, with the photograph serving as the first contemporary and publicly known evidence in more than a century.
The LUYON project, co-managed by the IIRR and Visayas State University Alangalang campus, aims to raise and inspire local awareness and action towards peatland restoration. Scientists had previously relied on notes from ornithologist Ernst Hartert for information about the subspecies, as the last recorded sighting of the bird in Leyte was in 1918.
While records of bleeding-heart doves exist in other islands like Bohol and Samar, these have often been attributed to other subspecies, such as the Mindanao bleeding-heart. With the rediscovery of the Leyte bleeding-heart, the LUYON project team calls on all Leyte residents to join in raising awareness and supporting efforts to conserve the island's unique and precious peatlands and watersheds.
Measuring 2,107 hectares, the LSBP is the second largest in the country, encompassing the towns of Palo, Alang-alang, Sta. Fe, and San Miguel in central Leyte. The Sab-a Basin features diverse vegetation, including wetland forests, boggy areas, sedge and grasslands, and a variety of endemic flora and fauna. It plays a crucial role in maintaining water flow and mitigating climate change by moderating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
