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The Treasures of Danjugan Island
Danjugan Island has 7 habitat types: limestone, beach, and mangrove forests; caves, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and open sea. It has five lagoons (2 open, three inland) and has beaches of fine white sand under coral rubble due to two typhoons that hit the area (1984 and 1987).
The value of the island, in money terms, is the least of considerations when one evaluates how much it is worth. However, for the purpose of seeking values in banking terms, the present selling price of raw land of the best beach areas in southern Negros Occidental is P200/m2. Therefore, Danjugan Island should be worth at least P86 million.
However, the island is more precious than in material terms. If one were to do bio-accounting of its natural value, the island has good limestone forest cover, five lagoons, beach and mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. These ecosystems host:
At least 70 bird species, residents and migrants, were recorded in the island. A nesting pair of White breasted Sea eagles Haliaeetus leucogaster has been breeding atop Typhoon Beach
Camp since 1974. Tabon scrub fowls Megapodius cumingi are common in the camp as well as in the 5th Lagoon. |
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Bat inventory surveys, using the mist nets, recorded at least 9 bat species (6 megachiropterans or fruit bats and 3 microchiroptera species or insect-eating bats) |
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At least 22 butterfly species were observed on the island with Pachliopta phlegon recorded for the first time in Negros Occidental |
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At least 17 species of mangroves. |
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At least 572 fish species belonging to 139 genera has been recorded from fish visual and test fishing surveys and fish tagging studies. Commercially important fish species such as Snapper (Lutjanidae), Grouper (Serranidae), Emperors (Lethrinidae) occur in abundance. Endangered and threatened species such as the Giant Manta Ray (Manta birotris), Napoleon Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are observed around the island’s surrounding reefs |
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At least 244 sclerectinians (hard corals) are found in the coral reefs of Danjugan Island. 20 species are regarded as rare in the Philippines |
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At least 8 species of seagrass are recorded belonging to the Family Potamgetonaceae (5 species) and the Family Hydrocharitaceae (3 species) |
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At least 74 microalgae species belonging to 3 Divisions: Cholorophyta, Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyta |
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At least 13 echinoderms species were found within intertidal areas belonging to Asteroidea (starfishes) 2 spp., Echinoidea (sea urchins) 7 spp., Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers) 3 spp., and Ophiuroidea (brittlestars) 1 sp. |
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At least 27 species of Nudibranchs were recorded belonging to subclass Opisthobranchia, Order nudibranchia, suborder Doridacea |
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Commercially important marine invertebrates such as the giant clams (Tridacna crocea, T. squamosa and Hippopus hippopus) are observed in the reefs. A restocking program for the endangered Tridacna gigas is being implemented in collaboration with UP-MSI. It must be noted that T. gigas were observed in 1974 to 1980. |
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Other commercially important invertebrates observed are Abalone Haliotis asinine, Spiny lobster Panulirus spp. The endangered coconut crab Birgus latro still occur in the coastal and mangrove forests of the island |
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The western beaches of Danjugan Island are known nesting sites of the Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata and Green Chelonia mydas turtles |
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There was one sighting of Dugong. Sightings of dolphins are common within municipal waters of Cauayan that is a migration path of whales |
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