EASTERN VISAYAS
Enviromental Network
ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY
Eastern Visayas is a region full of rainforests, hills, mountains and different bodies of water. In reflection of this, there are also many different animal species living in them.
Samar has unfragmented tracts of lowland tropical rainforests. The remaining forests cover is about 360,000 hectares (ha). From these forests, 120,000 ha are still called “old growth forests”.
Some rainforests are Dipterocarp (a family of tall hardwood tropical trees). Endangered species like Lawaan, Yakal, Mayapis and others grow here. The remaining low elevation primary forests in Samar are considered the last Dipterocarps in the Philippines. Animal species like the Philippine Bird and Philippine Cockatoo live here.
Northern Samar is composed of low and rugged hills and small lowland areas. It has small and discontinuous areas along the coasts and rivers, accompanied by plains and valleys. The soil is rich and fertile, where crops could grow. Mangrove trees can be found in this province. You can find 258 species of birds, 17 of it globally threatened here.
The Leyte island is mostly heavily forested and mountainous. The Leyte Valley in the northeast has much more agriculture.
The plains and valleys are fertile, producing crops such as hemp, copra, corn, rice, tobacco, bananas, papayas, pineapple, coconut and sugarcane (no.1 in Ormoc).
With a land area of 173,480 ha, 54% of Southern Leyte is covered in forest, which is more than the urban area covers. Most of the biodiversity of Southern Leyte is displayed in Mt. Nacolod, It is currently being preserved.
With a total land area of 55,542 hectares, the forest lands of Biliran province include 25,796 ha, located in five watersheds, around 548 ha.
