Iconic Biodiversity - Cordilleraby Adam Zhou | 17-02-2019 17:08 |
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The Cordillera Region lies at the landlocked mountainous area of north-central Luzon Island, the biggest island among the three major islands of the Philippines. The region is composed of six provinces: Abra, Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao, Ifugao and the Mountain Province. Rice terraces predominantly exist all throughout the mountain ranges and span approximately 50, 000 square kilometers. The Cordillera constitutes mainly of a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest (TMCF) which span about 15,000 square kilometers owing to the region¡¯s location and elevation reaching an average of 1600 meters. This type of forest harnesses water from the clouds and prevent loss of water from evapotranspiration. As a result, it contributes more water to the hydrologic system. The high altitude atmospheric environment creates persistent and frequent seasonal cloud cover which results to higher rainfall incidence by means of direct canopy interception of cloud water. Spanning more than 4.5 million acres of land, the Cordillera is bounded by gorges, ravines, rivers, and pastureland. Forestlands constitute eighty five percent of the region which prove ideal for settlement but people choose to inhabit areas close to river basins and open valleys as the forest watersheds Spanning a maximum of two and a half acres, the Muyong is home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna and is a privately owned, inherited property but the forest and the watershed exist for communal use. However, the person who inherits the Muyong is tasked with the primary responsibility to regulate its use and care for her less wealthy siblings or neighbors in order to appease the gods
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