An Assessment of Plant Diversity and Conservation Status in the Province of Batangas

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the plant diversity and conservation status in the province of Batangas. The study found 751 plant species classified into 139 families in the province of Batangas. The most number of species belong to family Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, Rubiaceae, Meliaceae, Graminea, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and the Lamiaceae. There were 55 threatened species (12 critically endangered, 11 endangered, 32 vulnerable) in the Batangas province.

The main threats to biodiversity conservation and its underlying causes were identified as well as conservation strategies and recommendations. Mt. Banoy and the Municipality of Lobo were strongly recommended to be declared as protected area based on the result of this study. It was also recommended to have continuous research to get the total assessment of the conservation status of the province.