Andrew Ross Reintar
The Sulu hornbill Anthracoceros montani is classified as Critically Endangered by both the IUCN and the Philippine List of Threatened Species (DAO 2019-09). The species is also listed in CITES under Appendix II. BirdLife and IUCN estimates the remaining population of the Sulu Hornbill to be less than 50 individuals (BirdLife, 2020) thus, it is the most threatened and rarest hornbill in the world. It faces the possibility of imminent extinction with a tiny population probably now confined to just one island and the species is likely to be declining very rapidly owing to the continuing loss and degradation of the few remaining forest tracts in its range (BirdLife, 2020). It is restricted in three small islands in southern Philippines, where it is already extinct in one of those islands (Sanga-Sanga) and is suspected to be extinct in Sulu. The island of Tawi-Tawi therefore remains the last stronghold of the Sulu Hornbill. Other than the Sulu Hornbill, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu also has several highly threatened restricted-range bird species, the Critically Endangered Sulu Bleeding-heart Pigeon, Blue-winged Racquet-tail, Sulu Hanging Parrot, the Endangered Tawi-Tawi brown dove, and the Vulnerable Sulu Pygmy Woodpecker. Tawi-Tawi is also one of the last few places in the Philippines where the Critically Endangered Philippine Cockatoo is found. All of these species occupy the same habitat as the Sulu Hornbill.
The goal of the program is for the long term sustainable and inclusive conservation of the Sulu Hornbill. For phase 1, the specific objectives are, (1) Gain better understanding on the current status, effects of disturbance to the population, and breeding ecology of the Sulu Hornbill through research, (2) Increase capacity and awareness of local environment office and local communities on Sulu Hornbill monitoring and conservation, (3) and develop recommendations for Sulu Hornbill conservation derived from the research results and present to conservation partners/stakeholders in Tawi-Tawi. These objectives are derived from the 2019-2029 Sulu Hornbill Species Conservation Strategy and Action Plan. Lack of basic information about the species population status, distribution, habitat requirements, and ecology are major gaps that hinder effective conservation of the species. The 1st phase of this project aims to address information and local capacity gaps and we will be working in partnership with local government units, local communities, the local and regional environment offices. Information gathered from the phase 1 research will guide in developing evidence-based conservation strategies tailor-fitted for the Sulu Hornbill which will be implemented in phase 2 of the program.