Calanasan’s forests keep delivering rare finds

The forests of Calanasan continue to yield discoveries that place the province on the country’s biodiversity map.

Recently, a cluster of Rafflesia lagascae was confirmed in Barangay Eva after Green Guards reported the presence of the plant while validating kaingin activities. Personnel from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) conducted an immediate site inspection and, within an hour of survey, documented several thriving blooms at over 600 meters above sea level.

Rafflesia lagascae is an endemic parasitic plant native to Luzon’s mountains. Known for its fleshy, saucer-sized bloom and distinct odor, it grows attached to a host vine and remains unseen for most of its life cycle.

The find comes on the heels of recent scientific discoveries in the same municipality. In 2023, researchers documented Medinilla calanasan, a new species identified within forest areas in Calanasan, and Vaccinium kilangensis, a wild shrub discovered in the highlands of Mt. Kilang Pass along the Apayao–Ilocos Norte border. Both species are endemic and were described by researchers working in partnership with the provincial government, LGU Calanasan, and conservation groups such as Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

These discoveries, along with earlier records of Philippine Eagle nesting sites, point to the ecological importance of Calanasan’s forests, which are part of the core zone of the country’s newest UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

According to MENRO Calanasan, the appearance of Rafflesia lagascae is another reminder that protection of forest habitats remains critical. As more species are recorded, the case for sustained conservation efforts grows stronger.

The municipality continues to show that its forests are far from fully explored, and that careful stewardship allows rare species to persist and, occasionally, bloom into view.