Coelogyne augustii

Mount Pulag where this species has been recorded, is under threat from illegal logging activity, with many trees cut down for commercial use. Continuing agricultural encroachment was a noted threat (Wikramanayake et al. 2002). Jacobs (1972) reported that virgin forest had been destroyed and that fires were an ongoing threat. In 2014 more than 10 hectares of forest inside the Mount Pulag National Park were reported burned, cleared and converted to farmland (Cawis 2014). Commercial vegetable farms were still noted to be expanding into it and road construction was facilitating an increase in human settlement (Cawis 2014). Degradation of the environment has been observed on Mt Santo Tomas, with illegal logging, erosion as a result of road building on the mountain side, deforestation as a result of the expansion of vegetable cultivation, even in quite inaccessible areas, and small scale illegal mining activity (Aning 2014). Satellite imagery shows building development, possibly related to communication masts and agricultural fields even near the summit. Housing has been built near to this radar station and the forest facing Baguio city has been completely annihilated and the species is unlikely to remain here (D. Tiu pers. comm. 2016). Pedersen (1997) observed that the slopes of Mt Santo Tomas in Benguet are largely deforested. Commercial temperate vegetable production is also noted to be a threat, particularly on the lower slopes, on Mount Data (Hamilton et al. 1995). It was noted that over the decades vegetable farming has expanded to cover virtually all the Mt Data National Park and its removal from the list of protected areas was recommended (La Viña et al. 2010). Fire is a natural process in the ecoregion but the increase in human induced fires is limiting the regeneration of forests and making areas susceptible to invasive grasses (Wikramanayake et al. 2002). Additionally strong earthquakes have caused loss of vegetation as a result of associated landslides in some areas (M. Agoo pers. comm. 2016).

Mt Data was listed as an IUCN category V protected area and Mt Pulag category II (Wikramanayake 2002). Mt Pulag National Park has also been identified as a key biodiversity area (KBA), and Mt Data and Mt Santo Tomas as a candidate KBAs, as priority sites for conservation (Conservation International Philippines 2006). Mt Pulag National Park was designated in 1987 and covers 11,500 ha and is a National Integrated Protected Areas Programme site and submitted to the World Heritage tentative site list in 2006 (UNESCO 2016). Dendrochilum species are protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora legislation (CITES 2016). It is not thought that species is conserved ex situ (Sanders 2016). Further research is needed into the distribution, population status and trends, life history and ecology, and the specific threats and conservation actions required for this orchid. Monitoring is likely to be necessary and further site protection, together with the raising of awareness of this endemic species.