Lithocarpus jordanae

Being naturally-abundant in primary and secondary forests of Benguet and Mountain Province, one of the greatest threats to the species is the loss of natural habitat causing population decline. This is due to shifting agriculture and forest fires which are very common in the area (Kowal 1966). Other threats include commodity-driven deforestation, logging activities, and urbanization. These threats are supported by 259,960 hectares of tree cover reduction within the range of the species in the past 18 years which indicates a guaranteed continuing decline for the population (GFW 2020). The natural occurrence of the species in some critical watersheds increases its vulnerability to threats as these areas are subject to extensive human interventions which impair the overall capacity of the watershed in sheltering various endemic species. Some areas affected include Upper Chico River Basin, Magat River Watershed, Agno River Watershed and two other critical watersheds.

The species is included in the DAO 2017-11 or the Updated National List of Threatened Species in the Philippines and assessed as Vulnerable (DENR 2017). Through this administrative order pursuant to Republic Act no. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001, illegal and excessive tampering of the species from its natural habitats, together with other species specified therein, are prohibited. Its natural occurrence in some protected areas (PAs) in the country such as Mt. Data National Park, Mt. Pulag National Park, Upper Agno River Basin, Mts. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape, and in Casecnan Protected Landscape offers some in situ protection to these species as these areas are protected under the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 against excessive and unauthorized degradation and utilization.