Forest Fragmentation in Central Cebu and Its Potential Causes: A Landscape Ecological Approach

Forest fragmentation due to deforestation has been a pressing issue in the environment especially with its contribution to climate change. The study analyzes the forest fragmentation in Central Cebu by using GIS and thematic maps developed for the Central Cebu Protected Landscape. The analysis utilized three landscape indices, namely: patch number (PN), mean patch size (MPS), and mean shape index (MSI). The remaining forests in the study site are highly fragmented and convoluted. This is indicated by the bigger number of smaller forest fragments with areas less than 20 ha (PN = 37) than larger fragments (MPS> 81 ha) and bigger MSI values of larger fragments, respectively. Convolution is more prominent in larger fragments than in smaller fragments. Among the identified causes for this pattern are agricultural activities such as the production of annual and perennial crops, which converted forest areas into agricultural lands. Patch shape elongation and production of annual crops necessitate the implementation of a management strategy that can address edge effect, and manage regular disturbance from agricultural areas