Memorandum for the Petitioners \ 84 8.35. The third study by Snelder et al. (2013) “ investigated climate change impacts of bird species in northern Luzon using a similar technique as that of Garcia et al. (2013 ).362 Snelder et al. (2013) study, among others, exposed that “ the effects of climate and land use changes on bird species distribution are partly following the changes in forest habitats. Under Al [worst] scenario, the models predict a considerable decrease in most forest bird species. The same is true for endemic and red list bird species.»363 r r 8.36. The above study by Snelder et al. complemented the findings of expert witness Dr. Neil Aldrin Mallari, President and Chief Scientist at the Center for Conservation Innovations, Inc. In his testimony before the Honorable Commission, he mentioned that the Philippines is of crucial importance to global biodiversity because of its exceptional levels of narrow endemism, both terrestrial and marine . In fact, 61% overall endemism for terrestrial vertebrates or 6 out of 10 animals can only be found here in the Philippines.364Dr. Mallari exposed that, unfortunately, the unique biodiversity of the Philippines has become particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of climate change.365 Examples of species affected are Philippine eagle, tamaraws in Mindoro,366 peacock pheasant in Palawan ,367 bleeding heart pigeon in Negros, 368 and vulnerable species in Upper Marikina Watershed like the kingfisher .369 8.37. Dr. Mallari also testified that, with respect to the current state of the Philippine forest, most of the country’s islands have less than 20% forest cover . Cebu has less than 1 %, Negros has 3%, and Mindoro has 5%. 370 This is crucial since the University of the Philippines - Los Banos came out with a seminal work that said , “[f ]or the country to maintain its natural processes: air, water, hydrological cycle, it needs 45% forest cover.»371 8.38. As discussed, the Philippines is one of the areas in Southeast Asia that is most exposed to the impacts of climate change. While adaptation through strategies such as disaster management is a priority, mitigation of the underlying problem remains crucial . Below are two illustrations (climate change vulnerability in Southeast Asia versus the World ) which indubitably exhibit the vulnerability of the Philippines to climate change. 362 Ibid. Ibid. 364 Testimony of Dr. Neil Aldrin Mallari, TSN 29-30 August 2018, p. 221 , available at http://chr.gov.ph/ wp-content/uploads/2019/04/NICC-TSN-August-29-to-30-2018- Metro-ManilaPhilippines.pdf ( last accessed on 12 September 2019). 365 Exhibit “TTTTT,” Statement of Neil Aldrin D. Mallari, PhD Ecology, dated 13 August 2018, p. l . 366 Mallari, N ., supra note 364, p. 222. 367 Id , p. 223. 368 Ibid. 369 Id., p. 226. 370 Mallari , N., supra note 364, p. 226. 371 Ibid 363