Davao Oriental's Mt. Hamiguitan declared as ASEAN Heritage Park
MANILA, Philippines — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations recently declared Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary as the Philippines's ninth ASEAN Heritage Park.
Mt. Hamiguitan is a 16,000-hectare mountain that transcends from north to south along the Pujada Peninsula in the south-eastern part of the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor. With an elevation range of 170-1,637 meters and total area of 16,923 hectares, it is considered a home to highly rare and globally threatened species of plants and animals, including the Philippine Eagle, Philippine Cockatoo, trees Shorea polysperma and Shorea astylosa, and the orchid Paphiopedilum adductum.
Here's a glimpse of the mountain, provided by the Davao Oriental LGU:
Jenelyn Soriano of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity described Southeast Asia as a treasure trove of biodiversity containing about 20 percent of global plant, animal and marine species therefore we should always be firm in protecting it.
This is not the first time Mt. Hamiguitan has been recognized as a protected area valued for their diversity. Last year, The delegates of the UNESCO Committee proclaimed it as the sixth Philippine site and the first Philippine mountain range to be cited as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Protected Area Superintendent Ruel Culong clarified that Mt. Hamiguitan, having been declared as a heritage park, remains close to trekkers until the pre-requisites for reopening are complied by the local government units.
The heritage park program is ASEAN's initiative to recognize best protected areas with high biodiversity and conservation values.
The other ASEAN Heritage Parks in the country are Mt. Apo, Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Resources, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park’ Mt. Malindang, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, Mt. Timpoog Hibok Hibok Natural Park and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
