As the heat of the summer season continues, traveling off to scenic locations with our friends and family is the preferred choice. For some, expecting to find cool natural escapes by visiting parks appeals somewhat mundane. On the contrary, can you imagine for a moment a park stretching across a total area of 75,445 hectares, and it encompasses at least eight major river systems and has a rugged terrain composed of slopes, river gorge and plateaus? How about a park whose wildlife contains 629 flora species and spectacular mountain scenery? Envisioning these riches exist is not needed. They do exist, these are our very own ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP): Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park and Mt. Apo Natural Park.
The Philippines, having two ASEAN Heritage Parks is a very big deal and an honor. Our country is a member of ASEAN, an association of ten member countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao P.D.R, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. These countries add up to a total of 450 million hectares (3% of the global land surface), yet the region is home to 20% of all known species. ASEAN countries share many species with their neighbors and as a whole are rather biologically distinct from the rest of the world. Seven of the world’s 25 recognized biodiversity hotspots and 3 of the world’s 17 megadiversity countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines) are found in the region. Given these figures, one can only anticipate the numerous nominations of national protected areas from each member countries to be considered as an ASEAN Heritage Park.
ASEAN Heritage Parks are defined as “protected areas of high conservation importance preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the ASEAN region”. Unlike World Heritage Sites which are deemed as globally outstanding sites, ASEAN Heritage Parks are selected as regionally representative, and the best example of their types. Some sites may merit recognition under both headings but most will not.
For a site to be classified as an AHP, it must meet the following criteria: a) ecological completeness b) representativeness c) naturalness d) high conservation importance; e) legally gazetted conservation area f) the site has a management plan duly approved by authorities of the ASEAN member country. Additional criterias also include the site’s transboundary, uniqueness, high ethno-biological significance as well as its importance as a habitat for endangered biodiversity.
Mt. Apo Natural Park
Mt. Apo Natural Park, established in 1936, has an area of 72,113 hectares and lies in Davao Oriental province. The park has a spectacular mountain scenery, special wildlife, Philippine Eagle Breeding center and an interesting culture of local communities.
The park exhibits a wide range of evergreen forest types from lowlands to alpine. Its wildlife is breathtaking: 629 flora species, 227 vertebrate species, 118 butterfly species. The Mt. Apo myna, the Apo lorikeet, the cinnamon bird, and the Bagobo babbler, and the black and cinnamon fantail are among the Mindanao endemics in the park. The Philippine eagle is by far the most important bird species in Mt. Apo, since it is not found elsewhere in the world and has become the symbol of environmental preservation of our country as well as our national bird.
The most threatened mammal in the area is the deer species, Cervus mariannus apoensis. Two other interesting mammals to have a look out for are the flying lemur and the Philippine tarsier.
Since 1959, Mt. Apo has been a center for botanical and zoological expeditions. It has received international assistance in the form of research from Chicago Field Musuem; management & planning and development under the Global Environment Facility Conservation of Priority Protected Areas Project (GEF CPPAP) project and the continuing programs to save the Philippine Eagle supported by Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) and the Haribon Foundation.
Unfortunately, threats such as over logging and over-collection continue to exist driving precious species such us our unique Philippine Eagle to extinction.
Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park
Slightly larger than Mt.Apo in terms of total area, Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park covers 75,445 hectares. It is situated between Occidental and Oriental Mindoro.
This large reserve contains much original montane forest on the main peaks (highest peak reaches 2,488 m) but much of the original semi-green lowland forest has been cleared or burned off as a result of human activities. Eight major river systems, slopes, river gorge and plateaus make up its rugged terrain.
The site is also an indigenous people’s reserve for the Mangyans and many villages remain inside the park.
Its multi-stratal evergreen forest, dry season decidous shrubs and trees is the habitat of the biggest remaining population of endangered tamaraw, which is found only in Mindoro. The tamaraw is the largest wild land mammal in the Philippines. It resembles the water buffalo except that is smaller and its horns grow straight upward into a “V” form. In the early 1900s, about 10,000 tamaraws roamed in Mindoro. Today, there are only a few hundreds left and can mostly be found in the upper elevations.
Persistent hunting by local hunters has reduced the rare tamaraw’s population. Cattle ranching, upland farming and firewood gathering are among the threats to the rapid deforestation both inside and outside of the Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park.
Conservation efforts for Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park have been principally focused on the declining species of tamaraw. Haribon Foundation through the support of the Threatened Species Program funded by the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) continues to undertake tamaraw population study and biodiversity monitoring of the site.
Our ASEAN Heritage Parks should be deemed as more than just eye-candy getaways for the summer. These heritage parks can generate greater awareness, pride, enjoyment and appreciation about the richness of life forms. Mt. Apo and Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park are regional showcases that shaped our culture — and with this come responsibility. It is through our conservation and protection efforts that will benefit the future generations to realize the value and ecological services of our rich biodiversity.
