11/12/2024
Congratulations Apo Reef Natural Park!
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗: The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) formally announces the designation of three Philippine natural destinations namely the Apo Reef, Turtle Islands, and Balinsasayao Twin Lakes as the Newest ASEAN Heritage Parks highlighting the country's rich biodiversity and ecological significance.
𝗔𝗣𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗙 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞:
It is the largest contiguous coral reef system in the country and the second largest in the world. It is located in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
This marine biodiversity hotspot is home to vibrant coral reefs, pristine lagoons, seagrass beds, diverse mangroves, and lush beach forests.
The park shelters over 482 fish species, 63 genera of hard corals, rare marine invertebrates such as the endangered Green Sea Turtle and the critically endangered Hawksbill Turtle, and iconic species like Dugongs, Whale Sharks, and Hammerhead Sharks.
𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗬:
Known as the only major nesting site of Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Philippines and the ASEAN region.
It was declared a Turtle Island Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA) in 1996 through a bilateral agreement between the Philippines and Malaysia. It is also part of the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia Marine Sea Turtle Site Network.
𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗢 𝗧𝗪𝗜𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞:
This park serves as a habitat for important species, including the endangered Negros Shrew (Crocidura negrina), Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi), Visayan Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis rabori), critically endangered Philippine Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene rabori), and Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons negrinus).
Spanning 8,016 hectares, it is home to around 325 species of ferns, 237 tree species, 27 mammalian fauna, and 209 resident and migratory bird species.
In addition to the three Philippine parks, the Phou Xieng Thong National Protected Area and Nam Poui National Protected Area in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have also been recognized as ASEAN Heritage Parks.
The newly declared AHPs encompass 11.6 million hectares of legally protected areas that represent terrestrial, marine, and wetland ecosystems.
AHPs are select protected areas within ASEAN that are renowned for their unique biodiversity, ecosystems, wilderness, and exceptional contributions to scenic beauty, culture, education, research, recreation, and tourism.
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, based in the Philippines, serves as the secretariat of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme.
Since its inception in 1984, a total of 62 parks have been designated as AHPs, with 12 located in the Philippines.
----------
𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐒 𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐒, 𝐍𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐆 “𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐒”
𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗔𝗛𝗜𝗡: Pormal na inanunsyo ng ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) ang pagkakatalaga sa tatlong natural destinations ng bansa bilang pinakabagong ASEAN Heritage Parks, ang Apo Reef, Turtle Islands at Balinsasayao Twin Lakes.
𝗔𝗣𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗙 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞:
Ito ang pinakamalaking magkadugtong na coral reef system sa bansa at pangalawa sa pinakamalaki sa buong mundo. Matatagpuan ito sa Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
Isa itong marine biodiversity hotspot na tahanan ng makukulay na coral reefs, malinis na lagoon, seagrass beds, iba’t ibang uri ng bakawan at mayayabong na beach forests.
Matatagpuan dito ang higit 482 na uri ng isda, 63 genera ng matitigas na korales, bihirang marine invertebrates tulad ng endangered Green Sea Turtle at critically endangered Hawks Turtle, at mga iconic na hayop tulad ng Dugong, Whale Shark, at Hammerhead Shark.
𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗬:
Kilala bilang tanging pangunahing pugad ng Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) sa Pilipinas at sa ASEAN region.
Idineklara bilang Turtle Island Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA) noong 1996 sa pamamagitan ng kasunduan ng Pilipinas at Malaysia, bahagi ito ng Indian Ocean at South East Asia Marine Sea Turtle Site Network.
𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗢 𝗧𝗪𝗜𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞:
Tirahan naman ng mahahalagang species tulad ng endangered Negros Shrew (Crocidura negrina), Visayan Spotted Dear (Rusa Alfred), Visayan Leoprad Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis rabori), critically endangered Philippine Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene rabori), at Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons negrinus).
May lawak itong 8,016 ektarya at tahanan ng nasa 325 species ng pako, 237 species ng puno, 27 mammalian fauna, at 209 uri ng mga resident at migratory birds.
Bukod sa tatlong parke sa bansa, kinilala rin ang Phou Xieng Thong National Protected Area at Nam Poui National Protected Area sa Lao Peoples Democratic Republic.
Ang mga bagong idineklarang AHP ay may lawak na 11.6 million ektaryang legal na protektadong lugar na sumasaklaw sa mga terrestrial, marine, at wetland ecosystems.
Kinikilalang AHP ang mga piling protektadong lugar sa ASEAN na kilala sa kanilang natatanging biodiversity at ekosistema, kagubatan, at mga pambihirang halaga sa tanawin, kultura, edukasyon, pananaliksik, libangan, at turismo. Ang ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity na nasa Pilipinas ang nagsisilbing sekretarya ng ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme.
May kabuuang 62 parke na ang naideklarang AHP simula noong 1984, kung saan 12 ang nasa bansa.
Park
