The colourful underwater panorama of Apo Reef Pure Park west of Occidental Mindoro province. (Picture courtesy of ACB by way of PNA)
MANILA, Philippines – Three outstanding nature locations within the Philippines— the Apo Reef, Turtle Islands, and Balinsasayao Twin Lakes— have been listed amongst ASEAN’s 5 latest heritage parks.
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) formally introduced the addition of 5 new parks to its community of topnotch nature reserves and pure parks within the Southeast Asian area late November.
Becoming a member of the three Philippine parks are the Phou Xieng Thong Nationwide Protected Space and Nam Poui Nationwide Protected Space in Lao PDR, bringing the full to 62.
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“For 4 a long time, the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) Program has remained related and continues to develop—as an impressive showcase of ‘ONE ASEAN’ regional cooperation and dedication of the ASEAN Member States to protect and restore its immense pure wealth,” ACB Appearing Government Director Clarissa Arida mentioned.
“The AHP Programme stayed true to its objective of strengthening the connectivity of extremely important ecosystems within the area and in bettering protected space administration,” she added.
The newly named AHPs have 11.6 million hectares of legally gazetted protected areas representing terrestrial, marine, and wetland ecosystems.
Apo Reef Pure Park
The Apo Reef Pure Park, positioned west of Sablayan city in Occidental Mindoro province, is the most important contiguous coral reef system within the nation and the second largest on this planet.
The park is a identified marine biodiversity hotspot that’s residence to vibrant coral reefs, pristine lagoons, seagrass beds, varied mangroves, and luxurious seashore forests.
It’s a sanctuary for over 482 fish species, 63 genera of laborious corals, uncommon marine invertebrates such because the Endangered Inexperienced Sea Turtle and Critically Endangered Hawksbill Turtle, and iconic species like Dugongs, Whale Sharks, and Hammerhead Sharks.
The ACB formally designates the Apo Reef Pure Park because the 61st ASEAN Heritage Park.
Balinsayao Twin Lakes Pure Park
The Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Pure Park, however, is a identified habitat of worldwide necessary species such because the Endangered Negros Shrew (Crocidura negrina), Visayan Noticed Deer (Rusa alfredi), Visayan Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis rabori), the Critically Endangered Philippine Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene rabori) and the Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons negrinus), in addition to Philippine endemic species just like the Endangered Golden-crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus).
The park is positioned in Negros Oriental province and covers an space of 8,016 hectares that serves as residence to some 325 fern species, 237 tree species, 27 mammalian fauna, and 209 resident and migrant birds.
Turtle Islans Wildlife
In the meantime, the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary is thought to be the one main nesting habitat of Inexperienced Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) within the Philippines—the one one within the ASEAN area.
This park is a part of the Sulu archipelago within the province of Tawi-Tawi and is beneath the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Setting, Pure Assets and Power of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Area in Muslim Mindanao.
The Turtle Islands was recognized as Extraordinarily Excessive for biodiversity conservation and was declared a Turtle Island Heritage Protected Space (TIHPA) via a Memorandum of Settlement between the Philippines and Malaysia in 1996.
It’s also included within the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia Marine Sea Turtle Web site Community.
Arida mentioned being a part of the AHP community gives protected areas with alternatives to share good practices, take part in regional capability growth and awareness-raising actions, and get help in enhancing protected space administration operations, amongst others.
From its authentic 11 parks, the AHP Program has expanded to 62 websites. (PNA)
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