Another Mindanao mountain eyed as Asean heritage park

ECOTOURISM SITE With its rich biodiversity amid lush forests, Mt. Balatukan in Misamis Oriental has been promoted by the Department of Tourism as a major ecotourism destination in Northern Mindanao. —PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGION 10

KORONADAL CITY—Another mountain range in Mindanao, this time in Misamis Oriental province, is being considered for inclusion in the prestigious Asean Heritage Park (AHP) network, the Asean Center for Biodiversity (ACB) said.

The possible inclusion of Mt. Balatukan Range Natural Park was discussed during the 12th AHP committee meeting held last month in Bangkok, Thailand, ACB executive director Jerome Montemayor said in a statement.

Aside from Mt. Balatukan, the AHP committee also discussed the possible inclusion of four other sites in the AHP network: Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve in the central state of Pahang; Bako National Park in Kuching, Sarawak; and Lambir Hills National Park in Miri, Sarawak, all in Malaysia; and Doi Inthanon National Park in Thailand.

During the 12th AHP committee meeting, Montemayor stressed the importance of regional collaboration for biodiversity conservation in the Association of Southeast Asian (Asean) region composed of Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Protected areas

Montemayor has vowed to ensure a more robust and well-managed network of heritage parks throughout the region.

One of the Asean’s flagship initiatives, the AHP is designed to build a network of protected areas that best represent the region’s shared natural heritage.

At least 63 sites in the Asean region have been included in the AHP due to their ecological and biological richness and their effective protected area management, according to data from the ACB, which serves as AHP program secretariat.

Regional cooperation

For four decades, the AHP program demonstrated regional cooperation and the commitment of the Asean member-states to preserve and restore the parks’ immense natural wealth, Montemayor said.

If Mt. Balatukan’s bid is successful, it would be the 15th AHP in the Philippines and the 10th in Mindanao.

Located in Misamis Oriental, Balatukan has already been recognized as a protected area for its outstanding high conservation category.

It is listed as the 103rd key biodiversity area, the 91st important bird area and the 121st in the conservation priority area in the country, according to the Mt. Balatukan Range Natural Park Facebook page.

Earlier declared AHPs in Mindanao were the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental, Mt. Inayawan Range Natural Park in Lanao del Norte, Mt. Apo Natural Park in the provinces of Cotabato and Davao del Sur, and Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Bukidnon.

The rest are Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park in the provinces of Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur; Mounts Timpoong–Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument in Camiguin; Pasonanca Natural Park in Zamboanga City; and the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary in Tawi-Tawi.