MANILA, Philippines – Southeast Asian environment ministers have named a famous natural park in Camiguin, Philippines, as a Heritage Park of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines announced Sunday, November 8.

The ministers unanimously approved the Mt Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument (MTHHNM) of Camiguin as an ASEAN Heritage Park, the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

“As MTHHNM steps into the pantheon of Southeast Asia’s natural treasures, we wish to generate greater appreciation for the environmental uniqueness of this natural park in the island province of Camiguin,” Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said in a statement.

The ASEAN environment ministers made the MTHHNM an ASEAN Heritage Park during the recent 13th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment in Hanoi, Vietnam.

This makes the MTHHNM the Philippines’ 8th ASEAN Heritage Park.

The DENR describes ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) as “protected areas recognized for their uniqueness, diversity and outstanding values.” (READ: PH most lacking in funds, staff for conservation in ASEAN)

“With the naming of MTHHNM as an AHP, it is now part of a regional network of national protected areas enjoying a high conservation importance for their rich ecosystems,” the DENR said.

The DENR said Camiguin is known as “the island of 7 volcanoes.” Of these, Mt Timpoong has the highest peak, while the active Mt Hibok-Hibok is the largest volcano.

Protected area since 2004

The MTHHNM is 3,739.14 hectares big, the environment department said. Then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, through Presidential Proclamation No. 570, declared it a protected area in 2004.

The new ASEAN Heritage Park “is home to birds such as the Camiguin hawk owl, Camiguin hanging parrot, yellowish bulbul, and golden-yellow white-eye; mammals such as the Camiguin forest rat and forest mouse; and amphibians such as the Camiguin narrow-mouthed frog.”

Medicinal trees such as the kalingag (Cinnamomum mercadoi) and duguan (Myristica philippensis) also thrive in Camiguin.

Previously, regional leaders named the following Philippine sites, too, as ASEAN Heritage Parks: 

• Mt Apo Natural Park
• Mt Kitanglad Range Natural Park
• Mt Malindang Range Natural Park
• Mt Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary
• Mts Iglit-Baco National Park in Occidental Mindoro
• Mt Makiling Forest Reserve in Laguna
• Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan

Paje said that with ASEAN’s new declaration, the government hopes that Filipinos will appreciate the value of the MTHHNM, “and take extra steps to conserve it for the enjoyment of future generations.

“Camiguin may be such a small island, but it is highly significant to our biodiversity conservation efforts. MTHHNM, in particular, has so much potential in educating the public about endemic species while being a prime ecotourism destination,” he said. – Rappler.com