Mounts Iglit–Baco National Park
| Mounts Iglit–Baco National Park | |
|---|---|
|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
.svg.png)  | |
| Location | Mindoro, Philippines |
| Nearest city | Calapan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines |
| Coordinates | 12°54′N 121°13′E / 12.900°N 121.217°ECoordinates: 12°54′N 121°13′E / 12.900°N 121.217°E |
| Area | 75,445 hectares (186,430 acres) |
| Established | November 9, 1970 |
| Governing body | Department of Environment and Natural Resources |
Mounts Iglit–Baco National Park is a protected area of the Philippines and an ASEAN Heritage Park located in the island of Mindoro in central Philippines. The park covers an area of 75,445 hectares[1] surrounding Mount Iglit and Mount Baco in the central interior of Mindoro. The park was established in 1970 by virtue of Republic Act No. 6148. In 2003, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations listed it as one of its four heritage parks in the Philippines.[2] The park has also been nominated in the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.[3]
Geography
The national park lies in the south-central area of Mindoro covering parts of the municipalities of Sablayan, Calintaan, Rizal and San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, and the municipalities of Bongabong and Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro.[4] It is crossed by eight major river systems and has a rugged terrain composed of slopes, river gorges and plateaus. In the park's northern portion, Mount Baco rises to an elevation of 2,488 metres (8,163 ft) above sea level. Mount Iglit reaches 2,364 metres (7,756 ft) and can be found south of Mount Baco.[3]
The tamaraw
The park is the habitat of the endemic tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), a small, hoofed mammal of the bovid family unique to the Philippines. It is one of the most seriously endangered animals in the world. It was for this reason that the park was established, first as a game refuge and bird sanctuary in 1969 with an initial area of 8,956 hectares, then as a national park increasing its size a year later.
Other flora and fauna
Apart from the tamaraw, other forms of wildlife are also found within the park including the Mindoro climbing rat, Philippine deer, and wild pigs. A number of bird species also inhabit the park like the Mindoro imperial pigeon, Mindoro scops owl, black-hooded coucal, scarlet-collared flowerpecker and heart pigeon.
Some of the important indigenous plants found in the park are the kalantas tree, tindalo, almaciga, kamagong and jade vine.
See also
References
- ↑ "Region 4B - Protected Areas". Department of Environment of Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ↑ "ASEAN Heritage Parks". Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- 1 2 "Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ↑ Fernandez, Rudy A. (31 October 2004). "Mounts Apo, Iglit-Baco covered by ASEAN Heritage Parks program". Philippine Star. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
