THINK ON THESE – The famous Mount Hamiguitan

One of my favorite pastimes is reading — aside from watching movies, of course.
Recently, I was reading one of the last week’s issues of EDGE Davao and I came across a news report which said that the Hamiguitan Heritage Park was inaugurated by President Benigno Aquino III himself.
The complete name is Mount Hamiguitan Eco Park and Interpretation Site, which also houses the Natural Science Museum.  The launching was “attended by some 1,000 government officials, business leaders, guests and media practitioners,” reported EDGE Davao editor-in-chief Antonio M. Ajero.
“Mr. Aquino who, together with Governor Corazon Malanyaon, unveiled the park’s marker, lauded the opening as it would serve as a critical habitat to protect biodiversity,” said the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA).
According to Aquino, who is bowing out of office in June, the site will spike tourist arrivals in Davao Oriental.  In addition, it will open more opportunities for jobs and livelihood among the people living in the area.
Last year, Mount Hamiguitan was inscribed to the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In its website, UNESCO describes Mount Hamiguitan in these words: “Forming a mountain ridge running north-south along the Pujada Peninsula in the south-eastern part of the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor, the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary has an elevation range of 75–1,637 meters above sea level and provides critical habitat for a range of plant and animal species.
“The property showcases terrestrial and aquatic habitats at different elevations, and includes threatened and endemic flora and fauna species, eight of which are found only at Mount Hamiguitan. These include critically endangered trees, plants and the iconic Philippine eagle and Philippine cockatoo,” UNESCO adds.
On why it is included in the World Heritage List, the UNESCO explains: “The Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary exhibits segmentation of terrestrial habitats according to elevation. In the lower elevations the agro-ecosystem and remnants of dipterocarp forests house some 246 plant species including significant numbers of endemics such as the globally threatened dipterocarps of the genus Shorea.
“The dipterocarp forest ecosystem at 420-920 m above sea level is characterized by the presence of large trees and is home to 418 plant and 146 animal species, which include threatened species such as the Mindanao bleeding-heart dove (Gallicolumba crinigera) and Philippine warty pig (Sus philippensis).
“At higher elevations the montane forest ecosystem exhibits numerous species of mosses, lichens and epiphytes. This ecosystem type houses 105 animal species representing all the animal groups found in the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary as well as the relatively recently discovered rat species, Hamiguitan hairy-tailed rat (Batomys hamiguitan).
“The fourth ecosystem type is the typical mossy forest ecosystem characterized by thick mosses covering roots and tree trunks; it provides habitat for the Philippine pygmy fruit bat (Haplonycteris fischeri) and the threatened pointed-snouted tree frog (Philautus acutirostris). At the topmost (1160-1200m above sea level.) is the mossy-pygmy forest ecosystem, adding a unique natural tropical bonsai forest layer to the property. It is the only known habitat in the world of the pitcher plant (Nepenthes hamiguitanensis) and the Delias butterfly (Delias magsadana).”
The Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary straddles two municipalities (San Isidro and Governor Generoso) and one city (Mati).  The total area is 16,923 hectares, with a buffer zone of 9,729 hectares.
The Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary is protected through several protected area regulations and is a component of the country’s National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).
By the way, I had visited several UNESCO World Heritage sites.  Just to name few: Quebec City in Canada; the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, Australia; the Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing, China; Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia; Halong Bay in Vietnam; and the Rice Terraces of Banaue.
Yes, I had been to Mati City but never had an opportunity of going to Mount Hamiguitan (although I heard of it several times before). Every time I go to Mati, I usually go to Dahican Beach, which is touted as the Boracay of the South.
But I know, one of these days, I will be given the time to scale Mount Hamiguitan and see the bonsai forest.
The PNA report said that the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary has been named as among Southeast Asia’s ASEAN Heritage Parks.  It is cited for its “biodiversity importance and exceptional uniqueness throughout the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states.”
The recent recognition adds to the seven other sites in the country: Mount Apo, Mount Iglit-Baco Natural Resources; Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park; Mount Malinda; Mount Makiling Forest Reserve; Mount Timpoog-Hibok Hibok Natural Park; and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
“Mount Hamiguitan was nominated along with Tubbataha Reef,” the PNA report said.  “It was during the 15th informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the environment when the nomination was approved.”