Tubbataha now an Asean Heritage Park

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is now one of Southeast Asia’s most treasured parks when it was declared an Asean Heritage Park during the 15th Informal Association of Southeast Asian National (Asean) Ministerial Meeting on the Environment held last October 29-31 in Vientiane, Laos.

Both Tubbataha Reefs and Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental, which are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, join the other five previously designated Asean Heritage Parks in the Philippines. These are the: Mt. Apo Natural Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park and Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park in Mindanao; the Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park in Occidental Mindoro, and the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve in Laguna.

This recent recognition further highlights both sites’ exceptional natural characteristics that deserves to be protected for present and future generations.

Located in Cagayancilo, Palawan, Tubbataha Reefs plays an important role as the source and sink of fish and coral larvae in the Sulu Sea, thus enriching fisheries in the neighboring areas.

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