Asean Heritage Parks

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Pasonanca Natural Park

PaNP is a Key Biodiversity Area and an Important Bird Area. Its contiguous block of old and secondary growth dipterocarp forest covers almost 90% of its area. In addition, Birdlife International (2018) reports that: “Many of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area have been recorded in or near to Pasonanca Watershed, including recent records of the threatened Mindanao Bleeding-heart, Silvery Kingfisher, Philippine Leafbird and Little Slaty Flycatcher, and Zamboanga Bulbul, which is confined to the protected area and a subspecies from Western Mindanao and Basilan”. PaNP encompasses four watersheds, each with separate water catchment areas and river systems: Pasonanca Watershed, Ayala Watershed, Manicahan watershed, Culianan and Bolong Watershed.

Location

located between 122° 00’- 122° 08’ Longitude and 7° 9’ – 6° 57’ Latitude. It is situated in the northern part of Zamboanga City, a highly urbanized city in the southwestern most tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) in Western Mindanao.

Area:

123.747 km2

Date declared as an AHP:

2022

Other international designation/s:

KBA; IBA

Habitat Types

Contiguous block of old and secondary growth dipterocarp forest covers almost 90% of its area

 

39 species of birds, 24 species of mammals, 71 species of reptiles, 46 species of amphibians;

59 plant species dominated by dipterocarps. 221 types of plants belonging to 51 families (2018)

Unique Flora: includes critically endangered dipterocarp species

Unique Fauna: species include Varanus dalubhasa, one of the two newly discovered Philippine endemic species of Asian monitor lizard. The endangered species list includes the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jeferryi), a newly confirmed discoveries in PaNP, Pinskers Hawk Eagle (Nisaetus pinskeri) and the Red Headed Flameback (Chrysocolaptes erythrocephalus).

Habitat Types: Contiguous block of old and secondary growth dipterocarp forest covers almost 90% of its area

Tourism structues/facilities include Bio Monitoring Staion that provides guidance and orientation for visitors and trekkers; Bambusetum; tree nursery, adventure trail; Baluno Ecological Research and ztraning Center, ZCWD Dam. The different ecotourism activities that may be developed include: mountaineering, trekking, river swimming/trekking, camping, bird watching, nature sightseeing, filming and photo shooting, bush walking and environmental education/interpretation. In addition, the historical value of Mt. Pulong Bato, where the first wave of Subanen tribe established their kingdom and where the marriage took place between the Subanen Princess and Spanish Prince that gave birth to the Zamboangueno race, can be promoted.