Samar Island Natural Park

Description

Samar Island Natural Park is located in the island of Samar in Eastern Visayas, Philippines. The 300,000-hectare park lies within the Eastern Visayas Bio-Geographic Zone and the Greater Mindanao Faunal Region and is considered the center of biological diversity in the Philippines.

Samar Island Natural Park is a lowland forest reserve, home to the largest tract of relatively intact lowland forest in the Philippines and a rich population of dipterocarp species. Its mineral-rich mountain soil supports various forest and agroforest ecosystems, which are home to site- and country-endemic floral and faunal species deemed important from the point of view of conservation sciences. The park has a tropical maritime climate characterized by a relatively high temperature, high humidity, and high levels of rainfall.

Within the park are four areas wherein the rich biodiversity and high rate of endemism converge: (1) Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park, (2) Calbiga Caves Protected Landscape, (3) Jicontol Natural Park; and (4) Taft Forest Philippine Eagle Wildlife Sanctuary. Surrounding the edge of the core zone of the park are karst formations and underground watercourses that comprise the Calbiga Cave system. A closed canopy forest is found in the area of Borongan-Llorente located in the eastern side, where old growth rainforest is dominated by critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species of the dipterocarp family. The park's highest peak is Mount Huraw, which stands at a vertical elevation of 811 meters above sea level and characterized by lush old growth and open canopy forest. It is identified to be a nesting site of the critically endangered Philippine eagle.

In the northern area, the park boasts of a three-layered gorge and river system, which draws the wonder of locals and tourists through its deep blue hue during summer. Surrounded by a karst system, Pinipisakan Falls serves as the headwaters of the river system, and in itself is a marvel owing to the rapid force with which its water flows towards the edge of the river.

The Sohoton Natural Bridge features the Basey River and a natural stone bridge which connects two mountains. This area has its own network of caves, rock shelters, and waterfalls. Its rock formations include cathedral-like caves with shining, glittering white stalactites and brownish-to-gray stalagmites.

The Taft Philippine Eagle Sanctuary in the eastern part of the park serves as the natural habitat and nesting site of the critically endangered Philippine eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi. It is comprised of lowland evergreen forest characterized by a series of isolated small limestone hills and ranges that are narrowly separated by sloping grounds with sharp-pointed limestone outcrops or shallow mudflats.

With a height of 120 meters, the Amandaraga Falls in the southern part is another feature of the park. Its aquifer is dominated by a pygmy forest of several dipterocarp species, which are home to a diverse faunal population.

The park is home to a range of habitat and ecosystems reflective of Samar Island's rich natural resources and biological diversity. There are six ecological forest types in the park: beach forest, mangrove forest, lowland evergreen forest, forest over limestone, forest over ultrabasic rock, and lower montane forest.

These ecosystems host floral and faunal species important from the point of view of science. At least 6 Dipterocarp species in SINP have been classified by IUCN as Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable. Of important note are the endangered and Samar-endemic Hopea samarensis and critically endangered and Philippine-endemic Shorea falciferoides.

The park is also crucial to the conservation and survival of at least three critically endangered and vulnerable reptile species, and at least five endangered mammal species, all of which are Philippine- or Mindanao-endemic.

Owing to the lush forests of the island, it is unsurprising that the park is a refuge to fifteen avian species, all of which are Philippine- and Midanao-endemic and classified by IUCN as vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered. The conservation of these species is crucial to the regulation of ecological balance in the park, being that one of them is the Philippine eagle, the park's top predator. Birdlife International has designated the park as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA), while Haribon Foundation has named sites of the park as Important Bird Areas (IBA).

Specifically, iconic species in this island include the Philippine sailfin lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatu, Mindanao flying lizard Draco mindanensis, Philippine hawk-eagle Spizaetus philippensis, golden-crowned flying fox Acerodon jubatus, Philippine cockatoo Cacatua haematuropygia, and Philippine crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis.

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

Samar Island Natural Park is an assemblage of habitats and ecological systems that support floral and faunal species that are important from the point of view of conservation sciences. Its sheer size, spanning more than 300,000 hectares, and its placement within the Eastern Visayas Bio-Geographic Zone and the Greater Mindanao Fauna Region explain the diversity in the range of the ecological systems in the park as well as the uniqueness of the site-endemic species they support.

Samar Island belongs to a land mass representing the Greater Mindanao island that formed during the last ice age of the Pleistocene period after a 120-meter drop in the sea level. This exposed land-bridges, which provided access for colonization of terrestrial mammals within the Greater Mindanao Faunal Region. This explains why SINP is home to faunal species found in other islands within the region. Combined with being part of the Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area, SINP truly is home to a wide array of unique, Philippine-, regional-, and site-endemic species.

Within the Natural Park are four areas wherein the rich biodiversity and high rate of endemism converge: (1) Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park; (2) Calbiga Caves Protected Landscape; (3) Jicontol Natural Park; and (4) Taft Forest Philippine Eagle Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is home to a range of habitat and ecosystems reflective of Samar Island's rich natural resources and biological diversity. There are six ecological forest types in the park: beach forest, mangrove forest, lowland evergreen forest, forest over limestone, forest over ultrabasic rock, and lower montane forest.

The unique wildlife in SINP rely on the series of discontinuous forest corridors that form invaluable watersheds, which provide vital ecological services to the communities in the province and serve as a sanctuary for a virtual gene bank for Samar's rich biological diversity.

The significance and urgency of the conservation of SINP relate to the fact that it represents significant species from the Greater Mindanao faunal region, known for the high level of its lowland forest taxa. Considering that there had been significant loss of lowland forests in Mindanao, the surviving forests in Samar are crucial for the continuous survival and conservation of the Philippine-endemic species, Philippine cockatoo, Philippine eagle, and Philippine crocodile, all classified by IUCN as critically endangered.

The outstanding characteristics of SINP are mainly its extensive lowland forests, ranging from low rugged hill terrain, extending towards moderate mountainous elevations, towards riverine flood plains and valleys. This stretch is populated by old growth primary and secondary forests, representing all known forest types. Major ecological forest types on Samar Island include lowland evergreen rainforests, transitional lower montane forests, swamp and beach forests, mangroves, forests over limestones and forests on ultramafic soil.

Criterion (vii): SINP is a complex yet harmoniously intertwined mosaic of land and water forms composed of extensive lowland evergreen rainforests, transitional lower montane forests, swamp and beach forests, mangroves, forests over limestones and forests on ultramafic soil. The natural land and water forms include mountain ranges, extensive river systems, karst limestones, waterfalls, and cave systems. The intensity of the park's beauty extends beyond a single overwhelming feature. It is nature's symphony of land and water forms, cradled within six different forest types, each exhibiting a unique aesthetic value depending on the season of the year.

Criterion (ix): The park is a microcosm of nature's efficient machinery in hosting a long arc of ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. All known forest types are represented in the park, namely, lowland evergreen rainforests, transitional lower montane forests, swamp and beach forests, mangroves, forests over limestones and forests on ultramafic soil. Together with the forests, the park is also home to several headwaters, waterfalls and river systems that represent significant freshwater habitat for site-, regional, and national endemic species.

Criterion (x): The diversity in the ecosystems in SINP translate to the importance of the natural terrestrial and freshwater habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, particularly of threatened floral and faunal species possessing outstanding universal value from the point of view of conservation sciences. The park is home to an astounding number of IUCN-classified vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered species, including at least 6 Dipterocarp species from the genera of Hopea and Shorea, at least 3 critically endangered and vulnerable reptile species and at least 5 endangered mammal species, at least 15 avian species, all of which are Philippine- and Mindanao-endemic and classified by IUCN as vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered.

Statements of authenticity and/or integrity

Samar Island Natural Park enjoys substantial intactness, owing to the designation of critical habitats and ecosystems into a contiguous core zone. With more than 300,000 hectares, the park is of adequate size and the core zone contains all components of the park that deliver and contribute to its outstanding universal value. Despite suffering deforestation in the previous decades, the primary and secondary growth forests are relatively of significant size so as to support the conservation of critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable plant and animal species. The Park's integrity is most apparent in its ability to deliver ecological services to the communities, owing to its well-drained watersheds and its pristine river systems.

As with any other natural park, SINP faces challenges pertaining to balancing sustainable development, the preservation of irreplaceable natural resources, and the conservation of the site. National and local government authorities have been strictly enforcing legislations banning logging, although this continues to be a challenge owing to the lack of resources to enforce proportional to the size of the park. There is also pressure to build a road transecting the park to connect the western and eastern parts of the island. In addition, the island's bid to promote its natural sites as ecotourism areas may pose infrastructure development pressures. However, the provincial and national governments remain committed in conserving SINP and in ensuring that no irreversible change is done to its natural heritage.

Comparison with other similar properties

Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary is also located in the Philippines, particularly in the island of Mindanao, and belongs to the southeastern part of the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor. Its highest elevation is at 1,637 meters above sea level. Like SINP, Mount Hamiguitan is also home to terrestrial and aquatic habitats at different elevations. It is a critical habitat for critically endangered Philippine eagle and Philippine cockatoo. On the other hand, SINP's highest peak is at 811 meters above sea level, but it features a lush old growth and open canopy forest that is far bigger than Mount Hamiguitan's entire core zone (16,923.07 hectares). SINP also has a significantly higher number of critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable floral and faunal species, including those that are not present in Mount Hamiguitan, such as the Philippine crocodile.

Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra spans 2.5 million hectares and is composed of three national parks: Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park, and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. The park is home to an estimated 10,000 plant species and 780 animal species with the Sumatran orang-utan and the Rafflesia as two of its iconic species. Like the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, SINP also has lowland and mountain forests. While SINP obviously has a much smaller hectarage and fewer endemic species, all known forest types are represented in the park: beach forest, mangrove forest, lowland evergreen forest, forest over limestone, forest over ultrabasic rock; and lower montane forest.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is located in western Uganda and covers nearly 100,000 hectares. It is known for its snow-capped mountains, located only kilometers from the equator. Its superlative natural beauty is owed from the multitude of fast flowing rivers, waterfalls, and water catchment, much like the water forms found in SINP. Rwenzori is known for its altitudinal range and its rich montane flora, which differs greatly from the range and diversity of habitats and ecosystems in SINP with the latter being located at a lower altitude and having high differentiation of terrestrial and fresh water habitats.

Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest (DPKY) Complex is composed of five contiguous Protected Areas in Thailand: Khao Yai National Park, Thap Lan National Park, Pang Sida National Park, Ta Phraya National Park, and Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary. Both SINP and DPKY enjoy a high annual rainfall, which make them critical important watersheds for their respective countries. Both properties are known for their evergreen forests, both serving as last substantial extants of the forest ecosystems in their respective biogeographic zones. DPKY is home to 800 species of fauna, which includes 1 critically endangered reptile (Siamese crocodile), 4 endangered and 19 vulnerable species. In contrast, SINP hosts a much higher number of fauna considered to be critically endangered (3 species, including the Philippine crocodile), endangered (4 species, including the Philippine hawk-eagle), and vulnerable (18 species).