Mt. Iglit Baco

    

Mt. Iglit Baco 

         The Mts. Iglit Baco National Park was proclaimed in 1970. As such, it is an initial component of National Integrated Protected Areas System. Mts. Iglit Baco National Park encompasses at least eight major river systems and has a rugged terrain composed of slopes, river gorges and plateaus.
          Portions of the Park are covered by upland hardwoods, such as Anthocephalus chinensis, Artocarpus blancoi, Ficus nota, Hawili, Alibangbang and Balinghasai. The larger plants indigenous to the site which are rarely seen in some other regions are Kalantas tree, Tindalo, Almaciga and Kamagong. The Park also harbors the endangered Jade vine.               The Park is the habitat of the endemic Tamaraw ( Bubalus mindorensis ), which is one of the most seriously endangered large mammals. Because of the endangered Tamaraw, the Park was initially established as " game refuge and bird sanctuary ". The Park has been declared as an ASEAN Heritage Site. Other forms of wildlife can also be found in the Park like the Phil Deer, Wild Pig and Mindoro Cloud Rat as well as a number of bird species which are endemic to the island such as Mindoro Imperial Pigeon, Mindoro Scops Owl, Black-hooped Coucal, Scarlet collared Flowerpecker and Heart Pigeon.          Mount Iglit Baco National Park covers large areas of the central part of the island of Mindoro on the Philippines. It is situated near Mt. Baco ( 2,488 meters ) and Mt. Iglit, the latter reaching 2,364 meters. Unfortunately, the island is among the most deforested parts of the archipelago. Less than 3% of primary forests have been preserved there. Remnants of lowland rain, mountain and cloud forests with critically threatened endemic animal species are protected in the national park.        Under the Wild Population and Habitat Management component, scope of activities include protection of the Tamaraw and its habitats in Mts. Iglit Baco National Park and Aruyan Sablayan Tamaraw reservation; manning of entry exit points.  Tamaraw population study and biodiversity monitoring. Future activities will include habitat restoration and expansion of protection and research activities by covering other important areas maintaining Tamaraw.