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Mt. Apo Natural Park

A dormant volcano with hundreds of sulphur vents on its upper slopes, Mt. Apo is the country’s highest mountain at 3,143.6 meters. It is known as the last stronghold of the remaining population of the rare and endangered Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi).

Mount Apo Natural Park is an important watershed and one of the Key Biodiversity Areas in the Philippines.

The Park measures 54,974 hectares with a buffer zone of 9,078 hectares, and is located in the Province of Cotabato, Kidapawan City and Municipalities of Makilala and Magpet in Region 12; and Municipalities of Bansalan and Sta. Cruz and City of Digos, Province of Davao del Sur and the City of Davao in Region 12.

Location

Region 12: City of Kidapawan, Municipalities of Makilala and Magpet, Province of Cotabato; Region 11: Municipalities of Bansalan and Sta. Cruz and City of Digos, Province of Davao del Sur; City of Davao

Area:

549.74 sq km

Date declared as an AHP:

29 November 1984, at the 2nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand

Contact information

Eduardo Ragaza
AHP Manager
Tel. No. 082 2341100
Email: edward_ragaza@yahoo.com

Unique Flora: Dipterocarp species like lauan (Pentacme contorta), apitong (Dipterocarpus grandiflorus), and guijo (Shorea guiso); Syzygium species; epiphytes (orchids) which include the waling-waling (Euanthe sanderiana); Ericaceae and Rhododendron; almaciga (Agathis philipinensis); manggachapui (Vatica manggachapui); Nepenthes sp.

Unique Fauna: Philippine eagle; abukay (Cacatua haematopygia); Mindoro scops owl (Otus mirus); lesser eagle owl (Mimizu kugurneyi); Mindanao lorikeet (Tricoglosus johnstoniae); writhed hornbill (Aceros leucocephalus); and Philippine brown deer (Cervus marianusapoensis).

Habitat Types: Waterfalls; rivers and creeks; mountain lakes; lowland forests to low montane forests; high montane forests; summit or scrub forests.

For mountaineers going to the peak of Mount Apo, the famous campsites are Lake Agco (The Blue Lake) and Lake Venado. At the summit can be found Lakes Maag and Jordan.

Mount Apo Natural Park is also the home of scenic waterfalls: Tudaya, Mabbu and Tagibaka.

There are seven indigenous groups living at the lower slopes of the mountain; these group consider the mountain as sacred ground and their ancestral domain;

Other attractions in the Park are hot springs, orchid farms and gardens, hiking trails, and Buddhist and To temples.