DAVAO CITY- Mt. Hamiguitan will be closed to climbers as part of efforts to conserve the newly inscribed World Heritage Site.
According to Cynthia Rodriguez, tourism consultant to the provincial government of Davao Oriental, the mountain will be institutionalized as a conservation and protection site.
Only scientists and researchers are allowed to climb the mountain and it will have strict carrying capacity of 30 scientists/ researchers climbing a month.
Rodriguez said these policies are to ensure the protection of the unique flora and fauna of the mountain.
The mountain contains about 1,380 identified species of which 341 species of flora and fauna are endemic to the region. This is a significant value considering the small size of the property.
The mountain was inscribed last June 23 in Doha, Qatar to the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage List, the 6th site in the Philippines and the first in Mindanao.
Rodriguez said conservation and protection is the topmost priority and there are plans to beef the strength of Bantay Gubat (forest guards) in the area.
Another plan is the setting up of an extension laboratory of the Central Mindanao University whose scientists led by Dr. Victor Amaroso conductd a comprehensive study of flora in the mountain range located within the towns of San Isidro, Governor Generoso and the City of Mati.
Rodriguez said another plan is to build an interpretative site possible in San Isidro, the site will showcase the unique flora or perhaps fauna found in the mountain.
She said that these are part of the development to make Mt. Hamiguitan a learning and science mountain.
For mountain climbers who will have one less mountain to climb and explore, Rodriguez said they are opening the foothills found in the Mt. Hamiguitan Range. (PIA/RG Alama)
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