Story: Elmer Recuerdo
Photos: From the Net
Photos: From the Net
TACLOBAN CITY – Governors of Samar island welcome the inclusion of the 300,000-hectare Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) in the tentative list of the World Heritage Sites of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
SINP is one of the 24 sites in the country that were included in the list based on the nomination by the country's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO.
The Philippines already has six sites included in the World Heritage List, namely: the Baroque Churches, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan, Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras, the historic City of Vigan, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental.
According to UNESCO, "World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and, as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy."
Those in the World Heritage List enjoy legal protection by an international convention administered by the UNESCO. World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other forms of significance.
UNESCO added that being listed as a World Heritage Site can positively affect the site, its environment, and interactions between them. "A listed site gains international recognition and legal protection, and can obtain funds from, among others, the World Heritage Fund to facilitate its conservation under certain conditions."
SINP is one of the 24 sites in the country that were included in the list based on the nomination by the country's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO.
The Philippines already has six sites included in the World Heritage List, namely: the Baroque Churches, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan, Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras, the historic City of Vigan, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental.
According to UNESCO, "World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and, as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy."
Those in the World Heritage List enjoy legal protection by an international convention administered by the UNESCO. World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other forms of significance.
UNESCO added that being listed as a World Heritage Site can positively affect the site, its environment, and interactions between them. "A listed site gains international recognition and legal protection, and can obtain funds from, among others, the World Heritage Fund to facilitate its conservation under certain conditions."
Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan said the inclusion of SINP in the short list is a great honor and responsibility for the people of Samar island.
"The gifts and wonders of our Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) have been there from time immemorial. To be included in the tentative List of World UNESCO Heritage Sites, is a great honor and, at the same time, a responsibility for all of us in the Island to really protect and preserve SINP, not only for this generation but the generations after us. That's what heritage means - to pass it as a present to humanity," Ongchuan said.
"The gifts and wonders of our Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) have been there from time immemorial. To be included in the tentative List of World UNESCO Heritage Sites, is a great honor and, at the same time, a responsibility for all of us in the Island to really protect and preserve SINP, not only for this generation but the generations after us. That's what heritage means - to pass it as a present to humanity," Ongchuan said.
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said the inclusion of SINP in the list is "a proud moment for all Samarnon people."
"In our long bid for SINP to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we are ecstatic to now be included in the Tentative Listing," Tan said in a statement.
The UNESCO explains that a Tentative List is an inventory of those properties which each State Party intends to consider for nomination.
The UN body encourages state parties to submit their Tentative Lists, properties which they consider to be cultural and/or natural heritage of outstanding universal value and therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List.
The Tentative Lists of States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate harmonization of Tentative Lists at regional and thematic levels.
In its website, UNESCO describes SINP as "within the Eastern Visayas Bio-Geographic Zone and the Greater Mindanao Faunal Region and is considered the center of biological diversity in the Philippines."
It said SINP is "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," it added.
Four areas within SINP were identified as rich biodiversity and high rate of endemism converge. These are the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Basey, Calbiga Caves Protected Landscape, Jicontol Natural Park in Eastern Samar, Taft Forest Philippine Eagle Wildlife Sanctuary.(CJ/jmm/ER)
"In our long bid for SINP to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we are ecstatic to now be included in the Tentative Listing," Tan said in a statement.
The UNESCO explains that a Tentative List is an inventory of those properties which each State Party intends to consider for nomination.
The UN body encourages state parties to submit their Tentative Lists, properties which they consider to be cultural and/or natural heritage of outstanding universal value and therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List.
The Tentative Lists of States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate harmonization of Tentative Lists at regional and thematic levels.
In its website, UNESCO describes SINP as "within the Eastern Visayas Bio-Geographic Zone and the Greater Mindanao Faunal Region and is considered the center of biological diversity in the Philippines."
It said SINP is "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," it added.
Four areas within SINP were identified as rich biodiversity and high rate of endemism converge. These are the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Basey, Calbiga Caves Protected Landscape, Jicontol Natural Park in Eastern Samar, Taft Forest Philippine Eagle Wildlife Sanctuary.(CJ/jmm/ER)
