Palawan, Puerto Princesa. Subterranean River.
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is one of the most important protected area in the Philippines & is designated as a core area of Palawan Biosfera Reserved. It was establish as the St. Paul Subterranean National Park on march 26, 1971 by virtue of presidential proclamation 853. It was created primarily to protect & preserved the outstanding biophisical properties of the area. However, studies late concluded that the size was no sufficient to ensure the long term viability of the park. This was resolved by the signing of presedential proclamation 212 on november 12, 1999.
The park is best known for the existence of an entensive underground river sistem. It also protects significant old growth tropical considered by experts to be among the most biologically diverse ecosystem in the world. So far more than 800 plant species have been identified including some 295 trees dominated by the dipterocarp type species. The park is also a home to 90 species of birds, 30 species of mammals, 18 species of reptiles, 10 species of amphibians & a large number of insect species.
In recognition of its hight consevartion value, the United Nations Educationals, scientific & cultural organization (UNESCO) has inscribed the park to the list of the world heritage site.
