Aurora Memorial National Park

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Aurora Memorial National Park
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Philippines relief location map (square).svg
Red pog.svg
Location Nueva Ecija and Aurora, Philippines
Nearest city Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
Coordinates 15°28′N121°25′E / 15.467°N 121.417°E / 15.467; 121.417
Area5,676 hectares (14,030 acres)
Established1937
Governing body Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Aurora Memorial National Park is a protected area of the Philippines located within the Sierra Madre mountain range between the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Aurora in Central Luzon.

Contents

History

Originally named Boñgabon-Baler National Park, the site was established in 1937 by virtue of Proclamation No. 220 by President Manuel L. Quezon. [1] The park initially had an area of 2,356 hectares (5,820 acres). [2] By 1941, its size was more than doubled to its current area. [3] In May 1949 the park was dedicated to former First Lady Aurora Aragon Quezon. [4]

Geography and environment

The Aurora Memorial National Park covers an area of 5,676 ha (14,030 acres) [5] stretching over 50 km along the scenic Bongabon-Baler road.

The maximum altitude of the park is reported to be 1,000 m, so the main forest type inside the park must be lowland dipterocarp, with only limited areas of montane forest. Land uses inside the park include both permanent and shifting agriculture (kaingin) and forestry. [6]

Wildlife

Canili Dam in Maria Aurora FvfNEAurora8065 27.JPG
Canili Dam in Maria Aurora

The park is promoted by the local government as an eco-tourism destination containing some of the most important rainforests in this part of the region. Its location in the Sierra Madre range provides a rich habitat to a diverse flora and fauna, including several species of amphibians, reptiles and birds. [7] The park has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of Philippine ducks, spotted imperial-pigeons, flame-breasted fruit-doves, Philippine eagles, Philippine hawk-eagles, green racket-tails, whiskered pittas, golden-crowned and Luzon striped babblers, and Luzon water-redstarts. [8]

See also

References

  1. "Proclamation No. 220, s. 1937 | GOVPH". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  2. "Proclamation No. 220, s. 1937". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  3. "Proclamation No. 744, s. 1941". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  4. "Proclamation No. 130, s. 1949". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  5. "Region 3 - Protected Areas". Department of Environment of Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  6. "PH 017 - Aurora Memorial National Park". BirdLife International . Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  7. "National Parks in Luzon". VisitPhilippines.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  8. "Aurora Memorial National Park". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.