Philippines
Mount Hamiguitan
The Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary is a diverse mountain ecosystem with a high number of endemic plant and animal species.
The mountain range is home to a number of globally threatened and endemic species, such as the critically endangered Philippine Eagle and the tropical pitcher plant Nepenthes hamiguitanensis. It lies in a semi-isolated area in the south of Mindanao Island, which has led to a high level of endemicity.
Community Perspective: Hamiguitan’s visitor center can be visited as a day trip from Davao, the park itself is a strict reserve that only sparsely allows scientists and climbers (permit only).
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (ID: 1403)
- Country
- Philippines
- Status
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Inscribed 2014
Site history
History of Mount Hamiguitan
- 2010: Incomplete - not examined
- As part of former TWHS Mount Apo and Mount Hamiguitan: Sanctuaries of Endemism in Mindanao
- 2012: Incomplete - not examined
- 2012: Revision
- Includes part of former TWHS Mount Apo and Mount Hamiguitan: Sanctuaries of Endemism in Mindanao (2008)
- 2013: Referred
- 2013: Advisory Body overruled
- Deferral was proposed
- 2014: Inscribed
- Inscribed
- WHS Type
- Natural
- Criteria
- x
Links
- UNESCO
- whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- asean.chm-cbd.net — Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary
- jacobimages.com — Photographing Mount Hamiguitan
News Article
- Aug. 24, 2015 lifestyle.inquirer.net — Pamana killing threatens Mount Hamiguitan’s status as WHS
- Dec. 8, 2014 sunstar.com.ph — Funds approved for tourism centers in Hamiguitan sites
- July 9, 2014 businessmirror.com.ph — Mount Hamiguitan to remain closed to tourists
Community Information
- Community Category
- Wildlife habitat: Flora
Travel Information
One thousand visitors or fewer
Recent Connections
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Honey Collection
"...while Mount Hamiguitan in the Phili… -
Extension Supported
"Also encourages the State Party, in co… -
Plant WHS not in a CPD
"Its diversity of plants and animals in…
Connections of Mount Hamiguitan
- Geography
- Ecology
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Stratovolcanoes
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Eagles
Philippine Eagle (Official description) -
Carnivorous plants
nepenthes hamiguitanensis -
Endemic Bird Species
Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) and the Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia) -
Orchids
"makes the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary home to a total of 1,380 species with 341 Philippine endemics that include critically endangered species such as the... orchid Paphiopedilum adductum" (OUV) -
Critically endangered fauna species
Philippine Eagle (180-500 individuals remaining) -
Notable for Bats
provides habitat for the Philippine pygmy fruit bat (OUV) -
Rainforests
the site features several vegetation types of a tropical rainforest: dipterocarp, montane, typical mossy forest and mossy pygmy forest, with each forest type harboring endemic, threatened, rare and economically important plants and animal species (nom file)
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- World Heritage Process
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Reduced from broader TWHS
TWHS originally included Mount Apo. -
Natural sites filling gaps cited by IUCN
tropical montane forests of Sumatra, Philippines and Sulawesi -
Inscribed on a single criterion only
Crit X -
Extension Supported
"Also encourages the State Party, in consultation with communities and other stakeholders, to consider the possible further nomination of serial extensions to the property to include other protected areas with highly significant biodiversity values on Mindanao, provided that these areas meet the integrity, protection and management requirements for inclusion on the World Heritage List." (Decision 38 COM 8B.8)
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- Human Activity
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Honey Collection
"...while Mount Hamiguitan in the Philippines is benefiting from beekeeping as a sustainable income and environmental protection measure" (The Manila Times)
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- WHS on Other Lists
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Biodiversity hotspot
Philippines -
Plant WHS not in a CPD
"Its diversity of plants and animals include globally threatened species as well as a large number of endemic species including those species that exist only in the Philippines, only in Mindanao and only in the nominated property." (OUV) -
ASEAN Heritage Parks
2014
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- Visiting conditions
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One thousand visitors or fewer
DD : “Whilst visitation to the site is currently restricted to management, scientific research and monitoring purposes, it is planned to establish tourism access to the site in future.” (AB ev) - There are strict controls over access to the site. In pursuit of establishing sustainable financing mechanisms and promote sustainable livelihoods to the communities, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) decided to lift the closure of MHRWS to trekking and mountaineering in 2017 (IUCN Consultation, 2020a). However, the policy mitigates against potential associated threats through protocols and restrictions to maintain the site's integrity and values. For example, visitor entry is limited to 30 heads per climb and only within the established trails and campsites as described in Volume 2 of the Nomination Dossier of MHRWS (IUCN outlook 2020)
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- WHS Names
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Named after a Mountain
Mount Hamiguitan (1,620m)
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News
- lifestyle.inquirer.net 08/24/2015
- Pamana killing threatens Mount Ham…
- sunstar.com.ph 12/08/2014
- Funds approved for tourism centers…
- businessmirror.com.ph 07/09/2014
- Mount Hamiguitan to remain closed…
Community Reviews
Show full reviews
I visited this WHS in Spring 2025. The big international car rental companies are now available near Davao airport. For the time being (till the airport enlargement works are completed), you are greeted upon arrival (excellent communication via email and whatsapp prior to arrival) and a shuttle takes you to the car rental office in Davao. This will make you waste at least 30 minutes to 1 hour in total as getting in and out of the city is slow with heavy traffic at most times of the day.
Since we were arriving quite late in Davao, we decided to visit the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary/Centre first (which is not part of the WHS but we wanted to support their invaluable work and make sure to see this magnificent bird). It is a good 1.5 hours drive to get there and 4 hours away from the Mount Hamiguitan Natural Heritage Museum or Visitor Centre. A good resort near the sanctuary is the Malagos Garden Resort with its own bird show (no Philippine Eagles here), butterfly garden, etc. and a must stopover point if you'd like to taste and buy the excellent Malagos chocolate.
Something to keep in mind when in Mindanao is that when it rains here, it really pours, as can be clearly seen with all the flood advisories along the roads. This is why we didn't want to risk it, so we drove to the visitor centre immediately after visiting the eagle centre and arrived after sunset. …
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Mount Hamiguitan is difficult to reach by public transport as it involves several changes of buses/minibuses or jeepneys; but the good news is that nowadays it is possible to rent a car right at Davao airport, unlimited kilometers at a reasonable rate. Then, it is 3-4 hours drive to the visitors center which was closed for renovation, but it is possible to take the Heritage trail and see parts of the forest from viewpoints. This is not part of the core zone, and so is the nearby Hamiguitan Escape Resort with an amazing pool; it was also closed, but the pool was very welcome in this tropical climate. Uphill there is the Longhouse lodge with friendly owners. Here hikers stay overnight, it is the base camp for the Mount Hamiguitan climbers, the lucky ones with the permits. To have a short experience inside the core zone, ask around with the locals, Corner 17 is one of the entry points; Mount Hamiguitan was also declared an ASEAN Heritage park.
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Hamiguitan is a good 3½h by jeepney from the nearest town Davao. It is not an easy journey and you also need to ensure the driver drops you off at the junction to the visitor center and then still take a tricycle for the rest of the way. As accommodation is limited I recommend doing this really early morning and going back to Davao in the afternoon already. I can see why this is not of the more visited places as Mindanao is still considered somewhat unsafe in the southwest and tourism has almost nothing going on here. I also looked into renting a car but there is nothing.
Once you finally make it to the visitor center you can pay a puny entrance fee for a pretty good museum. The core zones of the national park are offlimit to regular visitors. No permit - no hike. No guide - no hike. You can do some small hikes around the sanctuary to see something but the good stuff will stay hidden from us tourists. If you want to see the Philippine Eagle you need to go to the Eagle Center north of Davao which I used as a picture.
I also wonder what happened to the proposal to add Mt. Apo into this inscription as this is another fine destination around Davao.
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In, 2010, Mt. Hamiguitan was closed to visitors in preparation for its bid to UNESCO World Heritage inscription. During a recent hike (July 2012), the protected area has shown positive signs of recovery. The mountain is indeed a biodiversity/endemism hotspot; its bonsai forest is just one of the many outstanding features of the property.
Also worth noting is the tireless and collective efforts of the concerned local government units in ensuring the protection of the park. Such a practice is rare in the country and very inspiring.
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