Aliwagwag Protected Landscape
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Aliwagwag Protected Landscape
| alt_name = Aliwagwag Falls
| iucn_category = V
| photo = Aliwagwag Falls, 2018 01.jpg
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption = Aliwagwag Falls as seen from the road (2018)
| photo_width =
| map = Philippines
| relief = 1
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in the Philippines
| map_width = 220
| location = Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental, Philippines
| nearest_city = Bislig
| coordinates = {{coords|7|44|35|N|126|17|56|E|region:PH|display=inline, title}}
| area = {{convert|10491.33|ha}}
| established = April 5, 2011
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Department of Environment and Natural Resources
| url =
| child =
| embedded =
}}
The Aliwagwag Protected Landscape is a protected area that preserves a major drainage catchment in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao in the Davao Region. It contains the headwaters of the Cateel River in the southern Diuata Mountain Range which provides the water source and irrigation for surrounding rice fields and communities in Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental provinces. It was named after the remote rural village in the municipality of Cateel where Aliwagwag Falls, the country's highest waterfall, is located.{{cite web|url=http://traveltips.usatoday.com/highest-waterfall-philippines-106385.html|title=The Highest Waterfall in the Philippines|publisher=USA Today|access-date=November 15, 2014}}
The protected landscape is part of the Philippines' National Integrated Protected Areas System and was established in 2011 through Proclamation No. 139 issued by President Benigno Aquino III.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2011/04/05/proclamation-no-139/|title=Proclamation No. 139, s. 2011|publisher=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines|access-date=November 15, 2014}} It was initially a component of the {{convert|1927400|ha|adj=on}} Agusan–Davao–Surigao Forest Reserve declared in 1931 through Proclamation No. 369 by Governor-General Dwight F. Davis which underwent several amendments over the years to open up a few areas in the mineral rich watershed to mining.{{cite web|url=http://www.denr.gov.ph/policy/1991/mindao91-66.pdf|title=Administrative Order No. 66|publisher=Department of Environment and Natural Resources|access-date=November 15, 2014}}{{Dead link|date=October 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1959/05/08/proclamation-no-583-s-1959/|title=Proclamation No. 583, s. 1959|publisher=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines|access-date=November 15, 2014}} The protected landscape was ultimately declared a national park under Republic Act No. 11038 (Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018) signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in July 2018.{{cite news |last1=Aurelio |first1=Julie M. |title=Expanded Nipas law creates 94 more nat’l parks across PH |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1007859/expanded-nipas-law-creates-94-more-natl-parks-across-ph |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=7 July 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241021053739/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1007859/expanded-nipas-law-creates-94-more-natl-parks-across-ph#selection-1165.6-1165.108 |archive-date=21 October 2024 |language=en}}
Description
File:Aliwagwag Falls Protected Landscape.jpg
Aliwagwag is situated in the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor which contains one of the largest remaining blocks of tropical lowland rainforest in the Philippines.{{cite web|url=http://www.conservation.org/global/philippines/where/mindanao/Pages/eastern_mindanao_corridor.aspx|title=Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor|publisher=Conservation International|access-date=November 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501030819/http://www.conservation.org/global/philippines/where/mindanao/pages/eastern_mindanao_corridor.aspx|archive-date=May 1, 2013|url-status=dead}} It covers an area of {{convert|10491.33|ha}} and a buffer zone of {{convert|420.6|ha}} in the hydrologically rich mountainous interior of the municipalities of Cateel and Boston in Davao Oriental as well as a portion of the municipality of Compostela in Davao de Oro. A tributary of the Cateel River which includes the Aliwagwag Falls flows through the park from the {{convert|1660|m|ft|adj=on}} high Mount Agtuuganon in the Diuata Range or Mindanao Pacific Cordillera. This multi-tiered waterfall with 84 steps ranging from {{convert|6-110|ft|m}} has a combined height of {{convert|1110|ft|m}}. To the south of the park lie the foothills of the {{convert|1416|m|ft|adj=on}} high Mount Pasian with the Cateel River running between the mountains and into the Cateel Bay which opens to the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
The protected landscape is composed of lowland forests, with some areas of montane and mossy forests around the peaks of the mountains. A small Mandaya community who practice slash-and-burn agriculture and plantation farming can also be found in the park's lower slopes.{{cite web|url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=9787%22)|title=PH087 Mount Agtuuganon and Mount Pasian|publisher=BirdLife International|access-date=November 15, 2014}} Near the park's eastern edge are irrigation canals leading to the Cateel Dam in the village of Aragon which provides irrigation to over {{convert|1600|ha}} of rice fields in 11 villages in Cateel.
Aliwagwag is accessible via the new Compostela–Cateel Road that runs through the park and near the waterfall connecting northern Davao Oriental with Compostela. It is located just {{convert|15|mi|km}} west from the Cateel Poblacion and some {{convert|200|mi|km}} east of Davao City.
Biodiversity
Aliwagwag occupies an important bird and biodiversity area in the Upper Cateel River Basin of the Agtuuganon–Pasian mountains. Its forest is home to the Philippine eagle as well as several other threatened and endemic bird species such as the Visayan miniature babbler, little slaty flycatcher and Lina's sunbird. The park also hosts the Philippine hawk-eagle, Philippine dwarf kingfisher, spotted imperial pigeon, giant scops owl, and Hombron's kingfisher. It is also home to the tallest trees in the Philippines, the Philippine rosewood, known locally as toog. In the waters of the upper Cateel River, a rare species of fish can be found called sawugnun by locals which is harvested as a delicacy.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Protected areas in the Davao Region}}
Category:Protected landscapes of the Philippines
Category:Geography of Davao Oriental
Category:Tourist attractions in Davao Oriental
Category:Geography of Davao de Oro