Aurora Memorial National Park
{{Short description|Protected area of the Philippines}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Aurora Memorial National Park
| alt_name =
| iucn_category = V
| photo =
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption = Bongabon portion of Sierra Madre
| photo_width = 240
| map = Philippines
| relief = 1
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| map_width = 180
| location = Nueva Ecija and Aurora, Philippines
| nearest_city = Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
| coordinates = {{coords|15|28|N|121|25|E|display=inline, title}}
| area = {{convert|5676|ha}}
| established = 1937
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Department of Environment and Natural Resources
| url =
}}
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.
History
Established in 1937 by virtue of Proclamation No. 220, the park initially had an area of {{convert|2356|ha|acre|abbr=off}}.{{cite web |title=Proclamation No. 220, s. 1937 |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1937/11/11/proclamation-no-220-s-1937/ |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines |access-date=September 20, 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920090946/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1937/11/11/proclamation-no-220-s-1937/ |archivedate=September 20, 2023}} By 1941, its size was more than doubled to its current area.{{cite web |title=Proclamation No. 744, s. 1941 |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1941/08/11/proclamation-no-744-s-1941/ |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines |access-date=September 20, 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920091412/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1941/08/11/proclamation-no-744-s-1941/ |archivedate=September 20, 2023}} In May 1949 the park was dedicated to former First Lady Aurora Aragon Quezon.{{cite web |title=Proclamation No. 130, s. 1949 |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1949/05/19/proclamation-no-130-s-1949/ |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines |access-date=February 22, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222064943/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1949/05/19/proclamation-no-130-s-1949/ |archivedate=February 22, 2019}}
Geography and environment
The Aurora Memorial National Park covers an area of {{convert|5676|ha|acre|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pawb.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63:region-3&catid=69:regions |title=Region 3 - Protected Areas |publisher=Department of Environment of Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau |access-date=June 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321103448/http://www.pawb.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63%3Aregion-3&catid=69%3Aregions |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=9717 |title=PH 017 - Aurora Memorial National Park |publisher=BirdLife International |access-date=June 13, 2012}}
=Wildlife=
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.visitphilippines.org/guide/8_0_37_1_National-Parks-in-Luzon-.:-VisitPhilippines.org-a-Best-Destination-Travel-Guide-by-Travelindex.html |title=National Parks in Luzon |publisher=VisitPhilippines.org |access-date=June 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914060828/http://www.visitphilippines.org/guide/8_0_37_1_National-Parks-in-Luzon-.%3A-VisitPhilippines.org-a-Best-Destination-Travel-Guide-by-Travelindex.html |archivedate=September 14, 2012 }} 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.{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/aurora-memorial-national-park-iba-philippines|title=Aurora Memorial National Park|author= |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-10-16}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{National parks of the Philippines}}
{{Protected areas in Central Luzon}}
{{Central Luzon attractions}}
{{authority control}}
Category:National parks of the Philippines
Category:Important Bird Areas of the Philippines
Category:Protected areas of the Sierra Madre (Philippines)
Category:Protected areas established in 1937
Category:1937 establishments in the Philippines
Category:Geography of Aurora (province)
Category:Geography of Nueva Ecija