The Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP) was established as a protected area under the

National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) through Presidential Proclamation No. 978 dated 10 March 1997 in accordance with Republic Act No. 7586, also known as the NIPAS Act of 1992. On 22 April 2001, the Park was fully established under the System under Republic Act No. 9125. The NSMNP is located in the Province of Isabela covering the Municipalities of Palanan, Maconacon, Divilacan, Ilagan, San Mariano, Tumauini, Cabagan, San Pablo, and Dinapigue. It is considered one of the most important protected areas of the Philippines due to its biodiversity. It is the largest protected area in the country covering 359,486 hectares of forested lands. The topography of NSMNP ranges from relatively low hills with dominantly moderate steep slopes near the coast to increasingly higher mountains with very steep slopes towards the central portion of the Sierra Madre Range. Gullies and ravines are precipitous and valleys are typical V-shaped with very narrow floors. Dominating the central portion of the Sierra Madre Range are peaks and sharp ridges. Topography is moderately rolling with knobby hills and numerous depressions (sinkholes). The highest peak within the vicinity of the NSMNP is Mount Cresta with an elevation of 1,672 meters above sea level. The second highest is Mount Divilacan with an elevation of 1,311 m asl, and is found at the central portion of the Park. These peaks form the physiographic divide between the eastern and western flanks of the Sierra Madre Range. The NSMNP provides the area for growth and development of unique habitats and their associated flora and fauna which is among the most unique and richest on a per area basis among the NIPAS sites in the Philippines. It is described as long mountain chain providing habitats for the numerous species of plants and animals adapted to various ecological niches. The NSMNP is noted for its rich marine and terrestrial biotic components. Its high species diversity index of flora and fauna, the presence of numerous endemic plants and animals, the vast expanse of lowland evergreen rainforests representing 25% of the remaining primary rainforest cover of the Philippines and the various types of habitats, are the main considerations for preserving the NSMNP. Out of the total number of species known to occur in NSMNP, endemics include 21 species of terrestrial mammals (48%), 83 species of birds (29%), 16 species of terrestrial reptiles (41%), 13 species of amphibians (72%) and 29 species of butterflies (56%). Some of the rare and endangered species of fauna recorded are the following: Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), Golden Crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus), Philippine Eagle-Owl (Bubo philippensis),Isabela Oriole (Oriolus isabellae),Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas),Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), Hawksbill Turtle (Erethmochelys imbricata), Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) and Dugong (Dugong dugon). The NSMNP is categorized as Extremely High Critical for biodiversity conservation by the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priority-Setting Program (PBCPP) initiated jointly by Conservation International Philippines, University of the Philippines Diliman and the DENR thru the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. It is one of the Key Biodiversity Areas of the Philippines. (End of PAWB Brief)