Aurora Memorial National Park

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

Originally named Boñgabon-Baler National Park, the site was established in 1937 by virtue of Proclamation No. 220 by President Manuel L. Quezon. The park initially had an area of. By 1941, its size was more than doubled to its current area. In May 1949 the park was dedicated to former First Lady Aurora Aragon Quezon.

Geography and environment

The Aurora Memorial National Park covers an area of 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 and forestry.

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. The park has been designated an Important Bird Area 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.