I’ve read about this place for about a year now. I went to school in San Isidro , Davao Oriental but I never even knew about this forest.

Unlike any other forests, Mt. Haguimitan Wildlife Range  has bonsai trees aging at least 100 years old. It has a total land area of 6,834 hectares that is found to possess high and varied ecosystem with many endangered, endemic and rare species of flora and fauna.

I am so glad to note that the Local Government of Davao Oriental is taking measures to preserve its value and uniqueness. As of the moment, they’ve closed the area from trekkers pending the approval of the LGU’s management plans on how to protect the forest that is home to the pygmy trees and the 2nd largest eagle in the world, the Philippine Eagle.

The LGU submitted a bid to UNESCO for them to inscript this valuable wildlife sanctuary as a World Heritage Site.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5487/

I am praying that this will be approved as such so that it will always be protected and conserved.

I also commend the LGU of Davao Oriental for their efforts in protecting this wonderful site.

This is a very good legacy for our children and our “children’s children” in the future. When I think of a World Heritage site, I think of Angkor Wat. The Banaue Rice Terraces. The Great Wall of China.

All of those are man made. While the bonsai forest of Mt. Haguimitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary is a splendid work of God.

To all the people of Davao Oriental and the rest of the Philippines, should this place be opened again in the future, please don’t litter. And let’s do our best to help in protecting this beautiful gift of nature…

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com