The Libunao Protected Landscape, also known as the Libunao Spring Protected Landscape, is a
protected area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...
in the
Ilocos Region of the island of
Luzon in the
Philippines located on the western foothills of the Ilocos Mountain Range. It protects the Libunao Spring and surrounding forests, as well as the Nagcullooban River watershed. First proclaimed as the Libunao Spring Watershed Forest Reserve in 1931 through Proclamation No. 410 issued by Governor-General
Dwight F. Davis, the park was reestablished as a protected landscape area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System in 2000 through Proclamation No. 280 signed by President
Joseph Estrada. The Libunao watershed is the source of water supply for domestic use and irrigation of the surrounding farms and communities of northern
Ilocos Sur province.
Description
The protected landscape area of Libunao covers an area of .
It encompasses parts of the municipalities of
Sinait
Sinait, officially the Municipality of Sinait ( ilo, Ili ti Sinait; fil, Bayan ng Sinait), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 25,998 people.
History
Befo ...
and
Cabugao, from the rural Sinait village of Nagcullooban up to the Cabugao
sitio of Caset in Barangay Maradodon.
It has an average slope of between 18% and 50% steepness with a soil condition consisting of
clay loam
Loam (in geology and soil science) is soil composed mostly of sand (particle size > ), silt (particle size > ), and a smaller amount of clay (particle size < ). By weight, its mineral composition is about 40–40–20% concentration of sand–sil ...
.
The park is located approximately from the
poblacion or town proper of Sinait and Cabugao and some north of the provincial capital and heritage city of
Vigan. It is one of four protected watershed landscape areas in Ilocos Sur.
Libunao is covered primarily with
cogon grass and
giant reed
''Arundo donax'' is a tall perennial cane. It is one of several so-called reed species. It has several common names including giant cane, elephant grass, carrizo, arundo, Spanish cane, Colorado river reed, wild cane, and giant reed. ''Arundo'' an ...
. Its lowland forest contains some leguminous tree species such as mango,
narra,
mahogany
Mahogany is a straight-grained, reddish-brown timber of three tropical hardwood species of the genus ''Swietenia'', indigenous to the AmericasBridgewater, Samuel (2012). ''A Natural History of Belize: Inside the Maya Forest''. Austin: Unive ...
,
bangkal
''Nauclea orientalis'' is a species of tree in the family Rubiaceae, native to Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Australia. It has many common names, including bur tree, canary wood, Leichhardt pine and yellow cheesewood. It grows to a maximum of a ...
,
acacia
''Acacia'', commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa and Australasia. The genus na ...
,
ipil-ipil
''Leucaena leucocephala'' is a small fast-growing Mimosoideae, mimosoid tree native to southern Mexico and northern Central America (Belize and Guatemala) and is now naturalized throughout the tropics including parts of Asia.
Common names inc ...
,
duhat,
akleng parang,
elemi
''Canarium luzonicum'', commonly known as elemi, is a tree native to the Philippines. The oleoresin harvested from it is also known as elemi.
Synonyms
* ''Canarium carapifolium'' G.Perkins
* ''Canarium oliganthum'' Merr.
* ''Canarium polyanthu ...
,
tibig
''Ficus nota'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae. It is commonly known as tibig or sacking tree, is a species of fig tree found near water in low altitudes. Tibig is native to the Philippines. They are also found in parts of ...
,
hauili,
anabiong and
molave.
See also
*
Lidlidda Protected Landscape
The Lidlidda Protected Landscape, also known as the Lidlidda–Banayoyo Protected Landscape, is a protected area of natural springs and surrounding mountain forests in Ilocos Sur on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is an important water ...
*
Northern Luzon Heroes Hill National Park
The Northern Luzon Heroes Hill National Park is a national park in the Republic of the Philippines, located in the municipalities of Santa and partly in Narvacan in Ilocos Sur province. The protected area was established on July 9, 1963, by Procla ...
References
{{Protected areas in the Ilocos Region
Protected landscapes of the Philippines
Springs of the Philippines
Geography of Ilocos Sur
Landforms of Ilocos Sur
Protected areas established in 1931
1931 establishments in the Philippines