Protect Sierra Madre: Philippines’ Natural Shield
Protect Sierra Madre: Philippines’ Natural Shield
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Strengthen policy. Protect communities. Restore the forest.
The Sierra Madre Mountain Range, known as the Backbone of Luzon, stretches from Cagayan to Quezon and stands as the longest mountain range in the Philippines. Facing the Pacific Ocean, it acts as a natural shield, weakening strong typhoons and protecting millions of Filipinos in Luzon.
The Sierra Madre Mountain Range, known as the Backbone of Luzon, stretches from Cagayan to Quezon and stands as the longest mountain range in the Philippines. Facing the Pacific Ocean, it acts as a natural shield, weakening strong typhoons and protecting millions of Filipinos in Luzon.
Covering about 1.4 million hectares across 10 provinces, Sierra Madre is home to the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, which includes vast forests, coastal areas, and 14 major river systems. According to the DENR, nearly 40% of the country’s remaining forest cover in 1999 was found here.
With over 3,500 plant species—many of them endemic—and 80% of Luzon’s resident breeding birds, Sierra Madre is one of the most important biodiversity corridors in the Philippines. The IUC has also identified over 130 threatened plant and animal species within its forests, highlighting its ecological significance and the urgent need to protect it.
(https://scholarlypublications.universiteitleiden.nl/handle/1887/13052)
Deforestation in the Sierra Madre exposes weaknesses in government environmental policies and enforcement, reducing the Philippines’ natural protection against typhoons and increasing the risk of severe flooding and destruction in lowland communities.
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