Significance

PPSRNP is inscribed in the UNESCO’s List of Natural World Heritage Sites. It features a spectacular limestone or karst formation. It contains an 8.2 km long underground river that flows directly into the sea. The lower half portion of the river is brackish and is affected by the ocean’s tides. An underground river that flows directly to the sea, and the associated tidal influence makes it one of the most unique natural phenomena of its kind to exist.
It contains a full mountain to sea ecosystems and protects some of the most significant forest areas within the Palawan Biogeographic Province. It represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The forest of the PPSRNP is a representative of Palawan Moist Forest that is noted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Global 200 report as having the richest tree flora in Asia with high levels of regional and local endemism.
The Park is one of the five Important Bird Areas (IBA) of Palawan which has been identified as one of the 7 Endemic Bird Areas (EBA) of the Philippines by Birdlife International(BI). It is inhabited by 5 internationally threatened bird species listed under Convention for Iinternationally Threatened and Endangered Species(CITES) including the Philippine cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia) and the Palawan peacock pheasant (Polyplectron emphanum).
The forest of the Park has significant contribution in the global effort in tackling the cause of climate change. As a major block of forest, it has the capability to absorb carbon dioxide and other green house gases from the atmosphere.