Trekking activities at the Mt. Apo Natural Park are suspended temporarily for three months.

The Mt. Apo Natural Park Protected Area Management Office (MANP-PAMO) has announced the annual closure of the park from June 1 to August 31, 2024, ‘to pave the way for the breeding season of wildlife in the park, providing them with the necessary undisturbed environment to thrive in their natural habitats.’

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office-Soccsksargen (DENR-12), this proactive initiative aims to give the park, tagged as a sacred mountain and a critical biodiversity hotspot, the opportunity to recuperate and flourish.

“By suspending trekking activities during this period, anthropogenic intervention is minimized, providing wildlife the space they need to roam freely and facilitate the rejuvenation of the flora ecosystem,” DENR-12 said.

It can be recalled that trekking activities were also suspended last March 20, 2024 until April 30, 2024, as part of the precautionary measures to mitigate the heightened risk of wildfires during the dry spell.

“The temporary closure period not only serves to conserve the delicate ecosystem of MANP but also highlights the significance of allowing nature the necessary space and time to thrive,” DENR-12 added.