Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Nepenthes megastoma (Nepenthaceae), a micro-endemic pitcher plant from Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, Philippines

  Researchers have discovered and described Nepenthes megastoma, a new species of carnivorous pitcher plant endemic to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Palawan, Philippines. This micro-endemic species is critically endangered, known only from three locations within the Mount Saint Paul karst formation, where it thrives on vertical limestone walls. N. megastoma is distinguished by its highly branched stems, bell-shaped pitchers, and unique floral morphology, including dimorphic upper pitchers and unidirectionally upturned female flowers. Phylogenetic analysis suggests a close affinity with the widespread Palawan endemic N. philippinensis, despite morphological convergence with Borneo's N. campanulata. The discovery underscores the park's biodiversity significance while highlighting urgent conservation concerns due to its restricted range and small population size.

  ALTOMONTE, J. C. A., COLLANTES, J. P. R., MANGUSSAD, V., BUSTAMANTE, R. A. A., & ROBINSON, A. S. (2025). Nepenthes megastoma (Nepenthaceae), a micro-endemic pitcher plant from Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, Philippines. Phytotaxa, 728(2), 93–107. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.728.2.1

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• Marine Turtle Conservation Program at Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park: Challenges and Opportunities During COVID-19 Pandemic

  During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marine Turtle Conservation Program (MTCP) at Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park faced significant challenges and opportunities. The program, located in the Coral Triangle—a global biodiversity hotspot—successfully conserved three marine turtle species: green turtles (Chelonia mydas), hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), and olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea). Hatchling success averaged 82% from 2015 to 2021, with a peak of 2,476 hatchlings in 2019-2020. Key challenges included debris from Typhoon Odette, while the absence of noise during nesting seasons presented new opportunities for conservation efforts. The study used documentary analysis, net-notgraphy, virtual discussions, and structured questionnaires to assess these impacts.

  Acero, L. (2023). MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION PROGRAM AT PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC. Biotropia, 30(1), 106–115. https://doi.org/10.11598/btb.2023.30.1.1915

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• Nuisance behaviors of macaques in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, Philippines

  A study on nuisance behaviors of Long-tailed Macaques in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Philippines, found that while littering was the most common behavior observed by researchers, locals primarily reported crop eating as a concern. Despite occasional aggressive tourist-macaque encounters, human-macaque interactions were relatively mild, attributed to positive local attitudes and effective park management. The research, combining direct observation, surveys, and complaint databases, also revealed that while nuisance behaviors exist, they are largely linked to the macaques' food security, with only a small percentage of locals engaging in negative practices like hunting or pet-keeping.

  Gamalo, L. E., Baril, J., Dimalibot, J., Asis, A., Anas, B., Puna, N., & Paller, V. G. (2019). Nuisance behaviors of macaques in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, Philippines. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 11(3), 13287–13294. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4702.11.3.13287-13294

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• Three new species of Begonia endemic to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan

  Researchers have discovered three new species of Begonia endemic to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, highlighting the unique flora supported by its limestone habitats. This finding underscores the biodiversity richness and the importance of protecting this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study employed field surveys and morphological analyses to characterize these new species, demonstrating that significant botanical diversity remains undocumented even in well-studied areas.

  Rubite, R. R., Hughes, M., Blanc, P., Chung, K.-F., Yang, H.-A., Kono, Y., Alejandro, G. J. D., De Layola, L. B., Virata, A. G. N., & Peng, C.-I. (2015). Three new species of Begonia endemic to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan. Botanical Studies, 56(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40529-015-0099-1

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• Violent enclosures, violated livelihoods: environmental and military territoriality in a Philippine frontier

  This research reveals how overlapping environmental and military governance in the buffer zone of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park exacerbates livelihood vulnerabilities for indigenous communities, particularly the Tagbanua. The study demonstrates that 'violent enclosures'—where conservation and military interventions converge—create coercive governance structures that criminalize local behavior, merging ecological and political control. By analyzing local experiences in Palawan, Philippines, the authors show that these contested frontiers, though seemingly less governable, are highly politicized spaces where scarce resources are tightly managed. The findings underscore the need for policy makers to critically engage with how governance processes yield structural violence, enabling indigenous peoples to navigate the double bind of overlapping enclosures. This work contributes to understanding the complex interplay between conservation, militarization, and agrarian change in protected areas.

  Dressler, W. H., & Guieb, E. R. (2015). Violent enclosures, violated livelihoods: environmental and military territoriality in a Philippine frontier. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 42(2), 323–345. https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2014.991718

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• Tourismus im UNESCO Weltnaturerbe: Einkommen steigen, Disparitäten bleiben im philippinischen Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park

  Tourism in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park has significantly boosted local incomes but has not reduced disparities. The study found that while tourism creates new job opportunities and income sources for residents of Cabayugan, a rural area near Puerto Princesa City, benefits are unevenly distributed, often increasing or maintaining existing inequalities. The research analyzed how tourism impacts livelihood strategies, infrastructure access, and social and environmental changes in the region. Despite its potential as pro-poor tourism, the growth in visitor numbers to the famous underground river has not led to equitable economic development for all local communities.

  Seiler, C., & Backhaus, N. (2014). Tourismus im UNESCO Weltnaturerbe. Zeitschrift Für Tourismuswissenschaft, 6(2), 213–218. https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2014-0207

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• Green governmentality and swidden decline on Palawan Island

  Environmental governance initiatives on Palawan Island, Philippines, are reshaping local swidden farming practices through a process termed 'green governmentality.' This study reveals how technical knowledge and sustainability narratives, deployed by diverse institutions, influence Tagbanua farmers to shift from long fallow cultivation to permanent agriculture. While governmental discourse is flexibly interpreted, it systematically reinforces swidden decline, increasing livelihood risks and marginalization. The research combines case studies with spatial analysis to demonstrate the convergence of global governance agendas with local political economies, highlighting unintended social and environmental consequences.

  Dressler, W. (2013). Green governmentality and swidden decline on Palawan Island. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 39(2), 250–264. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12026

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• Local People's Perception on the Impacts and Importance of Ecotourism in Sabang, Palawan, Philippines

  A significant increase in livelihood opportunities and economic development has been observed in Sabang, Palawan, following the rise of ecotourism around the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP), recognized as one of the new seven wonders of nature. The study reveals that while local residents perceive ecotourism positively—highlighting benefits such as income generation and urban development—they often overlook its ecological underpinnings, despite showing high awareness and involvement in environmental protection efforts. This disconnect stems from a heavy dependence on tourism, which overshadows the understanding of ecotourism as a sustainable practice tied to natural resource conservation. The research, based on surveys and interviews with householders and key informants in Sabang, underscores the need for broader community education on the ecological foundations of ecotourism to ensure its long-term sustainability.

  Jalani, J. O. (2012). Local People’s Perception on the Impacts and Importance of Ecotourism in Sabang, Palawan, Philippines. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 57, 247–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.09.1182

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• First to third nature: the rise of capitalist conservation on Palawan Island, the Philippines

  Capitalist conservation is accelerating agrarian change and commodifying nature at the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. The study reveals how translocal capitalist pressures revalue rural lands and ecosystems as marketable assets to finance development, transforming shared resources into capital under the guise of conservation. Using the concepts of 'first' and 'third nature,' it demonstrates that resource partitioning, objectification, and commodification have intensified differentiation among rural communities, driven by private investments that align with modern Philippine ideals. While this process revalues nature in market terms, its effects remain recursive and context-dependent, blending conservation and development in partial ways.

  Dressler, W. H. (2011). First to third nature: the rise of capitalist conservation on Palawan Island, the Philippines. Journal of Peasant Studies, 38(3), 533–557. https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2011.582580

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• Population densities of understorey birds across a habitat gradient in Palawan, Philippines: implications for conservation

  A study of understorey bird populations in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Philippines, reveals that old-growth forests are critical for conserving Palawan's endemic and threatened birds. While some species thrive in disturbed habitats like cultivation, the highest densities of 11 species—including five endemics and three threatened ones—were found in undisturbed forests. The research highlights the importance of retaining large trees to sustain suitable microhabitats, cautioning against expanding cultivated areas within protected zones. Though population estimates for threatened species may be higher than previously thought, the study underscores the need for stronger conservation management across Palawan's protected areas.

  Mallari, N. A. D., Collar, N. J., Lee, D. C., McGowan, P. J. K., Wilkinson, R., & Marsden, S. J. (2011). Population densities of understorey birds across a habitat gradient in Palawan, Philippines: implications for conservation. Oryx, 45(2), 234–242. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605310001031

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