TACLOBAN CITY — After years of scientific study and inter-provincial collaboration, the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) has moved a step closer to gaining international recognition, following the formal submission of its UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Nomination Dossier.
The provincial government of Samar confirmed that the dossier has been submitted to the National Commission of the Philippines for UNESCO (UNACOM) and is now being transmitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris, France, as the country’s official nomination under the World Heritage Convention.
The submission caps eight years of research, documentation, consultations, and coordination aimed at meeting UNESCO’s strict criteria for natural heritage sites.
Preparatory work began in 2018, with a comprehensive biodiversity assessment conducted in 2021. In 2024, SINP was included in the Philippines’ Tentative List, a mandatory step before a formal nomination. The dossier was finalized and submitted in 2026 ahead of the UNESCO deadline.
The nomination is being led by the provincial government of Samar, in partnership with the University of Santo Tomas–Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics (UST-CCCPET) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Eastern Visayas, with support from the provincial governments of Eastern and Northern Samar.
Several institutions backed the effort, including the Department of Tourism (DOT) Eastern Visayas, Samar State University, Northwest Samar State University, local government units, scientific experts, civil society groups, and community partners.
Known for its vast primary forests, vital watersheds, endemic flora and fauna, and unique geological formations, Samar Island Natural Park is considered one of the country’s most important biodiversity areas. Officials said the nomination underscores the Philippines’ commitment to conservation, heritage protection, and sustainable development.
With the dossier now heading to Paris, the nomination will undergo technical evaluation by UNESCO—bringing Samar Island Natural Park closer to possible inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
