World Heritage Inscription

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) was officially inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) List of Natural World Heritage Sites on December 4, 1999, in recognition of its outstanding universal value to humanity. This prestigious designation highlights the park’s exceptional natural features and its global importance in environmental conservation.

The site was inscribed under Criterion (vii), which recognizes areas that contain superlative natural phenomena or exhibit exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. The dramatic limestone karst landscape, pristine forest cover, and the world-renowned underground river system flowing directly into the sea exemplify these qualities. Additionally, PPSRNP meets Criterion (x), as it contains some of the most important and significant natural habitats for the in-situ conservation of biological diversity. The park supports a wide range of flora and fauna, including endemic and threatened species, making it a vital refuge for biodiversity and ecological processes.

This UNESCO recognition underscores the international commitment to protect the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and reinforces its role as a model for sustainable conservation and responsible ecotourism in the Philippines and beyond.