The Stratovolcano
Exploring the harmony between international geological significance, pristine ecosystems, and sacred ancestral heritage.
Geopark profile
A nationally significant protected landscape spanning two administrative regions in south-central Mindanao.
Geological and territorial profile
Mount Apo’s volcanic landforms, high-elevation ecosystems, and communities form one continuous heritage landscape.
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Mount Apo is a potentially active stratovolcano rising 2,954 meters above sea level, making it the highest peak in the Philippines. It covers 64,053 hectares: 54,975 hectares of protected area and a 9,078-hectare buffer zone.
It was formally established as a Natural Park on February 3, 2004, and declared a local geopark on July 27, 2022, thereby functioning as a de facto geopark.
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Situated in south-central Mindanao, the aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark spans Regions XI and XII. It covers parts of Cotabato (Magpet, Makilala, Kidapawan City), Davao del Sur (Bansalan, Sta. Cruz, Digos City), and Davao City.
The rugged Apo–Talomo Mountain Range is defined by steep slopes, ridges, gorges, and towering peaks shaped by volcanic and tectonic processes.
Culture and biodiversity
The identity of Mount Apo is inseparable from its ancestral communities and the exceptional life sustained across its slopes.
Sacred Culture & Ancestral Domain
The geopark takes its name from “Apo Sandawa,” a revered ancestral figure deeply honored by the Indigenous Peoples of the mountain. It is home to the Bagobo Tagabawa, Bagobo Klata, and Ubu Monuvu, whose ancestral domains share boundaries with Mount Apo.
For generations, these communities have regarded the mountain as sacred and sustained tangible and intangible heritage through stories, practices, and artifacts.
Ecological Framework
Within the Mindanao Biogeographic Zone, variations in altitude, slope, and microclimate create habitats for 378 vertebrate species.
These include the critically endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), Mindanao endemics such as the Apo Sunbird and Apo Myna, and high-altitude specialists including the Mindanao Fanged Frog.
Global framework
UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed through a holistic framework.
Learn more at UNESCOSafeguard geological, natural, and cultural heritage.
Build understanding of landscapes and the processes that shape them.
Support responsible local opportunity and long-term community benefit.
Community-driven by design. The bottom-up approach actively involves local people in safeguarding and benefiting from their geological heritage.
Legal Foundation
Republic Act
No. 9237
The Mount Apo Geopark shares the legally established boundary of the Mount Apo Natural Park, as outlined in Republic Act No. 9237.
Mount Apo Natural Park provides the territorial and institutional foundation of the geopark and is recognized as natural heritage through national, international, and local designations.
Institutional Oversight
The Mount Apo Geopark Management Unit operates under the direct supervision of the Protected Area Superintendent (PASu), aligning Geopark objectives with protected-area policies and conservation priorities.
National Level Management & Administration
Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
Official structure
Mount Apo Natural Park and Geopark management and administrative relationships.
Site Level Management
DENR Regions XI & XII
Sub-PAMB of Cotabato;
Sub-PAMB of Davao del Sur;
Sub-PAMB of Davao City;
Geopark Management Committee
Ancestral Domains of Bagobo-Tagabawa, Bagobo-Klata, and Ubu Monuvu
DENR Cotabato & Davao del Sur
Protected Area Management Office of Cotabato & Davao del Sur;
Geopark Management Unit’s Office of Cotabato & Davao del Sur
Bagobo-Tagabawa, Bagobo-Klata, and Ubu Monuvu
Official channels
Connect with the official administrative offices of Mount Apo Geopark.
Official Records Email
records.manpdenr11@gmail.comOffice of the PASu Email
manpdenr11@gmail.comOfficial Facebook Page
Mount Apo GeoparkContact Number
0950-517-1846