{{Short description|Protected area in the Philippines}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Casecnan Protected Landscape | alt_name = | iucn_category = V | image = AlfonsoCastañedajf0131 13.JPG | image_alt = | image_caption = Casecnan River in Nueva Vizcaya | image_size = | map = Philippines | relief = 1 | map_alt = | map_caption = Location in the Philippines | map_width = 220 | location = Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Aurora, Philippines | nearest_city = San Jose, Nueva Ecija | coordinates = {{coords|16|1|59|N|121|26|57|E|region:PH|display=inline, title}} | area = {{convert|88846.80|ha}} | established = August 11, 1987 (Watershed forest reserve)<br/>April 23, 2000 (Protected landscape) | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = Department of Environment and Natural Resources | url = | child = | module = }}
The '''Casecnan Protected Landscape''' is a protected area in the Casecnan River watershed of eastern Luzon in the Philippines. It has a total area of {{convert|88846.80|ha}} straddling the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Aurora.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bmb.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62:region-2&catid=69 |title=Region 2 - Protected Areas |publisher=Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau |access-date=30 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025070816/http://bmb.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62%3Aregion-2&catid=69 |archivedate=25 October 2014 }}</ref> The {{convert|57930|ha|adj=on}} Casecnan River Watershed Forest Reserve was established in August 1987 by virtue of Executive Order No. 136 issued by President Corazon Aquino.<ref name="ecawatch">{{cite web |url=http://www.eca-watch.org/problems/asia_pacific/philippines/casecnan_fieldreport.pdf |title=The Controversial Casecnan Project |publisher=ECA Watch |access-date=30 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014164610/http://www.eca-watch.org/problems/asia_pacific/philippines/casecnan_fieldreport.pdf |archive-date=14 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 2000, the forest reserve was enlarged to {{convert|88846.80|ha}} and was reclassified as a protected landscape area through Proclamation No. 289.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denr.gov.ph/policy/2000/PP_2000_289.pdf |title=Proclamation No. 289 |publisher=Department of Environment and Natural Resources |access-date=30 October 2014 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It is considered one of the last remaining substantial water sources for the region of Central Luzon.<ref name="ecawatch"/>
==Description== The protected landscape area stretches over the municipalities of Dupax del Norte and Dupax del Sur in Nueva Vizcaya, Maddela in Quirino, and Dipaculao in Aurora. It was established to protect the watershed around the Casecnan River, a tributary of the Rio Grande de Cagayan which flows through the mountains of central Sierra Madre, the Caraballo and Mamparang ranges.<ref name="senate">{{cite web |url=http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2008/0108_angara4.asp |title=Angara moves to declare Subic-Bataan Natural Park, Casecnan Protected Landscape as protected areas |publisher=Senate of the Philippines |access-date=30 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112112/http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2008/0108_angara4.asp |archivedate=4 March 2016 }}</ref> The river is used heavily for irrigation and serves much of the surrounding communities in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley. It also supplies hydroelectric power to the region, an additional 140 megawatts of power capacity to the Luzon grid through a tunnel and powerhouse built in 2001 from the diversion weirs in the Casecnan and Taan rivers in Nueva Vizcaya near Mount Guiwan to the Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija.<ref name="ecawatch"/> The Casecnan Dam is considered one of the most expensive hydroelectric plants in the country and was criticized for its adverse impact on the ecology of the protected area as well as the local community of Ilongot people (also known as Bugkalot) residing in the watershed area.<ref name="ecawatch"/>
On June 22, 2018, the feature was designated a national park through the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act or Republic Act No. 11038 which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.<ref>{{cite web |title=New law declares 5 Cagayan Valley's protected areas as national parks |url=http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1011268 |website=Philippine Information Agency |access-date=10 August 2018 |date=7 August 2018}}</ref>
==Wildlife== The Casecnan Protected Landscape area is a haven for wildlife, some of which are unique and endangered, including the Philippine deer, Philippine eagle, cloud rat, hornbill, kingfisher and Philippine warty pig.<ref name="senate"/>
==See also== * Salinas Natural Monument * Aurora Memorial National Park
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Protected areas in Cagayan Valley}} {{Protected areas in Central Luzon}} {{authority control}}
Category:Protected landscapes of the Philippines Category:Geography of Nueva Vizcaya Category:Geography of Quirino Category:Geography of Aurora (province) Category:Protected areas of the Sierra Madre (Philippines) Category:Protected areas established in 1987 Category:1987 establishments in the Philippines Category:National parks of the Philippines