Mount Matutum is Home to Many Species of Plants and Animals

MOUNT MATUTUM

Photo from: http://thingsasian.com/story/mt-matutum-true-gift-mother-nature

Mount Matutum is situated in Tupi, South Cotabato. It is an active volcanic mountain with an elevation of 2,286 meters above the sea level. The last recorded eruption of this mountain was in 1911. The shape of this mountain is like Mount Mayon, symmetrically conical which was molded by the last eruption activities, but it is not a perfect cone.

Mount Matutum hosts a variety of flora and fauna which is composed of 110 plant species and 57 animal species. It is a home of tropical and rare species of birds, including the rarest, tallest, largest and most powerful birds in the world, the Philippine Eagles (Pithecophaga jefferyi) or the monkey-eating eagles, that have been lined-up as endangered. There are also bleeding heart pigeons, the Negros fruit doves which are almost extinct, barblers, warblers, doves, bulbuls, woopeckers, and snowy brown flycatchers. The locals also see tarsiers, the world’s smallest monkeys, in the place and researchers have conducted a one-year study on this animal – their population size, distribution, density, habitat, and status in the place. Read More: https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Mount-Matutum

Photo from: http://distantpeak.blogspot.com/2013/01/mount-matutum.html

Mount Matutum is a symmetrical stratovolcano located in southern Mindanao, NW of Sarangani Bay and 30 km NNW of General Santos City.

The mountain, a popular hiking destination, has a well-preserved summit cone and a 320 m wide and a vegetated 120 m deep summit crater. The crater is breached by 3 large canyons.

The plains around Matatum volcano are covered by silicic pyroclastic-flow deposits, the youngest of which were radiocarbon dated at about 2000 years ago. 2 thermal areas, Akmoan and Lianan, are found on the WSW flank of the volcano. Read More: https://www.asiatravelgate.com/mount-matutum-south-cotabato-philippines/

Photo from: https://explora.ph/attraction/616/mt-matutum-and-pineapple-fields

The name Mount Matutum is derived from the local Blaa’n tongue “Amyak Maleh” meaning climb and plant. Indeed, all trekkers are required to plant a tree while visiting the Mountain. The Mountain and its surrounding landscape are protected through a Presidential Proclamation issued March 25, 1995 by President Fidel Ramos. The indigenous Blaa’n group that inhabits this part of South Cotabato protects the Mountain and surrounding 14,000 hectacre forest.

It’s irregular characteristic shape was formed by volcanic uplift during previous periods of activity. The last eruption (unconfirmed) occurred on March 7, 1911. It is classified as a non-active volcanic cone composed mostly of pyroxene andosite. Its surrounding areas are classified as volcanic slopes and piedmonts.

Mt. Matutum forms the headwaters and catchment area for several major drainages including the Klinan, Silway, and Buayan rivers which empty into the magnificantly beautiful Sarangani Bay through General Santos City. These rivers provide rich nutrients to nearby communities. Recognizing the lush vegetation, on December 7, 1963 the Dole Company established in nearby Polomolok what is arguably the largest pineapple plantation in the in the world. Read More: https://www.summitpost.org/mount-matutum/585107