Casecnan Protected Landscape

The Casecnan Protected Landscape covers about 88,846 hectares of mountainous terrain spread across Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Aurora provinces in the central Sierra Madre range. The area is shaped by the Casecnan River, which supplies water for irrigation systems and powers a dam that generates electricity for the wider region.

The Casecnan River Watershed Forest Reserve was established in 1987 to protect water sources and forest cover in the region. It was expanded and reclassified in 2000 to become a broader protected landscape with more comprehensive conservation goals.

Indigenous Ilongot people have long lived in these mountains and depend on the forest for their livelihoods and traditions. Visitors can observe their presence in small settlements and the traditional ways they interact with the landscape.

The terrain is mountainous and can be challenging to cross, especially during rainy seasons when trails become muddy and slippery. Visitors should wear good hiking shoes, bring rain gear, and allow plenty of time for rest stops along the way.

The landscape shelters animals that are rarely seen elsewhere, including Philippine deer, Philippine eagles, cloud rats, hornbills, and Philippine warty pigs. These species thrive within the dense forest where they remain largely undisturbed and protected from outside pressures.