Subic-Bataan Natural Park (SBNP)

The SBNP is the site of the last vestiges of virgin forests in the Zambales Biogeographic Zone. Forest types include the lowland tropical evergreen rainforest situated at 100-900 m.a.s.l. and the upper montane tropical rainforest at 900-1250 m.a.s.l.

The lowland tropical evergreen rainforest is highly vulnerable to exploitation because it harbors tree species of high commercial value such as palosapis (Anisoptera thurifera), apitong (Dipterocarpus grandiflorus), panao (Dipterocarpus gracilis), dalindingan (Hopea acuminata), white lauan (Shorea contorta), guijo (Shorea guiso) and tangile (Shorea polysperma). The upper montane tropical rain forest trees have little commercial value but are important as protection forest, e.g. watershed protection. Endemic and highly interesting species include Rhododendron guadrasianum var marivelesense and R. kochii and Vaccinium microphyllum var. whitfordii, V. tenuipes, V. cumingianum var. marivelesense, V. vumingianum var irogotum, V. alvarezii var. alvarezii, V. jarori, V. benguetense and V. caudatum.