Manila: Samar province has officially submitted the nomination dossier for Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) to the National Commission of the Philippines for UNESCO (UNACOM), marking a significant step toward global recognition of one of the country's most important natural areas.

According to Philippines News Agency, following the submission to UNACOM, the dossier will be transmitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Center in Paris, France, as the country's official nomination under the World Heritage Convention. 'The submission concludes eight years of scientific research, documentation, consultations, and inter-provincial coordination, aimed at meeting UNESCO's rigorous standards for natural heritage inscription,' the Samar provincial government said in a statement Thursday.

Preparatory work for the nomination began in 2018, followed by a comprehensive biodiversity assessment in 2021. In 2024, the Samar Island Natural Park was formally added to the Philippines' Tentative List, a prerequisite for World Heritage nomination. The dossier was finalized and submitted in 2026 ahead of the UNESCO deadline.

The nomination is being spearheaded by the provincial government of Samar, in collaboration with the University of Santo Tomas - Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 8 (Eastern Visayas). It also has the support of the provincial governments of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.

Additional partners include the Department of Tourism 8, Samar State University, Northwest Samar State University, local government units, scientific experts, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders. The SINP is known for its extensive primary forests, critical watersheds, endemic plant and animal species, and distinctive geological features.

Officials said the nomination underscores the Philippines' commitment to biodiversity conservation, heritage protection, and sustainable development. With the dossier now bound for Paris, the nomination will proceed to the next phase of technical evaluation by UNESCO, bringing the park closer to potential inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.