The CCPL covers what used to be known as the Central Cebu National Park, Buhisan Dam, Mananga Watershed Forest Reserve, Kotkot-Lusuran Watershed Forest Reserve, and the Sudlon National Park.

[2] The protected area spans 29,062 hectares (71,810 acres) of adjoining forestlands and watersheds located in the middle of the province.

[3] The CCPL is also home to several threatened species, such as the Cebu flowerpecker, black shama, the Cebu cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum cebuense), a rare new kind of orchid, the streak-breasted bulbul, the rufous-lored kingfisher, and the Philippine tube-nosed fruit bat among others.

[4] In 2011, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 7) planned to conduct a census and registration of residents of the 22 barangays in the reserve.

[5] In 2009, DENR officials had stated that "they are worried that if the forest reserves in Cebu will be destroyed because there are people living there, there will be a water crisis in the province.