Slide 1

WETLANDS

Wetlands are a critical part of our environment. Though commonly seen as

wastelands, wetlands are NOT areas that need to be drained, filled in, burnt off,
and re-purposed.
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Wetlands defined:
• Ecosystem that may be natural or artificial and are permanently or
seasonally saturated or flooded with water that may be static or
flowing;
• Refer to any land areas that have waterlogged soil;
• Refer to:
– inland habitats (marshes, peatlands, floodplains, rivers &
lakes);
– coastal & marine areas (saltmarshes, mangroves, intertidal
mudflats & seagrass beds, and coral reefs and other marine
areas no deeper than 6 meters at low tide); and,
– Human-made wetlands (dams, reservoirs, rice paddies &
wastewater treatment ponds & lagoons). ☺
Slide 3

Roles of Wetlands
Wetlands perform ecosystem/ecological services such as:
- Provisioning services, such as food & water; fibre, fuel &
natural materials;
- Supporting services, such as water cycling nutrient cycling, that
maintains the conditions for life on Earth. ☺
- Regulating services, such as natural hazard regulation, climate
regulation, water regulation, water purification and treatment,
erosion regulation, pollination and carbon sequestration;
- Cultural services such as spiritual, recreational, aesthetic,
educational benefits;
Slide 4

Inland Wetlands in the Philippines

Water Total Total area

Lakes Storage Marshes/ Ponds Peatland Number Inland
Areas Swamps of Wetlands
Wetlands (has,)

Luzon 102 17 4 5 1 129 160,006.37

Visayas 34 4 4 13 1 56 3,774.52

Mindanao 85 18 6 13 7 129 217,996,15

Source: DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau

314 - total number of inland wetlands in the Philippines, excluding

rivers.
Slide 5

Major Wetlands
in the
Philippines
(RAMSAR Sites)

- The RAMSAR Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that

recognizes the ecological, economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational
value of wetlands.
- The Philippines has been active in the efforts for wetlands
conservation. Plans and activities are regularly conducted towards the
achievement of the Convention mission of “conservation and wise use
of all wetlands through local and national actions and international
cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable
development”. Because of these conservation efforts, several
conservation sites has been included in the Philippine Wetlands of
International Importance or RAMSAR Sites.
Slide 6

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park situated in the midst of the Sulu Sea is a
protected area of the Philippines located in Puerto, Princesa City, Pawalan. The
park's marine and bird sanctuary, which consists of two large atolls, covers an area
of 96,828 hectares. The Tubbataha Reef Natural Park houses over 1,000 marine
life species. Tubbataha was listed by Ramsar as one of the wetlands of
international importance in 1999.
Slide 7

Puerto Princesa Subterranean

River National Park

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located in Puerto

Princesa, Pawalan, and it is a protected area that is listed as a Ramsar wetland of
international importance. The park consists of an underground river also known as
Puerto Princesa Underground River. The National Park covers an area of 22,202
hectares. In 2010, the underground river was discovered to have a second tier or
“floor” and the existence of tiny waterfalls and a cave dome that measures 300
meters above the underground river. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River was
listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Slide 8

Agusan Marsh Wildlife

Sanctuary

The Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary is a marshland and protected area, nuzzled
by the midwaters of Agusan’s River drainage basin, located in Agusan del Sur. The
Agusan Marsh covers an area of 14,836 hectares. Used to be home to saltwater
crocodile Lolong, the largest captive crocodile in the world, the sanctuary is also a
nesting place for some migratory birds and it hosts "Wonderland," a place where
naturally crafted Bonsai trees can be seen.
Slide 9

Naujan Lake National Park

The Naujan Lake National Park is a freshwater lake located in the province of
Oriental Mindoro. Naujan Lake is the Philippine’s fifth-largest lake. Naujan Lake
National Park covers an approximate area of 14,568 hectares and is considered to
be the biggest breeding area for marsh birds.
Slide 10

A1
Olango Island Wildlife
Sanctuary

The Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Olango archipelago, which consists of
seven islands. The islands are located in the Central Visayas area which is a part of Cebu
province. The wildlife sanctuary, which covers an area of about 5,800 hectares, is a major tourist
attraction and a natural habitat for some plant and animal species. Some of the sanctuary’s
notable animal species include the migratory birds of Japan, Siberia, and Northern China. The
sanctuary houses 97 bird species, 49 of which are resident birds while the rest are migratory
birds. The wildlife sanctuary was listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance on July
1st, 1994.
Slide 11

Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical

Habitat & Ecotourism Area

The Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area comprises the Freedom Islands,
an artificial island located in Manila Bay off the coast of Parañaque, and two other islands
covering a total area of 175 hectares. Freedom Island was formed sometime between 1973 and
1985. The island covers an area of approximately 0.32 square km and a height between 0 to 7
meters above sea level. Flora and fauna of the island include swamps, mangrove forests that
provide a habitat for some migratory bird species which include the black-crowned night heron,
Chinese Egret, Philippine duck, and the common moorhen. In 2007 the Philippine government
declared the Freedom Island a Critical Habitat. In 2013 the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat
and Ecotourism Area was listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance.
Slide 12

Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal

Wetlands

The Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetlands. Located in Manila Bay, these sheltered
wetlands include mudflats, mangroves and riverine habitats that serve as stopover
points for migratory birds. There are also aquaculture ponds that support local
livelihood and it also hosts mangrove species that shelter fish and mollusks and
other marine and estuarine species.
Slide 13

Negros Occidental Coastal

Wetlands Conservation Area

The Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area lies along 110 kilometers of
coastline of the island of Negros, covering 52 barangays, 3 cities and several municipalities. Its
remarkable to note that this site, with its rich and diverse coastal resources, hosts 3 globally
threatened marine turtles, the endangered hawksbill turtle, the endangered green turtle and
the vulnerable olive ridley turtle. This site is also home to endangered species of dolphins and
waterbirds.
Slide 14

Major Threats to the Wetlands

of the Philippines
1. Pollution from domestic, industrial and agricultural sources
2. Introduction of Exotic Species (IAS)
3. Incompatible Tourism Activities
4. Wetland conversion to other use (as in the case of Boracay
Island)
5. Over exploitation of resources
6. Unsustainable resource use
7. Overlapping and conflicting policies
8. Climate Change

2. IAS Invasive Alien Species

4. Banaybanay
- a municipality whose main industry is rice farming;
- areas have been reclaimed for commercial purposes;
Slide 15

Laws for the Protection & Conservations of

Wetlands
REPUBLIC ACT No. 11038
Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System
Act of 2018

House Bill No 8925

Introduced by Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Jr.

1. E NIPAS
The Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)
-encompasses ecologically rich and unique areas and biologically important public lands
that are habitats of rare and threatened species of plants and animals, biogeographic zones and
related ecosystems, whether terrestrial, wetland or marine, all of which shall be designated as
'protected areas’.
- recognizes conservation areas and the management regimes being implemented by
local government units (LGUs), local communities and indigenous peoples (IPs).

2. House Bill No. 8925 was introduced by Luis Raymund Villafuerte, but was substituted later on
by National Wetlands Conservation Act, a bill filed by Sen. Cynthia Villar;
National Wetlands Conservation Act
- aims to address various national issues such as water security, food security, disaster
risk reduction, climate change mitigation and resiliency and maintenance of ecosystem services,
among others.
- ensures that the State conserve and wisely use wetlands and wetland resources.
Slide 16

Gov’t Agencies and

POs Advocating
the
Conservation of
Wetlands
in the Philippines
Slide 17

1. DENR – Biodiversity Management Bureau/CAWED

Division

CAVES, WETLANDS AND OTHER ECOSYSTEMS DIVISION (CAWED)

is a division under the Biodiversity
Mandate:
- formulate, review and recommend policies, strategies, plans and programs for sustainable
use and multi-stakeholder participation in the management of caves and cave resources
pursuant to RA 9072 (National Cave and Cave Resources Conservation and Protection Act),
inland wetlands based on the National Wetlands Action Plan, Urban Biodiversity, Agro-
Biodiversity, and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECM) except critical
habitats
- develop standards and safeguards related to program implementation on caves, inland
wetlands, urban biodiversity and agro-biodiversity;
- establish or strengthen linkages, cooperation, networks, and partnerships with relevant
institutions or organizations in the conservation and management of caves, inland wetlands,
urban biodiversity and agro-biodiversity
- assist in the promotion of biodiversity-based products and mainstreaming of biodiversity in
wider agricultural landscape and urban settings with other agencies;
- implement programs on ecotourism development for caves, inland wetlands, urban
biodiversity and agro-biodiversity;
- update and maintain data and information on caves, inland wetlands, urban biodiversity and
agro-biodiversity;
- facilitate the implementation of Philippine commitments to the Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands; and perform other functions that may be assigned by higher authority.
Slide 18

Society for the Conservation of

Philippine Wetlands

SCPW (Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands)

Aims to promote the wise use of wetlands in the Philippines by –
▪ facilitating linkages and networking among wetland advocates locally and
abroad;
▪ engaging in wetland conservation activities;
▪ providing a forum and technical assistance on wetland-related issues; and
▪ complementing wetland management activities through research, training
and CEPA (communication, education, participation and awareness).
Slide 19

Magapo: A Look into

a Wetland within
Urban Mati
Slide 20

City of Mati

Mati:
- 5th Class City and Capital Town of Davao Oriental
- Population: 147,547 (PSA 2020)
- Annual Growth Rate of 0.94%
- Area: 79,109 hectares
- Composed of 26 barangays, 8 of which are urban barangays
- Main industries: Agriculture & Tourism
Slide 21

Urban Mati
Slide 22

Urban Wetland of Magapo

- Magapo is located in Barangay Central.

- Most of the area is occupied with an estimated 500 ISFs, especially in the coastal part of
the area.
Slide 23

Urban Wetland of Magapo

Magapo is bounded in the north east by commercial area and a national highway,
on the north west by a residential village and on the south west by the Pujada Bay.
This area has waterlogged soil most of the year and is mostly planted with
kangkong, which has become a source of livelihood to some of the locals. Right in
these wetlands the Provincial government also implemented its housing project.
Titles had been distributed to beneficiaries about 15 years ago. However, the area
remained untouched as the beneficiaries were left to develop the roads and
reclaim their lots which they could not afford to do.
Slide 24

PAWD – Philippine Association of Water Districts

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Next Steps:
- Conduct a full assessment of the area by commissioning the
services of DORSU.
- Seriously consider rezoning the area from residential to
wetlands/protected area.
- Engage the landowner in a PPP implementation of a
conservation park within the area, where the LGU will develop
the park and let the owner engage in commercial or
economic activities in the area.

Note: Feb 2 is World Wetlands Day!!!