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Thursday, March 28, 2024

UN reps tour migratory bird sanctuary

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UNITED Nations delegates pushing for conservation of wildlife species toured Friday the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, the only  migratory bird sanctuary in Metro Manila.

Speaking during the 12th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on the Consevation of Migratory Species, UN Environment Program Deputy Executive Director Ibrahim Thiaw cited the need to protect the country’s ecosystem since it serves as foundation of its economy. 

Thiaw said the move would help bring in more tourists and generate wider employment.

CMD executive director Bradnee Chambers called for the formulation of internal guidelines on the protection of wildlife species.

Senator Cytnhia A. Villar, Senate environment committee chairperson, had the tour for the foreign delegates and were given the chance to watch birds at the Wetland Park along Manila Bay.

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Villar presented to the delegates the conservation efforts at the wetland park, including the facilities that now make visiting the park more convenient.

“After successfully protecting this area from various threats, including reclamation, we are now working to letting other people see and experience its natural biodiversity as an eco-tourism destination,” Villar said.

“What we have done is a good working example of how biodiversity protection and conservation of landscapes/seascapes can help communities protect their source of livelihood as well as secure homes from the threat of massive flooding and typhoon surge,” she added.

A visitors’ area built through the Villar family is now in place. It serves as a drop-off point and gathering area of people visiting the park. 

In partnership with the Department of Tourism, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau, park facilities such as museum, training center, board walk and bird hides will soon be built.

 “We envision it to be the premiere learning environment for urban wetlands in the Philippines. We are doing our best also to make it a model of sustainable eco-tourism and a living model of environment that will encourage people to be more aware and involved in the protection of migratory species and critical habitats,” Villar said.

The wetland park sits on the 175-hectare LPPCHEA.

It has 35 hectares of mangrove forest. It is a sanctuary to 82 migratory bird species from as far as Siberia. 

It is also home to three endangered or vulnerable bird species—the Black-Winged Stilt, the Chinese Egrets and the Philippine Duck. 

Their presence at LPPCHEA was also among the reasons that prompted the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 2013 to include LPPCHEA in its list of Wetlands of International Importance.

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