The government is strengthening efforts to protect wetland areas in the Philippines as part of its climate resilience strategy to safeguard communities from disasters and support livelihoods, Wetlands play a crucial role in protecting diverse ecosystems by providing shelter for migratory birds, fish and amphibians, including endangered and near-threatened species.
They also provide essential services for local communities such as flood mitigation, carbon sinks,and water quality maintenance. For agriculture, wetlands ensure fertile lands and reliable water sources for crops.
The list of Ramsar sites in the Philippines has recently xpanded. The Sibugay Wetland Nature Reserve (SWNR) and the Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve (DCMR) in Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) have been designated as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, making them the ninth and 10th Ramsar sites in the Philippines.
A Ramsar site is a wetland area designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, also known as “The Convention on Wetlands.” The international environmental treaty was signed on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
“These Ramsar sites showcase our commitment to the National Adaptation Plan’s goal of protecting biodiversity and strengthening ecosystem services. The designation of the Sibugay Wetland Nature Reserve and Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve is a significant step toward achieving our adaptation targets,” said CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje.
The Sibugay Wetland Nature Reserve is an important habitat for thousands of migratory birds during the migratory season. Here, they rest, eat, drink and find safe refuge from predators. Its mudflats serve as a critical stopover for migratory shorebirds within the East Asia Australasian Flyway.
These include the endangered great knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Far Eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), the vulnerable Chinese egret (Egretta eulophotes) and the endemic Philippine duck (Anas luzonica).
Meanwhile, the Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve is home to a diverse collection of organisms, including species that are globally threatened or endemic to the Philippines and the Mindanao region. These include the Philippine duck (Anas luzonica) and the southern rufous hornbill (Buceros mindanensis), and the two restricted-range species, namely the Mindanao hornbill (Penelopides affinis) and the yellowish bulbul (Hypsipetes everetti).
The mangroves in DCMR cover approximately 4,871 hectares or 53.2 percent of Siargao Island’s total mangrove forest, providing nearby communities with protection against storm surges. It also supports local livelihood through food production and ecotourism activities.
The Philippines has been on the Ramsar List since 1994. It now has 10 Ramsar sites, namely Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu Province (1994); Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro (1999); Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (1999);
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan (1999); Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan (2012); Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (2013); Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (2016); Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetlands (2021); Sibugay Wetland Nature Reserve (2024); and Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve (2024). CCC News
