The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Capiz has initiated an assessment of the Gabuc Mangrove Wetlands and Birds Sanctuary (GMWBS) located in Barangay Gabuc, Pontevedra town.
This move is aimed at securing the area’s inclusion in the prestigious Ramsar Convention list, which recognizes wetlands of international importance.
Gabuc Mangrove Wetlands and Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention, named after the city of Ramsar in Iran where it was signed in 1971, serves as an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
The DENR’s efforts are geared towards fulfilling the criteria necessary for the GMWBS to be designated as a Ramsar site, which would ensure funding for the inventory and protection of its wildlife.
Provincial Head Forester Vicente Sardina discussed the ongoing assessment during the Kapihan program hosted by the Capiz Information Center of the Philippine Information Agency and the Capiz provincial government.
Sardina highlighted that achieving Ramsar status would provide significant benefits for the conservation and sustainable management of the GMWBS.
“The area has a vibrant wildlife that is crucial for environmental stability. By ensuring its protection, we contribute to both ecological preservation and local biodiversity,” Sardina emphasized.
Spanning 239.9 hectares, the GMWBS has been the focus of the DENR’s mangrove reforestation and beach forest development projects since 2015.
The sanctuary is also a hub for fisherfolk associations in the village, which have benefitted from capacity-building activities conducted by the DENR, the Department of Tourism, and the Capiz Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office.
The GMWBS is home to approximately 36 bird species, according to the Asian Waterbird Census from 2019 to 2024, making it an ideal site for mangrove and bird-watching ecotourism.
Notable bird species documented in the area include the Philippine Duck, Chinese Egret, Wandering Whistling Duck, Java Sparrow, Little Grebe, Javan Pond Heron, Little Egret, Marsh Sandpiper, Greenshank, and Sandpiper.
Current Ramsar sites in the Philippines
- Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur
- Las Piñas–Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area
- Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro
- Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area
- Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu
- Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetlands in Pampanga
- both the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan.
The inclusion of these areas has significantly contributed to their conservation and the promotion of sustainable use practices.
The assessment and potential inclusion of the Gabuc Mangrove Wetlands and Birds Sanctuary in the Ramsar list reflect ongoing efforts to enhance environmental conservation and biodiversity protection in the Philippines.
Images from PIA- Capiz
News source: PIA Capiz- Alex Lumaque/ AGP/AAL