DENR to conduct inventory of migratory birds

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is undertaking the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) as part of a global census for migratory birds seeking warmer refuge during winter in wetlands and coastal sites across the Americas, Africa and Asia.

The survey aims to contribute to the conservation of waterbirds and their wetland habitats by improving knowledge of little known waterbird species and wetland sites.                                                                                                                                         

Data gathered from the census shall provide the estimates of waterbird populations and aid in monitoring changes in waterbird numbers and distribution by regular, standardized counts of representative wetlands.

DENR executive director Primitivo Galinato said the Asian Waterbird Census is also part of government efforts to keep the Philippines bird flu-free through regular wetland and waterbird monitoring.

Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service (PAWCZMS) regional technical director Ricardo Tomol identified the 10 priority wetlands in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) included in the Asian Waterbird Census.

These are the Basey Wetlands, in Basey; Maqueda Wetlands in Paranas, Motiong and Jiabong towns all in Samar; Guiuan Wetlands in Eastern Samar; Rosario Wetlands in Rosario, Pambujan and Catubig all in Northern Samar.

Identified wetlands in Leyte province are Lake Bito in MacArthur; Inopacan Wetlands in Inopacan; Ormoc Bay Wetlands in Ormoc City; Carigara Bay Wetlands within the towns of Capoocan, Carigara and Barugo and the Canigao Island in Matalom town.

Galinato is enjoining the host communities of the wetlands included in the census to extend their full cooperation to the undertaking since information gathered from the census will be useful in forging and implementing international agreements and other initiatives such as identifying and monitoring sites that will qualify as Wetlands of International Importance.

He also said that results of the regional count shall be analyzed at the regional level before they are submitted to the DENR Central Office in Manila for inclusion in the 2010 Asian Waterbird Census report.

The count will be undertaken by field personnel of the region’s PAWCZMS who have undergone capability enhancement on waterbird identification. - Perseus Echeminada