The recent news about a condominium set up on a sink hole caught my attention. The dangers one faces when one buys property mounted on unstable ground is great considering how the earth behaves now.
More and more property developers have scraped the mountains to plant their structures there where the growing population seeks solace as they make their homes in the enclaves there.
Related to this is the covering of wetlands to bring in more subdivision development. Since these wetlands are titled, there is no way government can prevent owners from selling their property to urban developers. Although my wish is that government buys back the property. Covering more inland wetlands to accommodate new landscapes caused me to worry.
Along the Consolacion-Lilo-an area are wetlands. These are recharge areas that have held some of the flood water at bay and have provided a natural drainage system. These wetlands are just among the many pockets of wetlands in the island.
My appeal is to keep them from being covered. Wetlands help reduce the impact of floods brought about by storms. It helps in maintaining the water quality in the aquifers, rivers and lakes. It is an excellent recharge area for groundwater and helps cool the environment. A wetland can be a source of fresh quality water.
A marshland is host to different flora and fauna that keep the biodiversity of an area. A saltmarsh can sequestrate up to 1.51 tons of organic carbon per hectare which helps in maintaining the ecosystem.
Marshlands are wallowing grounds for livestock, and also become a source of agricultural support. When wetlands are present near a farm, it helps agriculture by attracting birds that feed on worms, grasshoppers and other pests that plague the produce.
If the question is how to make the marshland productive so that its owners do not have to lose on an economic gain, there are many ways in which wetlands can be converted into to bring in the money.
Making a waterpark is one. Having many activities on an inland wetland can be creatively developed to invite both local and international tourists. Aside from a place to relax, the wetland park can also be made into water zoo or a fish pond as what some entrepreneurs have done.
Let us look at our wetlands again and help preserve them.