The Philippines now has 10 Wetlands of International Importance with the designation of the Sibugay Wetland Nature Reserve (SWNR) in Zamboanga Sibugay and the Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve (DCMR) in Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) as the 9th and 10th “Ramsar Site” of the Philippines, respectively.

The announcement came after the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands officially included SWNR and DCMR-SIPLAS on the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar List). The Convention on Wetlands serves as the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Convention also established the Ramsar List as a response to Article 2.1 of the Convention on Wetlands which reads: “Each Contracting Party shall designate suitable wetlands within its territory for inclusion in a List of Wetlands of International Importance, hereinafter referred to as the ‘List’ which is maintained by the secretariat of the Convention established under Article 8.” The wetlands that are included in the Ramsar List carry significant value, not only in the country where they are located, but globally as well.

SWNR is a wetland complex surrounded by nine (9) municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay which hosts thousands of migratory birds which flock the wetlands during migration season from September to March. Five (5) waterbird species namely: the endangered Far eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), Great white egret (Egretta alba), Little egret (E. garzetta), Intermediate egret (E. intermedia) and Gull-billed tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) have exceeded the 1% share of the East-Asian-Australasian Flyway population which qualifies the wetland of contributing globally to the conservation of waterbirds. Three (3) species of marine turtles also seek refuge in its waters such as the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), endangered Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the vulnerable Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). SWNR is home to what is believed to be the largest colony of flying foxes in the country. This Sibugay colony is composed of the Philippine endemic and endangered Golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), the Large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus), and Island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus). SWNR has been tagged as Ramsar Site No. 2552.

DCMR-SIPLAS serves as an important community asset to the municipality of Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte and the entire island of Siargao. Its mangrove cover is approximately 4,871 hectares, comprising more than half of the Island’s total mangrove forest. Eight (8%) percent of its flora and 20% of its fauna are endemic to the Philippines and the Mindanao region. These include the Philippine duck (Anas luzonica), Southern rufous hornbill (Buceros mindanensis), Mindanao hornbill (Penelopides affinis) and the Yellowish bulbul (Hypsipetes everetti). Most importantly, the site supports food production, livelihood, ecotourism activities, and protects nearby communities against storm surges. DCMR-SIPLAS now carries Ramsar Site no. 2553.

The announcement and awarding of certificates was made during the 10th Asian Wetland Symposium (AWS10) on November 25-28, 2024 at the Crowne Plaza Galleria. The Philippines serves as host to the AWS10 with the theme, “Wetlands-based Solutions” organized by the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA), and Ramsar Center Japan, and co-organized with the Japan Wetland Society, and Wetlands International Japan. As co-chair of the AWS10 National Organizing Committee, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) thru the Biodiversity Management Bureau, is co-organizing with RRC-EA a side event on the draft Ramsar resolution on Assessing Wetland Vulnerability on November 26, 2024. Meanwhile, the DENR-National Capital Region is hosting one of the field trip sites on  November 27, 2024 at the Las Pinas-Paranque Wetland Park, the Philippines’ 6th Ramsar site (Ramsar Site No. 2124).

The Philippines’ other Wetlands of International Importance include the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu (Ramsar Site No. 656), Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro (Ramsar Site No. 1008), Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan (Ramsar Site No. 1010), Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur (Ramsar Site No. 1009), Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (Ramsar Site No. 2084), the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area in Negros Occidental (Ramsar Site No. 2271) and the Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetlands in Pampanga (Ramsar Site No. 2445). #