NCR’s ‘last bird sanctuary’ near Manila bay

For the past decades, there has been continuous degradation of the wetland ecosystem, which is why a form of rehabilitation was needed in order to preserve them.

In 2007, Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) in Manila Bay was established by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation to protect the critical state of the area’s rich biodiversity. It was then amended a year later. 

LPPCHEA is considered Metro Manila’s “last bird sanctuary” and is the sixth Ramsar site in the Philippines, after it was listed last March 2013 as a wetland of international importance under the Convention on Wetlands (signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 and also known as the Ramsar Convention). With this being said, they have to maintain the “wise use” of the wetland.

The 175 hectare protected area is located between the southwest portion of Metro Manila and Manila Bay. LPPCHEA is divided into 2 main landmasses: Long Island is at the southwest portion of the LPPCHEA in Las Piñas City and Freedom Island is at the northeast part in Parañaque City. The most prevalent plant species found are mangroves.

What is found in the area: Bird sanctuary

LPPCHEA is predominantly covered by mudflats, brush,  grass, beach, dirt, and mangrove areas. According to coastsandreefs.net, “mudflats are very important habitats that support huge numbers of birds and fish. They provide both feeding and resting areas for waders and waterfowl and also act as nursery areas for flatfish”.

Mangroves, on the other hand, are known as the “first line of defense” for coastal communities because they slow down erosion and provide natural barriers to resist storm surge, flooding and hurricanes, and thus protecting coastal communities. There are eight mangroves covering about 30 hectares in the area.

These mudflats and mangroves provide a source of food to about 5,000 migratory and local birds daily. According to wetlands.ph, “the count of different bird species range from 54 from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) to 80 bird species by the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines.  Of these bird species, the Philippine Duck (Anas luzonica) and Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes) are vulnerable or are likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening their survival and reproduction improve. Also noteworthy are the Black-Winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus) population in LPPCHEA which is estimated at about 1% of the total global population of Black-Winged Stilts”. 

There were 29 counted migratory birds by DENR, including the Siberian Rubythroat (Luscinia calliope). They feast on mudflats from August to April every year.

What is found on the area: Wetland Park

LPPCHEA also has a Wetland Park where there is guided nature trekking provided by accredited local and DENR tour guides and birdwatching guides, nature viewing along the coast, provided seasonal activities for enthusiasts, seminars on different topics relating to wetlands provided by experts, learning about on-site waste management or known as vermicomposting, views of birds and mangroves and participating in coastal clean-ups in the area.

How the area is protected

Birds belong to different natural habitations, not all of them can be found everywhere. In order to protect each of them, bird sanctuaries are built.

Being part of Ramsar Convention, LLPCHEA has to meet the responsibilities which is why the United Nations Diversity was tasked to create the Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) Plan for biodiversity conservation in LPPCHEA, as per the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). According to them, “the plan aims to identify which factors are required for ecological well being and which fit with the people’s socio-economic reality, as well as to guide collective action towards meeting development goals while maintaining the wetland’s ecological functions upon which residents’ livelihoods rely”.

For all the stakeholders, the general plan include: public awareness of LPPCHEA’s existence, as based on their study, it revealed that “many neighbouring residents are unaware that there is such an area near them. Individual action plans for stakeholder groups were designed as a practical guide that could get all stakeholders actively involved and motivate them to appreciate the biodiversity and ecosystem services they receive from LPPCHEA”. They would also like to emphasize how to live in harmony with nature, knowing that the area exists.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)  simultaneously announced the area as a “critical habitat”. As a result, it was spared in all forms of reclamation activities going on in the coastal area of Manila Bay.

According to Mrs.  Mary Jane Voluntad, a public high school teacher – those who recently decided to  have a picnic held in the area were “asked and prohibited by the  assigned city government personnel to wear any red clothing because it  will scare the birds” because it symbolizes the sight of forest fire to different migratory birds.

Aside from this, they were also  informed that the sanctuary only accommodates and admits entrance to  less than ten people at a time to conserve the quietness and peaceful environment. This is also done to prevent disturbing the birds living within the sanctuary. Last October 2016, there was also a tree – planting  activity held in LPPCHEA conducted by DENR, Government of  Parañaque and Parañaque Cooperative and Developmental Office. 

LPPCHEA is open to the public for free, though you have to seek prior clearance from the DENR as it is a protected area.

This article was written and prepared by Neojames Miguel (Student-Journalist) and Edwina Casaria (School Paper Adviser) from Parañaque National High School – Main,  Division of  Paranaque City  as a final output of DepEd-DRRMS and AYEJ.org’s Green Beat Initiative: An Online Environmental Journalism Training.

Featured photo from GMA News Online