Human intervention, climate change pose threats to Agusan Marsh

BUTUAN CITY – The incursion of human activities, as well as the growing effects of climate change, are among the threats to the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS), one of the biggest wetlands in the country that settles in the heart of Caraga region.

These were the concerns raised by participants during the three-day Agusan Marsh Platinum Anniversary National Conference that opened on Monday (November 11) here.

Among the objectives of the conference is to gather researchers, local government units, government line agencies, students, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders to present and discuss the pressing issues that confront the wetlands in the country, particularly the AMWS.

The opening day of the conference was graced by Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago  Cane Jr., Regional Executive Director Atty. Felix S. Alicer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Caraga Region (DENR-13), Dr. Annadel Cabanban of Wetlands International, and Dr. Herwig Mayer of GIZ, a German Development Agency for International Cooperation.

Members of the academe present during the gathering included representatives from the Caraga State University, Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology, the Philippine Normal University, and Father Saturnino Urios University.

“The importance and relevance of Agusan Marsh cannot be overemphasized as it performs a significant ecosystem service by serving as a natural sponge, by absorbing the excess water brought about by the unpredictable weather conditions in the area,” said DENR-13 Director Alicer in his message.

Alicer described the threat of climate change to AMWS as “daunting” and the conference as important and appropriate as it will serve as a venue to look into the different researches in the areas of wetland preservation.

AMWS covers an area of 40,943 hectares encompassing the municipalities of San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Veruela, Loreto, Talacogon, and La Paz in Agusan del Sur.

It was proclaimed as a protected area under Presidential Proclamation No. 913 dated October 31, 1996, and considered as one of the six wetlands in the Philippines designated as Ramsar wetlands of international importance in 1999.

In his message to the conference that was read by Alicer, DENR Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the country’s wetlands are major ecosystems that are continuously being threatened.

Cuna cited scientific studies that showed the disappearance of 64 percent of the world’s wetlands since the 1900s and 87 percent since the 1700s.

Cuna said the disappearance of wetlands emanates from population pressure, fishery resource, overexploitation, siltation and sedimentation, and most importantly, climate change.

“Considering that the Philippines is also affected by the global phenomenon of disappearing wetlands, the National Wetlands Conservation Program and the National Wetlands Action Plan of the Philippines were institutionalized,” Cuna said.

For his part, Governor Cane appealed to Caraganons to help the government's preservation efforts at the AMWS. (PNA)