PHL haven for migratory birds
By Jonathan L. Mayuga
Published in the Business Mirror, January 4, 2016
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/phl-haven-for-migratory-birds/
Conclusion
Virus, diseases and other threats
“Migratory birds are natural parts of the
interconnectedness of natural systems. Therefore, their natural
presence in the order of things should not present some form of negative
environmental impact,” said Director Theresa Mundita Lim of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management
Bureau (DENR-BMB).
Migratory birds, Lim said, could,
however, be carrier of pests and diseases. “Disease from domestic birds
in farms near migratory-bird sites may find their way to wild birds and
then spread to other areas,” she said.
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| Cranes in flight Image Credits: Jussi Mononen/ Worldmigratorybirdday.org |
According to Lim, migratory birds,
especially ducks, were also studied to have a role in the dispersal of
propagules of exotic plants and planktons where they can be transported
elsewhere and become invasive. But she maintained that measures have
been put in place to prevent these undesirable potential threats. She
maintained that a ban in trading of wild birds remains in effect. It is
one of the measures initiated by the DENR, to prevent the possible
spread of the dreaded avian influenza virus.
Until now, the Philippines is bird flu-virus free, she said.
Keeping wildlife safe
Hunting and loss of habitats are the
major threats to migratory birds in the Philippines. These are being
addressed primarily through the implementation of two major policies,
namely, the Wildlife Protection and Conservation Act and the National
Integrated Protected Areas System Act.
These laws prohibit the harvesting of
forest products and hunting of wildlife, including migratory
birds. “Hunting of wildlife is not allowed. It is enforced through
wildlife enforcement networks nationwide. The Wildlife Act also
addresses habitat loss by providing for the establishment of “Critical
Habitats” for threatened species located outside Protected Areas,” Lim
said.
Several small wetland areas and important
habitats of threatened migratory birds are being managed as “critical
habitats,” such as the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and
Ecotourism area, the Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Isabela,
Cabusao, wetlands in Camarines Sur.
Major migratory bird sites in the country
are also within protected areas, such as Olango Island Wildlife
Sanctuary, Naujan Lake, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary and the
Tubbataha Reef Natural Park.
Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation
Moreover, Lim said the DENR is also
mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in local governance to influence
local governments to consider biodiversity in land use-planning
process, such as by allocating conservation areas in land use plans. “More
local conservation areas managed by LGUs [local government units] that
benefit migratory birds are expected to come out from these initiatives,
in addition to existing ones, such as the Sasmuan Wetlands in Pampanga,
Balanga City Wetland Park in Bataan and Bangrin Marine Protected Area
in Pangasinan,” she said.
Other important migratory bird sites are
being identified for priority protection under different management
regimes, either as critical habitats or local conservation areas of
LGUs. According to Lim, an important key to biodiversity conservation,
such as community education and awareness, is instrumental in
transforming positive societal behavior and culture toward migratory
birds.
Bird festival
Lim said one of the successful
initiatives on this aspect is the annual celebration of the National
Bird Festival which is now on its 10th year. The event, coorganized by
the Wildlife Bird Club of the Philippines, the Department of Tourism
(DOT), DENR and a host LGU, is organized in different places in the
country each year.
The festivity is celebrated in December
in time with bird migration. Early this month, Balanga City, Bataan,
became host to the annual bird festival for the second time.
Lim said the integration of biodiversity
conservation as part of educational materials, at least in basic
education, is gradually being realized in Balanga City.
This is “something that needs to be
pressed further to create a new generation of Filipinos with a worldview
that recognizes, the ecological and intrinsic values of nonhuman forms
of life,” she said.
Bird-watching, educating the people
A group of 240 members, the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines has been promoting bird-watching.
Organized 12 years ago, the group provide
guided birdwaching trips and is greatly involved in the information,
education and communication about the importance of birds and the
environment in general, said Michael Lu, one of its founding member and
current treasurer of the group.
Over the past 12 years, he said, the
group’s members have also been invited to give talks to different
organizations and to conduct birdwatching trips for schools and surveys
for different agencies, including power plants and golf courses.
Besides promoting bird watching, the
group maintains records for bird sightings, whether resident or migrant
species. To date, the group has the most extensive records of birds in
the country. The group supplies the DENR-BMB with information about new
bird sightings.
Exciting, memorable activity
Bird-watching in the Philippines, Lu
said, is particularly exciting for the group’s members “because of the
high probability of [their] contributing to records.”
“Personally, my most fulfilling moments
are introducing birdwatching to the general public—that moment when the
nonbirder looks through the binoculars and ooohs and aaahhhs when he
spots a bird by himself,” Lu, a businessman, said. But he says capturing
the birds in photo makes birdwatching more memorable.
Lu, who has been into bird-watching for close to 15 years, started taking photos since last year.
“A good photo will always be a prized photo whether the bird is rare,” he said.
Gina Mapua, president of the group, said
that the despite the rapid deterioration of habitats, bird watchers are
enthusiastic for new species to find or discover every time they go
bird-watching.
She said there is a need to make people
know more and appreciate nature, saying that protection and conservation
should not be confined in bird-watching alone.
A platform for environmental advocacy
She said club members, which include
lawyers, doctors, engineers, architects and even youth and students, are
all nature lovers and saving the planet in their own little way. “Some
of us are members of different clubs and have different focus for the
environment, but bird-watching is our common platform for advocating
environment [protection],” she said.
“Our advocacy is to raise awareness to
[protecting] our environment through bird-watching and through bird
festivals, working with government agencies like the DENR to protect
birds and habitat, and the DOT to promote bird-watching overseas,” Lu
said.
Lu added that the government should do
its best to protect the ecosystem and conserve the country’s precious
birds, including the migratory ones, to ensure their survival.
“There are enough laws but the enforcement and implementation is very much lacking,” Lu said.
The DENR-BMB maintains that the
government is on its toes in addressing the various threats and
challenges in protecting migratory birds, as well as endemic and native
birds, along with other species of flora and fauna.
Lim said that despite the concerted
efforts, protection and conservation will remain a big challenge but
will be the key to maintaining the country’s status as haven for
migratory birds.
