farmers and birds, living in harmony

The Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands (SCPW) had been working with farmers in a 135-hectare rice farm in Candaba, Pampanga which is part of the approximately 32,000 hectares of wetlands straddling three provinces: Bulacan, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.  The Candaba Wetlands is an important area for agricultural and fisheries production, water irrigation, and natural flood retention. It is a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA #31) and an Important Bird Area (PH007) within the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF).

Candaba Swamp continues to be drained or converted into wet agriculture, severely limiting habitat for waterfowls. The change in land use has been observed in the towns comprising the Candaba Wetlands where large tracts of wetlands have been filled to give way to the housing subdivision and commercial establishments.

Agricultural Wetlands and Migratory Birds
Living in Harmony

In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day, and taking note of this year’s theme “Birds Connect Our World”, the SCPW conducted a webinar to highlight how farming communities and migratory birds can be in harmony with each other.

The objectives of the webinar are:

  • To highlight how farming communities and migratory birds can exist in harmony with each other.
  • To reach out to agriculture, environment and natural resources officers of local governments in the Candaba Wetlands, as well as the PENROs and CENROs, so that they understand the link between conserving the wetland (especially as habitats for migratory birds) and the health and well-being of people
  • To increase the awareness of students in the field of agriculture students so that they will appreciate the value of conserving wetlands for both the well-being of nature and people.

The livestreaming of the Webinar was seen and participated online at the SCPW FaceBook Page and SCPW YouTube Channel.

NOTE: There is a short delay (24) in the video before the webinar commenced.

Opening preliminaries of the Webinar consisted of a Welcome Remarks from Arch. Celestino B. Ulep, President of SCPW.  This was followed by Messages from the partners:  Dr. Henry A. Adornado, Director of Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Director Paquito Moreno Jr., Regional Executive Director Region 3 –DENR; and Dr. Honorio Soriano, President of Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU).

Topics discussed were –

  • “East Asian-Australasian Flyway and the Importance of Migratory Birds” – Dr. Simplicia A. Pasicolan of Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
  • ‘Waterbirds and Managing Health Risks” –  – Dr. Rizza Araceli F. Salinas, Wildlife Resource Division of Biodiversity Management Bureau
  • “The Candaba Wetlands: Rice –Farming Communities and Migratory Birds – how they can co-exist” –  Dr. Gerald Salas of the Pampanga State Agricultural University

The presentations was followed by an Open Forum with Ms. Amy Lecciones, the Executive Director of SCPW, as the Moderator.  Various questions related to the topics discussed were diligently answered by the three Resource Persons.

Audio-Visual presentation on Wetlands and Migratory Birds were also shown as added information for online participants.

Wrapping-up and closing the event was Atty. Theresa M. Tenazas , Officer-in-Charge of Wildlife Resources Division of BMB.

To obtain a copy of the presentations given, please visit the Knowledge Resource page of this website and navigate to the section for this webinar.

The event was livestreamed in our YouTubeFacebook, and LinkedIn pages.