Phl seeks inclusion of black noddy in CMS

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is asking for the inclusion of an endangered seabird species in Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) to ensure its protection.

Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) director Theresa Mundita Lim said the request is contained in a draft resolution recently submitted by the country to the CMS secretariat for approval by more than 120 nations attending the 12th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the CMS to be held in Manila later this month.

The seabird species, black noddy (Anous minutus) subspecies worcesteri, breeds only on two islets in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park off  the Palawan peninsula.

“Its inclusion in Appendix II would put the black noddy in the category of migratory species that have unfavorable conservation status and require international agreements for their conservation and management,” Lim said.

Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu called on CMS party nations to approve the country’s draft resolution on the black noddy and three other migratory species being sought for inclusion in Appendix II.

“The inclusion of these migratory species in Appendix II of CMS is necessary to ensure their protection not only by the Philippines, which plays host to these species, but also in other countries that they visit,” Cimatu said.

Aside from the black noddy, the Philippines seeks to include in Appendix II the white-spotted wedgefish (Rhychobatus australiae), Christmas Island frigatebird (Fregata andrewsi) and yellow bunting (Emberiza sulphurata).

The black noddy is a seabird from the tern family, characterized as small and with darker plumage, white cap, long straight beak and short tail.

The BMB, uder the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is mandated to protect the country’s wild species and their habitats.

“The guano or excrement the black noddies produce adds large quantities of nutrients to the soil, which is of great importance to the plant communities on the two breeding islets,” Lim said.

She said this contributes to “protecting the islets from velocity of waves and reduces impacts from storms and sea level rise.”

According to Lim, the birds are called “noddies” because of the behavior of both sexes as they constantly dip their heads during their breeding display.

“They also feed on fish and squid which they gather by flying low over the surface of the sea and picking them up. They may also associate with other seabirds in areas where predatory fish are driving small fish to the surface,” she added.