Pampanga wetland on list of international importance

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga , Philippines — The Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetland was included on the list of Ramsar sites or wetlands of international importance during the observance of the World Wetland Day on Tuesday.

The declaration of Ramsar sites is provided under the Ramsar Convention, an inter-governmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.

The 405-hectare Sasmuan Bangkung Malapad critical habitat and ecotourism area is a mangrove islet in Pasak River formed by volcanic sediments from Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991.

Laudemir Salac, Pampanga provincial environment and natural resources officer, said the declaration of the Sasmuan wetland as a Ramsar site is an integral part of strategies in cleaning and rehabilitating Manila Bay.

More than 80,000 migratory birds composed of 63 species have been observed in the wetland during the Asian waterbird census conducted last month.

Paquito Moreno Jr., Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Central Luzon regional director, said the wetland, which covers 3,500 hectares of coastal waters in four barangays in Sasmuan, is the eighth Ramsar site in the country and the first in Central Luzon.

The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan is the biggest.