CAPIZ – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Capiz is pushing for the formal declaration of the Gabuc Mangrove Wetland and Bird Sanctuary as a protected area following the recording of 5,415 waterbirds during the 2026 Asian Waterbird Census (AWC).
Located in the island barangay of Gabuc in Pontevedra, the 60-hectare wetland is home to diverse bird species and serves as an important feeding, resting and breeding ground for resident and migratory birds.
Of the total waterbirds recorded during the census, an estimated 2,574 were Little Egrets, highlighting the wetland’s ecological importance as a habitat along migratory bird routes.
Recent wildlife monitoring also documented several bird species, including the Brahminy Kite, Javan Pond Heron, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, White-collared Kingfisher, Pied Triller, Red Turtle Dove and Zebra Dove.
Field researchers also photographed a bird’s nest containing eggs among the mangrove branches, providing evidence that the sanctuary serves not only as a seasonal stopover for migratory birds but also as a breeding habitat.
DENR-Capiz is advancing its conservation efforts through the Gabuc Mangrove Wetland and Bird Sanctuary Management Plan for 2024 to 2034, which outlines measures to protect existing mangrove forests, restore degraded areas and ensure the wetland’s long-term ecological sustainability.
Beyond supporting wildlife, the wetland plays an important role in climate change mitigation and coastal protection.
Its dense mangrove forests serve as natural carbon sinks, absorbing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, while its mangroves and mudflats help protect coastal communities against storm surges and sustain local fisheries and aquatic resources.
The conservation initiative involves government agencies, local government units, academic institutions and community organizations working together to preserve the sanctuary.
Restoration activities under the National Greening Program also complement efforts to protect existing mangrove vegetation and encourage natural regeneration.
“Nature has already done much of the work in Gabuc. Our responsibility is to protect it—and strengthen it where restoration is needed. The lush mangrove vegetation of Gabuc Wetland provides a glimpse of what a functioning coastal ecosystem can look like,” DENR-Capiz stated.
The agency emphasized that conservation efforts must extend beyond mangrove planting to ensure the survival and continued growth of both existing and newly restored forests.
“The story is therefore not simply about planting mangroves. It is about protecting existing forests, supporting natural regeneration, restoring appropriate areas, and ensuring that planted areas survive and become part of a functioning ecosystem,” it added.
The proposed protected-area status is expected to strengthen long-term conservation efforts and help safeguard the wetland’s biodiversity and ecological benefits for surrounding coastal communities./PN
