Environment
Credit: Gregg Yan / Best Alternatives
Bird photographers during a
DENR-led media immersion
to Candaba marsh in celebra-
tion of World Wetlands Day
last 2 February
Credit: Gregg Yan / Best Alternatives
Farmer Gaudencio de Leon will
now be a birdwatching guide,
thanks to the government and
forward-thinking environmental
nonprofits like the Society for
the Conservation of Philippine
Wetlands. His trained eyes can
spot birds hundreds of metres
away
“Our underrated wetlands have so far enjoyed limited conservation priority,” explains
Biodiversity Management Bureau Director Crisanta Rodriguez. “They provide habitats
for many creatures while generating food and water for millions of people. In many
ways, wetlands are the Earth’s kidneys, filtering and purifying water.”
Birdwatchers for a day.
Author Gregg Yan with
PEMSEA Executive Director
Aimee Gonzales and
Biodiversity Management
Bureau Director Crisanta
Rodriguez.
Credit: BMB / DENR
a community-based initiative to transform a portion of the marsh
into a birdwatching haven.
“For an activity to be sustainable, it has to pay for itself and
augment the income of locals, who were trained as birdwatching
guides. The eco-tourism package shall be launched this year
and features birdwatching, carabao cart rides, wetland walks,
Kapampangan delicacies and other charming elements,” says SCPW
Executive Director Amy Lecciones.
Making birds critical to farmers’ incomes means they will have
strong allies against poachers and those who seek to drain
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and destroy these habitats. When properly done, ecotourism’s
advantages can outweigh the lure of development.
“Now we shall earn extra and ensure that more Filipinos keep
enjoying the sights and sounds of Candaba. Who would have
thought our feathered friends can attract droves of tourists and
improve our lives?” laughs farmer Gaudencio de Leon while gazing
at the birds.
With work and a little dose of luck, I hope conservation and
ecotourism can bring back the grandeur of Candaba marsh. Best
Alternatives