Sibugay hosts World Wetland Day 2025

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines — The Sibugay Wetland Nature Reserve (SWNR) in this province was chosen by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as a venue for the observance of World Wetland Day 2025 yesterday.

During the event, DENR Assistant Secretary Marcial Amaro presented to the public the recognition given to the SWNR as the Philippines’ ninth Wetland of International Importance.

The recognition was granted by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands or semi-aquatic ecosystems whose groundcovers are saturated with water.

The designation was granted during the 10th Asian Wetlands Symposium in Quezon City in Noember last year, making the SWNR the 2,552nd Ramsar site in the world.

Gov. Dulce Ann Hofer said the recognition is a product of the people’s hardwork.

The SWNR spans 175,551.12 hectares across nine municipalities in 64 coastal barangays in the province. It serves as a critical habitat for migratory and endemic waterbird species like the Philippine duck and the globally threatened great knot, far eastern curlew and Chinese egret.

The wetland also provides sanctuary to the country’s endemic flying foxes or bats.

The DENR said that marine species such as the endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles also thrive in the Sibugay wetland.

Amaro said the designation of the SWNR as a Ramsar site would include the area in the global agenda to protect, sustain and manage wetlands.