Buguey wetlands (9712)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Buguey wetlands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 18.2833, Longitude: 121.8333
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 108.73416
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Buguey Wetlands are on the north coast of Luzon, east of the mouth of the Cagayan River, and cover c.80% of Buguey Municipality. They are a complex of coastal lagoons, freshwater marshes, brackish and saline marshes, mangrove swamps and intertidal mudflats, with some fish ponds and shrimp ponds and a very large area of rice paddies. The wetland is an important area for rice and fisheries production.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. KBA identified in the CI/CEPF Conservation Outcomes booklet for the Philippines Hotspot (2006). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat category follow the 2004 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: Buguey Wetlands are an important staging and wintering area for migratory waterfowl, notably ducks and shorebirds. Some 3,000 5,000 ducks have been recorded in November, mostly Tree-ducks Dendrocygna sp and the threatened Philippine Duck. Up to 3,000 other waterfowl have been observed, and more than 1,000 shorebirds are regularly recorded there during AWC counts.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Buguey Wetlands are on the north coast of Luzon, east of the mouth of the Cagayan River, and cover c.80% of Buguey Municipality. They are a complex of coastal lagoons, freshwater marshes, brackish and saline marshes, mangrove swamps and intertidal mudflats, with some fish ponds and shrimp ponds and a very large area of rice paddies. The wetland is an important area for rice and fisheries production.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 25 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The Buguey Wetlands are threatened by further conversion of mangroves and marsh to other uses. The extent of the mangroves has been greatly reduced by the creation of shrimp and fishponds, and this destruction continues. Waterfowl hunting, although illegal, is widespread, and there is extensive use of pesticides by the rice farmers. Ducks and egrets frequently feed in the rice paddies, and there have been incidents of birds dying from poisoning.
Additional information
References: References: Custodio (1996); Davies et al. (1990); Scott (1989).