Wetlands Liguasan

Analysis:

DESCRIPTION OF WETLAND ASSIGNED

Wetlands are part of our natural wealth and have been critical to the development and survival of human communities.  The advancing technological skills of human communities may seem to have supplanted the role of Nature, but recent environment catastrophes - floods, landslides, storms, many with their roots in unsustainable land use practices - suggest otherwise. The wetland assigned for me to be researched is the Liguasan Marsh Wetland Based on what I have read and research about the Liguasan Marsh it is located in south central Mindanao, and is the largest swamp and marsh area on the island. It is locaIt is a vast complex of river channels, small freshwater lakes and ponds, extensive freshwater marshes and arable land subject to seasonal flooding in the basin of the Mindanao River. Most of the area is underwater during periods of heavy rainfall, but some 140,000 ha dry out during dry periods and are cultivated. The marsh, although generally known as Liguasan, actually consists of two adjoining marshy basins, Liguasan Marsh and Libungan Marsh, with different water regimes. Liguasan lies at the confluence of the Pulangi, Maganoy, Buluan and Allah Rivers, and Libungan lies at the confluence of Libungan and Mindanao Rivers. There is c.5,000 ha of old growth forest within the marsh. The marsh is home to 112,000 Maguindanaon families whose primary means of livelihood are fishing when water levels are high and agriculture when they are low. Because of its very rich wildlife, the marsh has considerable potential for nature tourism. However, the area is a stronghold of insurgents, and access is restricted. The Government has recognized the importance both economically and politically of Liguasan Marsh and, in the Cotabato Agusan River Basin Development Project, has initiated the construction of a cut off channel from the Pagulungan sector of the Rio Grande de Mindanao to prevent and control floods.

It's location is in Philippines, Region XII

Based on my research in Key Biodiversity there are several threatened species have been recorded at Liguasan Marsh, including Philippine Eagle, but there is little recent information on their status there. It is likely that the relatively extensive lowland forests in this IBA support populations of more of the threatened and restricted-range birds of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area. The marsh is an important wetland site and supports resident or non-breeding populations of many waterbird species, including herons and egrets, rails, shorebirds and ducks. These include a Mindanao endemic subspecies of Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis cotabaco, and Comb crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea, for which Liguasan is the only locality in the Philippines.

Non-bird biodiversity: The marsh supports a great variety of aquatic wildlife. It is one of the last strongholds for the endangered Philippine crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis, and the estuarine crocodile C. porosus also occurs. The marsh is particularly rich in orchids.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Season	Period	Population estimate	Quality of estimate	IBA Criteria	IUCN Category
Japanese Night-heron Gorsachius goisagi	winter	2001	present	-	A1	Endangered
Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis	non-breeding	2001	present	-	A1	Near Threatened
Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi	resident	2001	present	-	A1	Critically Endangered
Alcedo argentata	resident	2001	present	-	A1	Not Recognised
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	unknown	2001	20,000 individuals	unknown	A4iii

 OUTLINES

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Lake Buluan	Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary	4,911	protected area contained by site	4,911

Protection status Liguasan Marsh was declared a Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary by Forestry Administrative Order No. 19 on 19 January 1941

 Another species are the crocodiles

TheDavao Crocodile Park Inc. is actively involved through financial assistance of a Conservation Study of Crocodiles being conducted at liguasan Marsh by a research team from the University of Southern Mindanao.  This team “Liguasan Marsh Wild Crocodile Research Program” headed by, Dr. Ketch Pomares is composed of college professors and veterinarians from the University of Southern Mindanao.      

      These goal is to pinpoint locations of the Philippine Freshwater Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) and Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) populations currently inhabiting the Liguasan Marsh, wherein the only location here in the Philippines that porous and mendorensis are the same habitats.

This study will provide information that will be used in establishing criteria for the restocking and reestablishment program of wild populations of the Philippine Freshwater CrocodileCrocodylus mindorensis. Moreover, it is a member of the Crcocodylus porosus Incorporated Philippines, which is one of the major sponsors of these particular research.

CONCLUDE AND APPLY

All wetlands are not the same they have different uses and kinds

basically there are four types of wetlands namely

-Bog

a type of wetland ecosystem characterized by wet, spongy, poorly drained peaty soil, dominated by the growth of bog mosses, Sphagnum, and heaths, particularly Chamaedaphne. Bogs are usually acid areas, frequently surrounding a body of open water. Bogs receive water exclusively from rainfall.

-Swamp

a type of wetland ecosystem characterized by poorly drained mineral soils and by plant life dominated by grasses. Marshes are common at the mouths of rivers, especially where extensive deltas have been built. The marsh plants slow down the flow of water and allow for the nutrient enriched sediments to be deposited, thus providing conditions for the further development of the marsh.

-Marsh

a wetland ecosystem characterized by mineral soils with poor drainage and by plant life dominated by trees . Swamps are found throughout the world, most often in low-lying regions (with poor drainage) next to rivers, which supply the swamp with water. Some swamps develop from marshes that slowly fill in, allowing trees and woody shrubs to grow.

-Fen

a type of wetland ecosystem characterized by peaty soil, dominated by grasslike plants, grasses, sedges, and reeds. Fens are alkaline rather than acid areas, receiving water mostly from surface and groundwater sources.

sorry to inform that I haven't got any information about the significance of the Liguasan Marsh but based from what I have read and researched it =s significance is just to preserve the list of endangered species particularly the Philippine eagles and crocodiles. 

Wetlands should be protected because it is part of the ecosystem without it the chain will be incomplete which can lead to disaster or a big imbalance to nature. with out wetlands many places will become drought meaning no species or living creatures can stay.

People can help even in small cases like proper throwing of garbage, proper harvesting, and following the rules about the protection of wetlands. People can also form groups to research and conclude to established new laws that are more helpful to preserve the wetlands. 

Type of wetland: Marsh

Location	Philippines, Region XII
Central coordinates	124o 35.00' East  6o 55.00' North
IBA criteria	A1, A4iii
Area	280,000 ha
Altitude	10 - 30m
Year of IBA assessment	2001