Candaba Bird Sanctuary,
Sinukuan Upland Forests Association,
San Juan Baņo, Arayat, Pampanga
United Nations Development Programme
Maria Sinukuan Upland Farmers Association
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
Wetlands Caravan had three components: a bird watching
event, a Community Learning Forum, and a visit to the
backyard nurseries at Barangay San Juan Baņo.
This year's theme of the World Wetlands Day is Forests
for Water and Wetlands. The connection between
forests, water and wetlands is clearly emphasized in the
SCPW's enhancement reforestation project - the
Rehabilitation of the Arayat Watershed for the
Protection of Candaba Wetlands. This is being
implemented through the "tree-preneurship" approach wherein
the participating upland farmers/families are trained to be
the event were Ms. Jocelyn Esguerra, the National
Coordinator of United Nations Development Programme - GEF
SGP; Mr. Leovino Ignacio, Provincial Environment and
Natural Resources Officer of Pampanga; Mr. Ruel Nucup,
President of the Maria Sinukuan
Upland Farmers Association; Ms. Joy Isla and Ms. Liza Vengco of the Unilever
Minerva Martinez of the Protected Wildlife Services of
Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Region
3; and Mr. Rommel Santiago, the Protected Area
Superintendent for the
Mount Arayat National Park.
The event started with a bird watching
at the Candaba Bird Santuary. The trip aimed to increase
appreciation of the wetlands in Candaba.
The Candaba Wetlands in Pampanga, being
the lowest point in Central Luzon, is home for many
species of local and migratory birds passing through the
town. Because of these birds, the Candaba Bird Sanctuary in
particular have become a favorite destination for bird
than a hundred upland farmers in Mount Arayat gathered for the Community Learning Forum
held at the assembly place of the Maria Sinukuan Upland
Farmers Association. It aimed to
increase the awareness and appreciation of the local
population on the importance of the Arayat forest
cover in the maintenance of the ecosystem integrity
of the Arayat-Candaba watershed.
Dr. Simplicia Pasicolan of
the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (also a
Member of the SCPW Board of Trustees), the resource speaker,
discussed the topic "Forests and Wetlands: The
Wetland-Forest Connection", specifically the Mount
Arayat - Candaba Wetlands connection.
The last component of the caravan was the visit to the
backyard nurseries of the tree-preneurs and was ended by an
Open Forum. The concerns and problems encountered by
the tree-preneurs in
backyard nursery development were raised in the open forum.
Mr. Bienvenido Martin of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources and Ms. Amy Lecciones of the Society for
the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands facilitated the community interaction.