The Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve in Surigao del Norte is "headed for bigger things' as it vies for a global recognition, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) said.

Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve (Photo courtesy of CCC)

The mangrove reserve site was officially nominated for inclusion to the Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance list, the CCC has disclosed.

Aside from the nomination, the government through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Biodiversity Management Bureau declared the Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve as “Wetland of International Importance” on Feb. 2 during the celebration of World Wetlands Day.

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje believes that the Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve and the entire Siargao Island Protected Landscapes and Seascapes (SIPLAS) "are headed for bigger things."

“We rely on these mangroves for a lot of things: shoreline stabilization, surge protection, food security, flood control, water purification, groundwater replenishment and climate change mitigation," Borje said.

"The recognition of the Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve as a Wetland of International Importance is a step toward securing a commitment from both the local and national government for their protection and preservation. It is also a precursor to being listed as a Ramsar Site,” Borje added.

The local government of Del Carmen took inspiration from the CCC's ecotown initiative to prepare the SIPLAS – through its Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve – to be recognized as a Wetland of International Importance.

“The process of getting ready to get the Del Carmen Mangrove Forest be recognized as a Wetland of International Importance can be traced back as early as 2011. We started with the CCC program Ecotown that allowed us to understand and appreciate the value of the mangrove forest,” said Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Coro II.

The CCC formulated the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) to address urgent and immediate needs and concerns of the country regarding the adverse effects of climate change.

Under the NCCAP, an ecologically sound, stable and economically resilient town was built in Del Carmen.

According to Borje, the CCC has conducted extensive targeted research with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-National Research Council of the Philippines, DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau, and Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), and are currently updating the Ramsar Information System to be forwarded to UN Ramsar for evaluation.

“The Local Government of Del Carmen is also leading the campaign to transition from Ramsar Listing to UNESCO Global Geoparks which will now cover the entire island of Siargao,” he added.

Del Carmen is working closely with various partners to gather additional data to support the Ramsar and UNESCO Global Geoparks application.

UNESCO Global Geoparks are geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological importance are managed with a holistic approach of protection, sustainable development and education. There are currently 177 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 46 countries.

Some of Del Carmen's development partners are the US Agency for International Development Philippine Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscapes (SIBOL), Metro Pacific Investments Foundation’s Shore It Up, Rare, SIKAT, Caraga State University and the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

The Philippines currently has eight Ramsar Sites, including the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. The country is yet to be included on the UNESCO Global Geoparks list.

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Mangrove Reserve forest in Surigao del Norte 'headed for bigger things'