The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here has urged the declaration of Gabu wetland in this city as a protected area.
This is to ensure that the Gabu wetland will be preserved as a critical habitat of migratory birds and other species essential for ecological balance, said Rhoel Marcelo, senior environmental specialist and chief of the Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Unit of the DENR in Ilocos Norte province, in an interview on Wednesday.
Located in a coastal village of Gabu in this city, this wetland provides a critical feeding and roosting ground for shorebirds and waders.
Despite pressures from urban development, Marcelo said it remains an important habitat along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
Based on the 2026 Asian Waterbird Census held earlier this month, the DENR reported that the Gabu wetland exhibited lower overall abundance but notable species diversity was present, particularly among coastal and pelagic guilds.
“The Philippine Duck is again present, albeit smaller in numbers of around 150, indicating its reliance on multiple wetland habitats. The presence of gulls and terns—specifically Black-tailed gull (Larus crassirostris) and black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is ecologically significant,” the report said.
Marcelo said these species are typically associated with coastal environments, and their presence suggests that the Gabu wetland serves as an important stopover site for long-distance migratory birds.
Given these findings, the DENR has recommended the formal recognition of the Gabu wetland as a protected area to complement the Paoay Lake Natural Park, which serves as a population stronghold for endemic and migratory waterbirds.
Over the past three years, the DENR reported a consistent increase in species richness at the Gabu wetland, from eight species recorded in 2023 to 11 species in 2026.
“This increase may reflect improved habitat conditions, enhanced observer coverage, or greater recognition of the site’s ecological value,” the report said. (PNA)