Research About a Given Wetland in the Philippines

The Philippines has six major wetland regions which are declared as Ramsar sites, namely: the Olango Island in Lapu-lapu, Cebu, Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro, the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan, the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA)

For better appreciating and learning about wetlands, I was reluctantly tasked with giving an in depth study of the 15,511-hectare watershed, Lake Buhi found in Buhi, Camarines Sur. It's located in the Philippines in Region V as part of the Bicol region. As the name implies, this wetland is classified as a lake.

Lake Buhi, Camrines Sur

This ecosystem serves as a home for various marine organisms which in turn serves as viable food sources for the different faunas taking sanctuary in the forest beside the lake. All species interacting to form an intricate food web and ecosystem within the ecology of the area. The lake is also utilized by the  National Power Corporation Hydro Electric Plant as the main source of water supply. It is also used by the National Irrigation Administration to irrigate at least 10,000 hectares of the Riconada towns located downstream and Iriga City.

The area is mainly composed of at least 25 bird species, five of which are endemic species; the five endemic species are: the Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, Philippine Hanging Parrot, Black-naped Monarch, Elegant Tit and the White-eared Brown Dove. Marine life is composed of Irin-irin (Redigobius bikolanus), Dalag (Channa striata), Puyo (Anabas testudineus), Kotnag (Hemiramphus sp.), Burirawan (Strophidon sathete) and native catfish (Clarias sp.). Other fishes are introduced to boost the fishery industry such as the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Bangkok hito (Clarias sp.). Other fauna that can be found in the forest are flying lizards (Draco sp.), skinks, monitor lizards (Varanus salvator), civet cats, bats and the Philippine Cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fasicularis).

Sinarapan

As far as my research goes, there are some laws being implemented for the sake of the lake. DENR Administrative Order No. 2013-16 issued by Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje on May 27, designates the Lake Buhi watershed Water Quality Management Area and the creation of its governing board. Pursuant to Section 5 of R.A. No. 9275 otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, DENR Administrative Order No. 2005- 10 (DAO 2005- 10) or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9275 and DENR Memorandum Circular 2009-1 5 or the Procedural Manual for the Designation of Water Quality Management Areas, and considering its critical importance, the Lake Buhi Watershed is hereby designated as a Water Quality Management Area (WQMA). Furthermore, there is still house bill 1011 of the sixteenth congress of the first regular session which aims to establish a Sinarapan sanctuary in the provinces of Camarines Sur and Albay as a protected area under the category of wildlife sanctuary; it has been in a pending status with the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES since 2013-07-29.


Conclusion:
Not all wetlands are the same; wetlands can assume other forms as well besides from being a lake.
This wetland serves as a watershed to contain and retain water which also acts as a water supply for the nearby power plant and irrigation for the various towns. Today, it also being introduced as a tourist destination, so it draws in a livelihood for the people near the lake.
Wetland environments should be protected because it's very difficult to reproduce the natural sustainment that nature provides us once we destroy and lose the environment that the land has provided for us. They are priceless assets for the people to utilize  in a sustainable manner.

In order to aid in the preservation of the wetlands, people should strive to know more about the ecological and economical profoundness it can have for a vast demography of people; likewise, efforts to bring knowledge about these to the ignorant populous should be undertaken.

Wetland Data
Type of wetland	Inland wetland (Lake)
Location	Buhi, Camarines Sur
Plant species	No information can be attained
Animal species	Irin-irin (Redigobius bikolanus) Dalag (Channa striata) Puyo (Anabas testudineus) Kotnag (Hemiramphus sp.) Burirawan (Strophidon sathete) native catfish (Clarias sp.) Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) Bangkok hito (Clarias sp.). The Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker Philippine Hanging Parrot Black-naped Monarch Elegant Tit and the White-eared Brown Dove Flying lizards (Draco sp.) Skinks Monitor lizards (Varanus salvator) Civet cats Bats The Philippine Cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fasicularis).
Strategy for preservation	Tourism, Education, Responsible consumption of natural resources.

Table 1

Thanks for reading!