The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has urged the formal recognition of Gabu wetland in Laoag City as a protected area to safeguard its role as a vital habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Rhoel Marcelo, senior environmental specialist and head of DENR’s Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Unit in Ilocos Norte, emphasized that the wetland provides critical feeding and roosting grounds for shorebirds and waders, particularly along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

“Despite pressures from urban development, Gabu wetland remains an important stopover site for migratory species,” Marcelo said. Recent data from the 2026 Asian Waterbird Census showed notable species diversity, including about 150 Philippine Ducks and the presence of coastal gulls and terns such as the Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) and Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

The DENR highlighted that over the past three years, species richness at Gabu wetland increased from eight species in 2023 to 11 in 2026, reflecting improved habitat conditions and the growing ecological recognition of the site.

Marcelo recommended its formal protection to complement Paoay Lake Natural Park, which serves as a stronghold for endemic and migratory waterbirds.

The declaration aims to preserve Gabu wetland’s ecological integrity and ensure the continued survival of its diverse bird populations.

(Photo: PNA | Rhoel Marcelo)