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WHEREAS, the Philippines is endowed with a variety of
wetlands that provide a wide range of products
and services critical to human life including
the ability to mitigate the threats of climate
change to our nation’s security and which hosts
valuable biodiversity;
WHEREAS, these wetlands are in a critical condition due
to the various threats caused by unsustainable
use, hydrologic alterations, pollution,
vegetation damage, and encroachment, among
others;
WHEREAS, destroying or degrading these wetlands can lead
to serious consequences such as increased
flooding, extinction of species, and decline in
water quality;
WHEREAS, the Philippines is a Contracting Party to the
Ramsar Convention, and as such, is committed to
conserve and promote the wise use of its
wetlands through national and local actions as a
contribution towards achieving sustainable
development throughout the world;
WHEREAS, despite the existence of a 1993 Philippine
National Wetlands Action Plan, efforts towards
the wise use of wetlands have been fragmented
and at times, overlapping and conflicting, thus
resulting in the continuing degradation of these
important ecosystems;
WHEREAS, there is a need to update the 1993 Philippine
National Wetlands Action Plan to be more
responsive to current issues and concerns;
WHEREAS, the Conference recognizes the importance of
wetlands, its critical role in the survival of
humans and the planet itself, especially its
role in climate change adaptation and
mitigation;
WHEREAS, the consequences can be avoided by maintaining
the remaining valuable wetlands, preventing
their further destruction and restoring lost or
degraded wetlands where possible;
THEREFORE, THE CONFERENCE RESOLVES THAT:
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URGENT ATTENTION be given to the state of our wetlands
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ACT on the threats to them to improve their
ability to sustain the production of natural
goods and services for people and
communities; and
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In collaboration with other nations and
international institutions, COMMIT
RESOURCES (human, economic, social,
political and financial) to make the actions
work.
In turn, WE SUBMIT for consideration by
Congress, the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) and other agencies of the
national government, and local governments in
all places in the Philippines –- the attached
PRIORITY NEEDED ACTIONS and the TIME
FRAME they need to be done.
Priority Actions (Timeframe: 2 years)
a) Capacity Development
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Targeted CEPA (communication,
education and public awareness)/documentation and dissemination of
Best Practices in Wetlands Conservation and
Management |
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Preparation of identified training
modules and conduct of training
courses |
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Resource mobilization strategies
that look into innovative financing
mechanisms |
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Knowledge on and access to
adaptation and mitigation,
remediation technologies |
b) Development of a database of wetlands
information
c) Issuance of Joint Memorandum of
Understanding (MOUs) on the following concerns:
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Between Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) and DENR on easements |
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Among Philippine Reclamation
Authority (PRA), DENR and DILG on reclamation
especially on illegally reclaimed areas |
d) Develop a long term legislative agenda for wetlands
e) Develop and institutionalize an
Implementation Mechanism for the National
Wetlands Action Plan
by exploring existing
institutions like the Committee on Conservation
and Management of Resources
for Development (CCMRD) of the
Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).
(Adopted in Silliman University, Dumaguete City,
on January 14, 2009)
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