The document summarizes land use and the importance of wetlands in Buguey municipality. It consists of 16,450 hectares of land, with over 9,000 hectares used for agriculture and over 2,000 hectares consisting of open grasslands and forests. The wetlands cover over 1,200 hectares and serve as an important bird area and key biodiversity site. Over 90% of residents depend on fisheries and rice farming from the aquatic resources of the wetlands. However, magnetite sand extraction has resulted in sand erosion and could harm biodiversity if allowed to continue on a large scale.

2. BUGUEY
Land Area: 16,450 has
Built‐
Built‐up: 166 has
Agricultural: 9,891 has
g ,
Open Grasslands: 2,293 has
Forest: 2,253 has
Wetlands: 1,228 has
Roads and Streets: 99 has
Lagoon: 520 has
The interweaving of physical, social and economic factor resulted in the
form of land development that is seen in the municipality today.

3. 80% Important Bird Area (IBA)
Key Biodiversity Area
y y
Priority Conservation Site
Birdlife International
Haribon Foundation
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
United Nations Environment Program
ASEAN Regional Center for Biodiversity Conservation
This very diverse coastal ecosystem, consisting of brackish lagoon,
f h
freshwater marshes, mangroves and i
h d intertidal mudflats, i an i
id l dfl is important
area for migratory waterfowl, especially ducks and shorebirds.

4. 90% of the people
p y
depends mainly on
Fisheries and Rice Farming
Since 1998, when BFAR was reconstituted as a line bureau
of the Department of Agriculture through the passage of
p g g p g
Republic Act 8550, technology demonstration projects of
various brackishwater finfish, crustaceans and mollusks
have been established in the area.
Buguey wetlands serves as the source of fishery industry and rice
production i th municipality. A
d ti in the i i lit Aquatic produce i l d mudcrab, mussels,
ti d includes d b l
tilapia, prawns, guraman.

5. A proactive leadership working
harmoniously with the people, the private and the
government sectors, committed to the ideals of a
government sectors committed to the ideals of a
service‐
service‐oriented, environment conscious and
business‐
business‐friendly community.”
Judiciously protect, conserve and rehabilitate the reaming physical and
natural resources of Buguey and encourage the development of industries
that will serve the needs of its constituents.

6. Progressive, self‐reliant, healthy and dynamic
Progressive, self‐
community characterized by freedom, justice and
community characterized by freedom justice and
equity, with enlightened and contented people,
actively participating and enjoying the benefits of
development, through prudent and judicious
utilization of its resources towards a globally
competitive municipality.
competitive municipality.
Highest standard of living for the people of Buguey; primary fishery and
eco‐tourism in the far north; and center point of consumer trade and
commerce in the province of Cagayan.

7. Food Self‐
Food Self‐Sufficiency
Equitable Access to Basic Services
Equitable Access to Basic Services
Environmental Integrity and Stability
Private Sector Investment
Judicious Government Intervention Investment
People Empowerment
To attain the long‐term vision, the municipality of Buguey has adopted with
some modifications the long‐term vision of national community as
articulated in the National Physical Framework plan.

8. Removal of Sand Dunes
g
due to sand/magnetite
extraction and quarry
A small‐scale mining permit was granted to
A small‐
extract 50,000 tons of magnetite sand per year
, g p y
for two years, thus, removing the sand dunes
blocking wave surges which will obviously enter
into the lagoon easily.
.
An Exploration Permit is still existing in the area and a large scale mining
application i still pending. H
li ti is till di Hence, it h b
has been concluded th t th small‐
l d d that the ll
scale mining permitee knows and has transaction with a large mining firm.

9. Preliminary Findings
SAND EROSION
STORM SURGES
STORM SURGES
BIODIVERSITY
SALINITY ISSUES
LOW INLAND ELEVATION
Generally, magnetite sand extraction on the shore of Buguey is detrimental
t th li
to the lives and li lih d within th area and th neigboring t
d livelihood ithi the d the i b i towns
dependent on the lagoon’s ecosystem’s bounties.

10. Sand Erosion
April 10, 2009 May 17, 2009
The pictures show the comparison the extent of sand erosion. There is a
significant amount of sand erosion caused by waves surges and wind.

11. Large
Scale
Mining
and Extraction