The Ligawasan Marsh: Ecosystem Health, Threats and Conservation
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The document discusses the Ligawasan Marsh ecosystem in the Philippines, which covers 288,000 hectares and provides livelihood for 278,000 people. It faces numerous threats including illegal fishing, forest conversion, pollution, and lack of enforcement of environmental laws. To increase its resilience, the document recommends habitat restoration, designating it a protected area, law enforcement, and livelihood programs to reduce pressure on its resources.
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The Ligawasan Marsh: Ecosystem Health, Threats and Conservation
- 1. THE LIGAWASAN MARSH: ECOSYSTEM HEALTH, THREATS & CONSERVATION GARRY D. LASAGA Reporter
- 3. Ligawasan Marsh One of the largest wetlands (288,000 ha). Conglomeration of 3 marshes: 1. Ligawasan marsh proper 2. Libungan marsh 3. Ebpanan marsh Tabora, 2008
- 4. Ligawasan Marsh River basin situated in 3 provinces of Mindanao* Rich in biodiversity** Tabora, 2008
- 7. Ligawasan Marsh Important for the livelihood 278,000 people Depository for water drained Global Environment Facility, 2008
- 8. Ligawasan Marsh Protection status Game Refuge & Bird Sanctuary (1941) Tabora, 2008
- 9. Game Refuge & Bird Sanctuary Wildlife sanctuary - an area that assures the natural conditions necessary to protect nationally significant species, groups of species, biotic communities or physical features of the environment, where these may require specific human manipulation for perpetuation (SEAFDEC/AQD, 1994).
- 10. Flora of Ligawasan Marsh Original flora: largely altered* 201 species** Low endemism*** DENR, 2004
- 11. Wetland Habitat Classification: Ligawasan Marsh • Freshwater swamp forest • Herbaceous swamp • Shrub swamp Natural habitat • Ricefields • Dryland agriculture Artificial habitat • Still open water • Running open water Open water
- 12. Shrub habitat type dominated by Sesbania canabina in SKPendatun Swampforest habitat type dominated by Terminalia copelandii and Barringtonia racemosa
- 13. Left to right: Barringtonia acutangula, Antidesma sp. (fruits), Pongamia pinnata Barringtonia racemosa (fruits), Barringtonia racemosa (flowers) and Antidesma sp (flowers)
- 14. A degraded swamp forest with a sharp delineation of an ecotonal area comprising herbaceous flora*. Transitional areas between degraded forest and herbaceous habitat type Transitional areas associated with free flowing water bodies
- 15. Herbaceous swamp habitat type dominated by Eichhornia crassipes located in Butelen
- 16. Agricultural fields in Lower Paatan, Kabacan A strand of Pandanus tectorius, grassland being converted to an agricultural field.
- 17. Open water habitat Still open water – for fishing & transportation* Running open water – includes rivers where water movement is unidirectional** DENR, 2004
- 19. Birds, Mammals, Amphibians & Reptiles 206 terrestrial species* Birds: 170 species (39:endemic)** Mammals: 14 species Reptiles: 13 species (Philippine crocodile)*** Amphibians: 9 species; Philippine amphibian**** DENR, 2004
- 20. Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)
- 21. Birds Tachybaptus ruficollis cotabato Philippine duck (Anas luzonica)* DENR, 2004
- 22. Birds Migratory birds: 37 species* Threatened birds: 13 species** DENR, 2004
- 23. Clockwise from top left : Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea, immature), Nyticorax nyticorax, Ardea purpurea mature, Purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) Darter (Anningha melanogaster), White-browed Crake (Porzania cineria)
- 24. Fishes Libungan marsh: 27 species* Ebpanan marsh: 22 species** Ligawasan marsh: 8 species*** Most important species: cyprinids, gouramys, cichlids, catfish; native species: eels, climbing perch, native catifish DENR, 2004
- 25. Mollusks 14 species* Vivipara costata: edible snail sold Pomacea canaliculata: golden apple snail DENR, 2004
- 26. Specific Threats to Ligawasan Marsh: ONSITE
- 27. Destructive resource utilization 1. Illegal fishing 2. Illegal cutting of wetland swamp forest 3. Collecting of wildlife & eggs 4. Bird hunting 5. Conversion to agricultural lands DENR, 2004
- 28. Poor environmental practices 1. Dumping of solid wastes 2. Unregulated use of fertilizers 3. Introduction of exotic species 4. “Noisy” motorized bancas 5. Weak enforcement of laws DENR, 2004
- 29. Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau–Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2013. The National Wetlands Action Plan for the Philippines 2011- 2016
- 30. ON-SITE THREATS High population pressure* Potential for oil & gas** Palm oil plantation*** Political boundaries**** Peace & order problems*****
- 31. OFF-SITE THREATS Slash-and-Burn* Use of excess chemicals** Dumping of solid wastes*** Lack of clearing of debris****
- 32. Tabora, 2007
- 33. DEGRADATION OF LIGAWASAN Increased built-up area Illegal fishing Land conversion Outbreak of war Pollution of marsh water DENR, 2004 Threat Analysis in the Ligawasan Marsh*
- 34. Increased built-up area Illegal fishing Land Conversion Outbreak of war Pollution of marsh water Inadequate Dumping of Livelihood Chemical and wastes in opportunity fertilizer Sedimentation the river application Poor execution of Soil erosion environmental laws Flooding Rainy season Kaingin/ Illegalhillside logging farming DEGRADATION OF LIGAWASAN MARSH
- 36. What can be done to increase the adaptive capacity of the ecosystem to threats?
- 37. Habitat restoration Community-based restoration of disturbed wetland swamp forest habitat Riverbank protection and stabilization* Community-based buffer zone reforestation**
- 38. Habitat restoration Wildlife sanctuary for future ecotourism activities* Tree planting on lands occupied by farmers**
- 39. A degraded swamp forest with a sharp delineation of an ecotonal area comprising herbaceous flora.
- 40. Ecosystem Mgt. & Protection Declaring LM as a Protected area* Protected area – portion of land and water set aside by reason of their unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity, and protected against destructive human exploitation (SEAFDEC/AQD, 1994).
- 41. Ecosystem Mgt. & Protection Law Enforcement (Bantay Pawas) Appoint Bantay Pawas Promulgate new ordinances to strengthen conservation and protection activities
- 42. Livelihood interventions Goat raising on raised pens Duck raising Mat and kalakat weaving, and handicraft Support for mini-growth centers, focused on fish landings and food crops marketing
- 43. References Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2004). Proposed Ligawasan Marsh Protected Area. Investment Program, Volume II Tabora, J.A. (2007). Ligawasan Marsh and its in biodiversity: Introduction to a research in Philippine crocodile at Ligawasan marsh. Conference Paper. ResearcGate Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department (1994). The NIPAS Act of 1992. Aqua Farm News, 12(3), 8-9.
Editor's Notes
- ECOSYSTEM TYPE: FRESHWATER/TERRESTRIAL. Wetlands are areas where the environment and the associated plant and animal life are mainly controlled by water.
- The Ligawasan Marsh is one of the largest wetlands comprising about 10% of the Mindanao River Basin. It is a conglomeration of three marshes, namely, the Ligawasan Marsh proper, the Libungan Marsh, and the Ebpanan Marsh. The Ligawasan Marsh complex supports a variety of wild flora and fauna
- *Marsh – a wetland ecosystem characterized by mineral soils with poor drainage and by plant life dominated by trees . *These provinces are: North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Maguindanao The Ligawasan Marsh complex supports a variety of wild flora and fauna
- Ligawasan Marsh is strategically located in the central Mindanao river basin particularly in Region 12.
- It is within 19 municipalities and one city. It drains the rivers coming from the mountain ranges around the area.
- It is rich in biodiversity and important for the livelihoods of the approximately 278,000 people living around the area. The marsh is a depository for water drained from the Cotabato River Basin and serves to prevent the flooding of low-lying downstream areas in central Mindanao, thus making farming viable in the lowlands. *Marsh is a premier but critical wetland ecosystem where a number of endangered endemic species can be found.
- It is rich in biodiversity and important for the livelihoods of the approximately 278,000 people living around the area. The marsh is a depository for water drained from the Cotabato River Basin and serves to prevent the flooding of low-lying downstream areas in central Mindanao, thus making farming viable in the lowlands. *Marsh is a premier but critical wetland ecosystem where a number of endangered endemic species can be found. **A repository of abundant fauna and flora, natural gas and oil deposits, and other natural resources, the marsh is coveted and targeted for development.
- This is under the Forestry Administrative Order No. 19 of 1940. It covers about 43,900 ha. GAME: wildlife animals hunted for food or sport; REFUGE: a place that provides shelter or protection.
- *The original flora in the area had been largely altered due to considerable human encroachment and land use conversion for agricultural purposes. **The floristic composition in the marsh shows that there are 201 species belonging to 159 genera in 68 plant families. ***There is a relatively low endemism of plants in the Ligawasan Marsh complex. Twelve species, out of 201 plant species or 6%, are endemic to the Philippines. There are no endangered, threatened, rare, or vulnerable species in the area.
- There are 7 proposed wetland habitat classification for Ligawasan Marsh. Marsh habitats consisting of naturally occurring habitats in wetlands and include (i) freshwater swamp forest habitat, (ii) herbaceous swamp habitat, and (iii) shrub swamp habitat; Artificial habitats consisting of areas subjected to and maintained as part of human activities (i.e. agriculture, built-up areas, etc.) and include (iv) ricefield habitats, and (v) dryland agriculture habitat; Open water habitats consisting of (vi) still open water habitat, and (vii) running open water habitat.
- NATURALLY OCCURRING HABITAT: Shrub swamp habitat is a transitional stage in the ecological succession of swamps. Large areas exist on land mass formed through siltation subsequently colonized by shrubby plant species, such as Sesbania cannabina. SILTATION: process by which water becomes dirty as a result of fine mineral particles in the water; SHRUB: a low usually several-stemmed woody plant. Freshwater swamp forest habitat is regularly inundated with mineral-rich freshwaters from rivers and streams. Water levels fluctuate thus allowing periodic drying of the soil surface.
- ECOTONE: a transition area between 2 adjacent ecological communities. * Reports regarding continued extraction of timber and wood from the marsh for poles or firewood.
- Herbaceous swamp habitat forms transitional vegetation composed mostly of herbaceous life form. It characteristically consists of different species categorized as: rooted (grasses), emergent (water lily, lotus) and floaters (Eichhornia crassipes, water hyacinth). relative Monochoria vaginalis, Pistia stratioides and Lemna pauciflora,). Floaters
- Wetland habitat of Ligawasan Marsh: artificial habitats which are areas subjected to and maintained as part of human activities. Based on the study, there are 2 types of artificial habitats, namely, (i) ricefield habitat and (ii) dryland agriculture habitat. Dryland habitats are areas that have been exposed after floodwaters receded.
- *Still open water habitat-type, scattered floaters such as Eichhornia crassipes are found. Local human communities use this area for fishing and transportation. **Running open water habitat are the bodies of water that persist during summer to connect deep portions of the marsh downstream. This habitat also includes rivers and tributaries that are not necessarily inundated by floodwaters. The movement of this body of water is unidirectional. It serves as passage of the people, often aboard motorized banca.
- Fauna: animal life
- *The fauna survey under the Wetland Biodiversity reported 206 terrestrial vertebrate species, under the classes Aves, Mammalia, Reptilia and Amphibia, which were recorded from 16 study sites. **The birds surveyed have a total of 170 species from 47 families. The number of endemic birds was 39 species, a great majority of which are forest dependent. ***The reptiles with 13 species with one threatened endemic, i.e. the Philippine Crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis. Only nine species of amphibians, including one endemic species Kaloula conjuncta. There could have been more species of amphibians recorded in the survey if not for security considerations. The marsh is considered also as one of the most important habitats for the Philippine amphibians. When
- The Philippine crocodile is considered to be the most endangered crocodilian in the world. Some authorities believe there may be less than 100 individuals left in the wild, although some wild habitat still remains. The Ligawasan Marsh is considered as one of the last strongholds of this endemic crocodile in the country, where the more widespread and larger species is also known to occur.
- *The marsh-dependent Tachybaptus ruficollis cotabato an endemic race of Grebe and Anas luzonica, the only endemic Philippine Duck are the only non-forest dependent endemic bird species in Ligawasan.
- *The marsh-dependent Tachybaptus ruficollis cotabato an endemic race of Grebe and Anas luzonica, the only endemic Philippine Duck are the only non-forest dependent endemic bird species in Ligawasan. **A total of 13 threatened bird species was recorded in the Ligawasan Marsh e.g. Gorsachius goisagi Japanese Night Heron (Vulnerable), the endemics like Anas luzonica (Vulnerable), Spizaetus philippensis (Vulnerable), the Gallicolumba criniger (Endangered), Alcedo argentata (Vulnerable), Ceyx melanurus (Vulnerable), Ficedula basilanica (Vulnerable), etc.
- *Libungan Marsh has the most number of fish species. Of the 27 fish species noted, at least five species are marine forms. **Twenty-two species were collected and noted from Ebpanan Marsh, at least three of which are predominantly marine forms. ***Only eighteen species were collected from Ligawasan Marsh, almost all of which are known to live in freshwater habitats only. The most important fishery species from the marshes are dominated by introduced cyprinids, gouramys, cichlids, and the introduced catfish species. The native fishes, usually brought to and sold at fish landing sites, include the eels (A. marmorata and A. bicolor), the climbing perch, and the native catfish.
- Fourteen (14) species of mollusks were collected during the study. All the mollusks collected in this study are widely distributed in the Philippines.
- Fauna: animal life
- Subsistence-Based Destructive Resource Utilization Battery operated electric fishing probes; use of fish poison; use of very fine mesh fishing nets Harvesting of poles to sell; Collection of firewood; Cutting of forest to start settlement; Denuded wetland forest which is home to important animals species; Illegal collection of wildlife Use of rifles to hunt birds Conversion of herbaceous swamp habitats to rice fields; Slash-and-burn practices for land clearing to grow food crops
- Dumping of solid wastes in the river causing pollution in the marsh Unregulated use of inorganic fertilizer and chemicals: Poisoning of wildlife, particularly migratory and resident birds Introduction of exotic species (armored fish): Extinction of native fish species “Noisy” motorized bancas : Disrupts the biology (feeding, roosting and reproducing) of local and migratory birds Weak enforcement of environmental laws: Ineffective protection of the environment and natural resources
- Presence of settlements with resulting problems in sanitation and waste disposal Lack of soil conservation appropriate for wetlands
- *The Ligawasan is important for the livelihood of 278,000 people living around the area. Increase pressure on use of natural resources. **The marsh has been reported to be a huge reservoir of natural gas. Rapid deterioration of habitat if not mitigated. ***Conversion to agricultural land. Diversion of and obstruction of river flows, infill of marshlands. ****Conflict in boundaries in municipalities *****The ecological integrity of the marsh has been marred by violent encounters between the gov’t, the Moro rebels, & other lawless groups who have taken refuge in forested areas. ^^^^Lack of education and access to school. Prevalence of misconceptions and fears about protected areas
- *Slash-and burn farming practices in the upland watershed. Soil erosion leading to high sediment load in the rivers. **Use of excess chemicals by commercial plantations. Chemical pollution leading to fish kills and negative effect to inhabitants. ***Dumping of solid wastes (plastic and non-degradable materials) in the river. Pollution of Ligawasan marsh. ****Lack of Clearing of Debris in Rivers and Waterways Blocking
- *Based on the results of socioeconomic survey. The major problem that confronts all stakeholders of Ligawasan Marsh is the degradation of the natural resources of the marsh. Results of the socioeconomic survey tend to affirm the specific causes of this degradation has to od with interrelated factors such as (i) increase in built-up areas, (ii) illegal fishing activities, (iii) outbreak of war, (iv) massive land conversion, and (v) pollution of marsh water.
- According to the respondents, illegal logging activities and slash-and-burn farming in the uplands that surround the marsh pose a serious threat to the marsh. Erosion in the hillsides is the main cause of the heavy siltation downstream and build-up of large portions of the marsh. These newly built areas eventually attract new households to settle there. Since they do not have a steady source of income, the new settlers would turn to the Ligawasan Marsh for their subsistence and exert a lot of pressure to its natural resources.
- Despite the presence of various development interventions in the area, there still exists a threat of losing the biodiversity of the Ligawasan Marsh in the near future. This is due to the fact that the same causal factors which are responsible for the continued degradation of the marsh are still left unattended.
- *Erosion of the riverbanks contribute to the siltation of the Ligawasan Marsh. Stabilization and protection of the riverbanks will reduce the siltation of rivers which drain into the marsh. **A buffer zone reforestation activity covering herbaceous swamps surrounding the wetland forest may be undertaken to protect what remains of the wetland forest.
- *Establishment of a wildlife sanctuary has been identified as a possible development intervention in order to preserve important wildlife species. The Baras sanctuary can be rehabilitated by planting fruit-bearing tree species to attract new migratory bird species. The swamp forest sanctuary needs replanting and assisted natural regeneration support to expand the area and to improve the vegetation. Other municipalities will be encouraged to establish their own bird sanctuaries, which can be utilized for future ecotourism activities. **Tree Planting on Lands Occupied by Farmers Planted to a Mixture of Fruit Trees and Indigenous Tree Species, including strips in backyards and perimeters of farms
- As there is no law that designates the Marsh as a protected area, these is one of the proposal of the proponents of the study of the Ligawasan Marsh conducted by DENR.
- It is reported that the Ligawasan Marsh settlers may be classified as the “poorest of the poor” based on their annual income and living condition. This has led to the illegal activities such as illegal hunting and fishing that have depleted the natural resources of the marsh. Timber poaching and cutting trees for firewood are resorted to by the inhabitants to meet their need for food, and the fuel to cook food.To address this issues, the government (DENR) has proposed these Environment-Friendly Livelihood Activities to augment the income of the settlers.