MY VISIT TO THE AGUSAN MARSH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (Nov, 2010)
Photography, Jojie Alcantara

1. Agusan Marsh is the catch basin of the Agusan-Davao Plain in Eastern Mindanao, draining the Diwata Mountain Ranges in the east, the Bukidnon Mountain Ranges in the west, and the hills of Compostela Valley in the south.

2. With its 59 lakes, it acts as retarding basin of the floodwaters that regularly inundate the Agusan Valley during the northeast monsoon.

3. It is an ecologically significant wetland ecosystem in the Philippines.

4. It serves as the wintering ground of migrating birds from Japan, China, Russia and other western countries during winter season.

5. It shelters unique and pristine habitats like the sago and Peat Swamp forest, endangered species (soft shelled freshwater turtle), crocodiles, purple heron, oriental darter and others; home to 112 species of trees; 127 bird species identified by Haribon Foundation in 1999 (31 endemic and 10 are endangered); 16 freshwater fish species; 60 reptile species (6 of which are threatened amphibians and reptiles)-Declared a Protected Area by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No.913 dated Oct.13, 1996.

6. Recipient of Ramsar Site Certificate No. 1009 on November 12, 1999 as a Wetland of International Importance

7. Location: Agusan del Sur, Northeastern Mindanao

8. Area: Proclaimed - 19,197 hectares
Expanded for RA - 40,812.84 hectares

9. Coverage Municipalities - San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Loreto, Talacogon, La Paz

10.Management Authority - Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Protected Area Management Board (AMWS-PAMB) and Protected Area Superintendent (PASu)

11. Bunawan Eco-Tours Group, Inc. (BETG) - operator of the Agusan Marsh Eco Tours, at the Bunawan Wharf, San Teodoro, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur.

Acknowledgments:
1. Atty. Vincent Fortun for the invitation (to travel and to judge the photo competition)
2. Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Ecological Tour organized by Butuan Global Forum Inc.for the essay writing contest winners (high school and college)
3. Vice Mayor Law Fortun of Butuan City and the Dept. of Tourism
4. BETG for the info materials
5. Ting, driver of our rubber boat
6. Boyet Reyes, a Manobo of the floating community in Lake Kaningbaylan, Sitio Panlabuhan, Mun. of Loreto, for the ritual of safety and good journey
7. Rein Navarro and Arthur Yap for accompanying me

(see published feature articles below)