A Journey with Migratory Birds

A Journey with Migratory Birds:  A Learning Event for the Youth

The Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc. (SCPW) in partnership with National Geographic – Asia and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) hosted a learning event for the Youth on the journey of migratory birds through the flyway.  The Learning Event was held on 05 October 2018.

Objectives

1. To increase the awareness of the Youth on the importance of migratory birds and wetlands and how they can help protect them.
2. To come up with an activity across the schools on the conservation of migratory birds.
3. To understand the importance of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) as a Ramsar Site and potential Flyway Network Site, and what Youth can do to help with its conservation.

This Learning Event was designed to provide an opportunity for the Youth to learn about migratory birds through lectures and field visit at the Las Piñas – Parañaque Wetland Park  at LPPCHEA and the importance of the LPPCHEA as a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) and a potential Flyway Network Site.  It was attended by about 100 high school students and other Youth groups from around Manila Bay and nearby areas.

The event was opened at the Summit Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City with messages from key personalities namely Mr. Jay Lee, the Executive Director of National Geographic –Asia; Dr. Llewelyn Young, Chief Executive of the EAAF; Mr. Suh Seung Oh Executive Director of Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia; Ms. Gwendolyn Bambalan, the Assistant Regional Director of National Capital Region of the Department of Environment  and Natural Resources (DENR),  Ms.Armida Andres, the Assistant Director  of  Biodiversity Management Bureau – DENR, and Ms. Amy Lecciones, Executive Director of SCPW.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar, the primary advocate of wetland conservation in the country, delivered the Keynote Speech.  The importance of protecting migratory birds was her key message and the importance of wetlands that hosted these migratory birds, particularly the LPPCHEA.

The Learning Session was started by Dr. Simplicia Pasicolan of SCPW and Ecosystems and Research Bureau – DENR on “Why are birds important?” This was followed by lectures that discussed the journey of the migratory birds – from “Our home up North” (Alaska), to their major pit stops “Our major stopovers” (Philippines and Myanmar) and to “Our destination down under” (Australia).  The resource persons to these lectures were Mr. Casey Burns from Alaska, USA, Mr. Pyae Aung of Myanmar, Mr. Adrian Constantino  of the Philippines, and Ms. Sharon Meredith of Alaska.  There was an open forum after the lectures.  Resource speakers and other guests of the event were participants of the Workshop to Develop a Joint CEPA Project for the East Asian – Australasian Flyway in 2019.

In the afternoon, the students proceeded to Las Piñas – Parañaque Wetland Park where they had a chance to observe some migratory birds in their natural habitat and experienced trekking in an urban wetland which is designated as a Ramsar Site or a “Wetland of International Importance”.

Learning Session at the Philippine International Convention Center –

 

Field visit at the Las Piñas – Parañaque Wetland Park –

 

Organizers:The event is also supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region and Biodiversity Management Bureau.

 

See also –

One of the Resource Persons, Casey Burns of the BLM Alaska Wildlife Program in Alaska has published his experience in the Philippines in the newsletter Tundra to the Tropics.