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Leyte
Sab-a Basin
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Location:
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10°57'-11°23'N, 124°38'-125°03'E; on the northeastern plains of Leyte, from the region of Tolosa northwest to Carigara Bay, Leyte Province. |
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Area:
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90,000 ha. |
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Altitude:
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36m. |
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Biogeographical
Province:
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4.26.12. |
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Wetland
type:
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11, 15, 19 & 22. |
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Description
of site:
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A vast area of marshy plains with numerous small lakes and ponds, peat bogs, characteristic "binag" marshes and rice paddies. The water supply comes from a number of springs, small rivers, aquifers at the edge of the basin and local rainfall. A large number of waterways traverse the basin, most of these draining east into Leyte Gulf. The maximum depth of water in the marshes is 1.5 metres. Some of the lakes and ponds are permanent, but the water levels fluctuate by about one metre according to rainfall. |
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Climatic
conditions:
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Humid tropical climate with no proper dry season, but a pronounced period of maximum rainfall from November to January (Type II). |
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Principal
vegetation:
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Sedge marshes and rice paddies; coconut plantations and scrub on high ground. |
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Land
tenure:
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Part of the area is owned by the Local Authority and the remainder is privately owned. |
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Conservation
measures taken:
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None. |
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Conservation
measures proposed:
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Land
use:
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Cultivation of rice. |
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Possible
changes in land use:
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| Disturbances and threats: | The natural wetland areas are being converted into rice paddies and drained for other agricultural purposes. |
| Economic and social values: | A considerable income is generated by the cultivation of rice, and the basin is the largest water catchment area on the island of Leyte. The region is considered to be the best area in the Province for agricultural development, but Oncomelania snails, the carriers of Schistosomiasis, are abundant. |
| Fauna: | The area regularly supports large numbers of waterfowl, particularly herons and egrets (Ardeidae), ducks (Anatidae), rails and gallinules (Rallidae), and some shorebirds. |
| Special floral values: | None known. |
| Research and facilities: | Various studies have been carried out by the Leyte Sab-a Basin Development Authority. |
| References: | National Water Resources Council (1980). |
| Criteria for inclusion: | 1b, 1e, 3b. |
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Source:
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Haribon Foundation and Perla M. Magsalay. |