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Moalboal
Wetlands
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Location:
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10°58'N, 123°24'E; near the villages of Tunga and Tubli, north of Moalboal, on the west coast of Cebu Island, Cebu Province. |
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Area:
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300 ha. |
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Altitude:
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Sea level. |
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Biogeographical
Province:
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4.26.12. |
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Wetland
type:
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06, 07 & 10. |
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Description
of site:
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A stretch of coastal mangrove swamps and intertidal mudflats at the south end of Copton Bay, and adjacent fish ponds in areas of former mangrove forest. There are rocky areas inland. |
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Climatic
conditions:
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Humid tropical climate with the seasons not very pronounced; relatively dry from November to April and wet for the rest of the year (Type III). |
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Principal
vegetation:
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Mangrove swamps; coconut plantations, agricultural land and shrubbery in adjacent areas. |
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Land
tenure:
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The site is owned by the Local Authority but leased to private individuals; surrounding areas are largely 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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There are proposals to enforce a hunting ban and to implement Presidential Decree No.705 relating to the protection of mangroves. |
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Land
use:
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Aquaculture, fishing and anchorage for fishing boats; cultivation of corn and cash crops in adjacent areas. |
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Possible
changes in land use:
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| Disturbances and threats: | Excessive hunting pressure, dynamite fishing and fish poisoning. |
| Economic and social values: | The local inhabitants depend on the fishery and mangrove resources for their livelihood. The area is also used as a field laboratory by the Moalboal School of Fisheries. |
| Fauna: | An important staging area for migratory shorebirds; up to 1,500 shorebirds of 21 species have been recorded, the commonest being Pluvialis dominica, Charadrius dubius, C. mongolus, Tringa totanus, T. stagnatilis, T. nebularia, Actitis hypoleucos and Calidris ruficollis. The wetland also supports a variety of other waterfowl, notably herons, egrets, gulls and terns. |
| Special floral values: | The Moalboal School of Fisheries maintains a field laboratory at the site, and Magsalay has conducted some censuses of shorebirds. |
| Research and facilities: | |
| References: | Magsalay (in press); Parish (1987). |
| Criteria for inclusion: | 1b, 3b. |
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Source:
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Perla M. Magsalay. |