|
Pagatban
River and Estuary
|
|
|
Location:
|
9°23'N, 125°43'E; 10 km east of Bayawan, on the southwest coast of Negros Island, Negros Oriental Province. |
|
Area:
|
2,500 ha. |
|
Altitude:
|
Sea level. |
|
Biogeographical
Province:
|
4.26.12. |
|
Wetland
type:
|
01, 02, 05, 06, 07, 11 & 19. |
|
Description
of site:
|
The lower reaches of the Pagatban River, its estuary and the adjacent shallow, semi-circular bay bounded by a sandy beach extending from the river mouth to Candumao Point to the west. There are extensive intertidal mudflats in the estuary and bay, belts of mangrove swamp l00-200m wide along the river banks, and rice paddies inland. The estuarine portion of the river extends upstream for about 500 metres. |
|
Climatic
conditions:
|
Humid tropical climate with two pronounced seasons, a dry season from November to April and a wet season for the rest of the year (Type I). |
|
Principal
vegetation:
|
Mangrove swamps and rice paddies; agricultural land and some relict patches of dipterocarp forest in adjacent areas. |
|
Land
tenure:
|
No information. |
|
Conservation
measures taken:
|
None. |
|
Conservation
measures proposed:
|
|
|
Land
use:
|
Fishing and harvesting of shrimps, oysters and fish fry; agriculture in surrounding areas. The permit held by the Insular Lumber Company for logging in the area was cancelled in 1979. |
|
Possible
changes in land use:
|
|
| Disturbances and threats: | The disposal of mine tailings from a large copper mining operation run by the Construction Development Corporation of the Philippines caused serious pollution and siltation problems, and resulted in the local extinction of some marine animals. However, the Corporation ceased operating in the area in about 1980. |
| Economic and social values: | No information. |
| Fauna: | The endangered
Philippine Crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis may still occur in the
area Ross (1984) reported that two individuals were still surviving in the
Pagatban River in 1981. |
| Special floral values: | No information. |
| Research and facilities: | Alcala conducted some research on the effects of mine tailings on marine animals. |
| References: | Alcala(1979-1982); Ross (1984). |
| Criteria for inclusion: | 1b, 2a. |
|
Source:
|
Perla M. Magsalay. |