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Pangasinan
Wetlands
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Location:
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16°02'N, 120°05'-120°20'E; on the coastal plain between Dagupan City and Binmaley Municipality, Pangasinan Province, central Luzon. |
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Area:
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c.3,000 ha. |
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Altitude:
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0-5m. |
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Biogeographical
Province:
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4.26.12. |
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Wetland
type:
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06, 10 & 19. |
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Description
of site:
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A large area of fish ponds and rice paddies with adjacent intertidal mudflats extending for about 25 km along the south shore of Lingayen Gulf, west of Dagupan City. Over ten rivers and creeks, all branches of the Agno River, run through the wetland and drain into the Gulf. The fish ponds and mudflats cover 1,969 ha; the waterways 664 ha. Extensive mangrove swamps once occurred in the area, but these have been almost completely cleared for the construction of fish ponds. The wetland lies at the northern edge of the alluvial plains of central Luzon which have been extensively flooded by the monsoon rains in recent years. |
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Climatic
conditions:
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Humid tropical climate characterized by two pronounced seasons; a dry season from November to April, and a wet season from May to October (Type I). The mean annual temperature is 27.5°C and the mean annual humidity 78.5%. |
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Principal
vegetation:
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A few remnants of mangroves; cultivated areas with rice, sugar cane, corn and other crops. |
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Land
tenure:
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The fish ponds and rice paddies are privately owned. |
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Conservation
measures taken:
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In 1987, the Bureau of Forest Development in Dagupan launched a Mangrove Revegetation Project to replant areas denuded of mangroves. |
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Conservation
measures proposed:
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Land
use:
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Aquaculture, agriculture (mainly rice-growing) and residential. |
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Possible
changes in land use:
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| Disturbances and threats: | Destruction of mangroves for the construction of fish ponds has proceeded to the point at which almost no mangrove is left. |
| Economic and social values: | The wetland supports an important fishery. The main species raised in the fishponds and other water impoundments include mullet Mugil sp, common carp Cyprinus carpio, Soraderondon sp, milkfish Chanos chanos and mudfish Ophicephalus striatus. The low-lying alluvial plain extending south from Lingayen Gulf is a major rice-growing area. |
| Fauna: | An important staging and wintering area for migratory shorebirds. Alonzo-Pasicolan (1987) recorded a total of 687 shorebirds of 20 species in late November 1986. |
| Special floral values: | No information. |
| Research and facilities: | |
| References: | Alonzo-Pasicolan (1987). |
| Criteria for inclusion: | 1e, 3b. |
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Source:
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Haribon Foundation. |