15 March 2013: The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) has reported that the Government of the Philippines has designated Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, a coastal urban wetland and bird sanctuary situated within the metropolis of Metro Manila, as its sixth Wetland of International Importance.

According to the Ramsar Secretariat, the site comprises two interconnected, mangrove-covered islands, shallow lagoons and coastline. It supports various threatened, restricted-range and congregatory species, as well as migratory and resident birds. Threats to the site include: land reclamation projects; mangrove cutting; the accumulation of waste from nearby cities along the coast; and the effects of heavy metals and other organic contents coming from residential and industrial effluents.

The Philippines’ designation contributes to one of the goals contained in the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2015, which is to reach a protected area of 250 million hectares by 2015. [Ramsar Press Release]