THE AGUSAN MARSH

J.H. Primavera
SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department
Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines

M.I. Tumanda, Jr.

Mindanao State University at Naawan
Naawan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines

Agusan Marsh Scientific Conference, Balanghai Hotel,

Butuan City, 21-23 May 2007
 AGUSAN RIVER BASIN

• Lower Basin: Agusan River-

Butuan Bay

• Middle Basin: Agusan Marsh

• Upper Basin (watersheds/
catchment): mountain ranges of
Agusan Norte, Surigao Norte,
Agusan Sur, Compostela Valley,
Davao Norte and Bukidnon
AGUSAN RIVER PROFILE
(Courtesy of DENR)
Lower ARB –
downstream of
Agusan Wetland
from Talocogon
Middle ARB –
between Talocogon
& Sta. Josefa inc.
Agusan Marsh
Upper ARB –
upstream of Sta.
Josefa
Watershed AR Basin Area (ha)
boundary
LOWER 444,599.2
MIDDLE 467,689.0
UPPER 291,745.8
TOTAL 1,204,034.0
 AGUSAN RIVER BASIN
REGION PROVINCE AREA (ha) PERCENT

13 CARAGA Agusan Norte 128198.7 10.70

13 CARAGA Agusan Sur 812209.0 67.81 98%

11 S. MINDANAO Compostela Valley 222491.1 18.57

13 CARAGA Surigao del Sur 22467.1 1.88

11 S. MINDANAO Davao Norte 2102.9 0.18

11 S. MINDANAO Davao Oriental 412.3 0.03

10 N. MINDANAO Misamis Oriental 2102.0 0.18

10 N. MINDANAO Bukidnon 7833.7 0.65

TOTAL 1197816.8 100.00

 THE AGUSAN MARSH
• catch basin of ~19,000 ha for rivers, streams arising from
watershed in Agusan, Compostela Valley, Surigao, Davao, Bukidnon
• extensive flood plain of shallow lakes, ponds that lies at confluence
of several Agusan River tributaries
• acts like giant sponge, soaking up excess water from mountains
during rainy season, creating a huge area for wetland wildlife and
protecting downstream towns, cities including Butuan, from
catastrophic floods
• drains northward via Agusan River into Butuan Bay (Agusan from
agasan – where the river flows)
• vast freshwater swamp, reportedly stores 15% of entire freshwater
resources of the country; great hydrological and ecological
importance
AMWS MANAGEMENT PLAN
Profile of Protected Area
Profile of Protected Area
Management Plan Historical Context & PA Rationale
Proposed Management Regional and Local Development
Context
Structure & Institutional
Physical Features – geography,
Arrangements physiography, hydrology,
Implementation meteorology & climate
Budget and Financing Biological Features – habitats &
ecosystems, flora, fauna
Monitoring Socio-economic Profile
Stakeholders
Current/Previous Programs &
Projects
Current Management Structure
Management Issues & Concerns
 GEOGRAPHY
Multiple/Sustainable/ • coordinates of 8o00’-8o19’N and
Recreational Use Zones 125o52’-126o02’
• AMWS is protected area located in
Mindanao Biogeographic Zone
• Protection: 1994 NIPAS, 1996 Wildlife
Sanctuary or AMWS (Pres. Proc. 913),
1999 Ramsar Convention
• Agusan River Basin = 1.2 million ha
• Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
(AMWS) = 111,540 ha (12.4% total
Agusan Sur land area)
• Agusan Marsh = ~19,000 ha

Strict Protection/
Habitat Mngt/
Cultural Zones
 AMWS MUNICIPALITIES -
AGUSAN DEL SUR, MINDANAO
Municipality Area (no. of
villages)
San Francisco 16,852 ha (11)
Rosario 14,455 ha (5)
Bunawan 17,735 (5)
Sta. Josefa 7,492 ha (4)
Veruela 14,199 ha (5)
Loreto 12,040 ha (7)
La Paz 20,067 ha (6)
Talacogon 8,701 ha (12)

TOTAL 111,540 ha (55)

Courtesy of DENR
 PEDOLOGY
• dominant soil type is alluvium deposited by Agusan River, overlain
by thin layer of leaf litter in forest areas; also clay, loam and sandy
loam
• some areas have peat soil (min. 65% organic matter) which is rare
in Philippines
• areas of sago Metroxylon sagu forest observed, which normally
grow on peat soil

PHYSIOGRAPHY
• depositional/lowland phase in a river`s evolution (deposition<
erosion); drop to coast only 13 m therefore depositional
• characteristics:
- extensive meandering where flowing water takes path of least
resistance
- oxbow lakes formed by cut-off of some meanders of river
- extensive floodplain over which river expands during times of
floods
- characteristic raised river banks/levees formed by deposition of
silt during flooding
-floodplain lakes and ponds (depressions) which continue to hold
water when floodwaters recede
 METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATE
• 4,286 mm/yr ave. rainfall
• 25.6oC ave. temperature
• 86% ave. humidity
• Type IV climate (rainfall distributed year round, no well-defined dry
season
• not prone to typhoons

HYDROLOGY
• A. Marsh is floodplain of Agusan River, 3rd longest river in the
country, with catchment area of ~661,700 ha
• 9 major river basins drain into Marsh (Agdaoan, Umayan,
Biga, Baolo, AoAo, Agusan, Simulao, Sulibao, Gibong)
• distinct annual flooding cycle with max water level Oct-Feb up
to 4m above min., when whole floodplain is inundated (4m x
19,000ha = 7.6 billion cu m)
• min level in May with open water confined to floodplain and
oxbow lakes, water table measures 10-30 cm below soil
surface over large areas
 Habitats
1. Open water (oxbow lakes,
floodplain lakes, ponds)
2. Flowing water
3. Herbaceous swamp
4. Scrub forest/swamp
5. Swamp forest
-Terminalia copelandii forest
-sago palm forest
-mixed swamp forest
-pygmy or peat forest
6. Riverbanks
7. Inundated forest
 Habitats - I
1) Riverbanks – slightly dif. vegetation fr. lowland, least flooding in raised
banks; cleared along major rivers for transport, exist only in isolated
creeks
2) Flowing water
- high sediment loads, aggravated by deforestation, reduce
diversity bec. interfere w/ respiration of fishes etc.
3) Open water (oxbow lakes, floodplain lakes, ponds)
– clear water: colored by humic acid, high rate of organic
decomposition, floating/submerged macrophytes that support high
biomass/species diversity of invertebrates, fishes, fish-eating birds
– turbid water: silt load inhibits submerged macrophytes
HABITATS - II
4) Herbaceous swamp
– open, very extensive; mainly sedges, grasses,
ferns related to inundation
- almost undisturbed bec. difficult to penetrate,
burned for access purposes
5) Scrub forest/swamp – herbaceous swamp
w/ stunted Barringtonia, Nauclea; used
by birds for cover, roosting
 HABITATS - III
6) Swamp forest (4 subtypes)
-Terminalia copelandii forest; fairly common
in past but mostly cleared now
-largest/only sago palm forest in Philippines;
rarest forest type in Marsh
-mixed swamp forest (Barringtonia,Nauclea);
still pristine, except for 1960s selective
logging; very rare in Philippines
-pygmy/peat swamp forest, next rarest
swamp
7) Inundated forest – inundated but soil not
permanently logged
 SURVEYS
• No serious scientific studies until 1990s
• 1976 (see Mallari et al, 2001)
• Summer 1991, IPAS field survey teams
(plants -J. Davies, P. Gonzales –
butterflies, amphibians, lizards, snakes,
mammals, J. Diaz - crocodiles, T.
Michaelson – birds)
• 9-11 February 1999, Haribon Foundation
& CPPAP staff – fauna (amphibians, birds,
reptiles, mammals)
• 2-15 June 1999, Prof. G. Arreza & CPPAP
staff – flora
• June 2000, Marine Biological Research
Center, Xavier University & CPPAP staff –
fi h
 PUBLISHED STUDIES
Davies J.1993. Agusan Marsh in the Philippines. Asian Wetland News 6 (2): 20-21
Davies J., Magsalay P.M., Rigor R., Mapalo A. and H. Gonzales. 1990. A Directory
of Philippine Wetlands. AWBPFI/HF. Cebu, Philippines
DENR CARAGA-PAWB. Various AMWS documents (Executive Profile,
Management Plan, surveys, etc.).
Eludo, M. 2002. Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary: tenurial instrument in Protected
Area Management. In Haribon Foundation, DENR, FPE and Birdlife
International. Building on Lessons from the Field, Proceedings of Conference on
Protected Areas in the Philippines, Davao City, 12-16 Nov. 2001
Hubilla, M. and F. Kis. 2006. Janitor fish in the Agusan Marsh – a threat to
freshwater biodiversity. The Mouseion 2 (2): 2-3Mallari, N.A.D., Tabaranza, B.T.,
Jr. and M.J. Crosby. 2002. Key Conservation Sites in the Philippines. Agusan
Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. Haribon Foundation and Birdlife International., pp.
351-353
Oloroso P.A., Roa-Quiaoit H.A.F., Chee J.N. and J.V. Egipto. 2000. Aquatic
Inventory of Agusan Marsh. Marine Biological Research Center Department of
Biology, Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan for NGOs for Integrated
Protected Areas, Inc. Quezon City. Unpub. ms
Talde, C.M., Mamaril, A.C. Sr. and M.L.D. Palomares. 2004. The diet composition
of some economically important fishes in the three floodplain lakes in Agusan
Marsh wildlife sanctuary in the Philippines. Sri Lanka J. Aquat. Sci. 9: 45-56
 PEATLANDS OF THE AGUSAN MARSH
by Jon Davies (Dec. 2005)
3 areas – Leyte Sab-a Basin, Liguasan Marsh, Agusan Marsh
Agusan Marsh sites – North of Bunawan, west of Caimpugan

CAIMPUGAN WETLAND=PYGMY FOREST=PEAT

FOREST (“WONDERLAND”)
•location – W of Bgy Caimpugan, NE of AMarsh,
W of Hibong River, E of Lake Casiwangan
• valued by Manobos for spiritual significance

• red-brown peat 2 m deep

3 zones: canopy ht (m)
• nutrient-deficiency: stunted
trees, Nepenthes, parasitic Forest edge: 25-30 m
climber Cassythia filiformis Transition: 7 m
• peat area >1,000 ha surrounded Pygmy: 4 m
by taller forest
• 1st Philippine record: possible peat
dome bet. Hibong River and Agusan
River
 Recommendations
• review boundaries, zoning of protected area
• include all peatlands in AMWS
• document Manobo beliefs to safeguard
cultural heritage
• inventory/identify other peat areas
• AMWS-PAWB studies, collaborate with
universities
- peat profile
- inventory of flora
- water quality, esp. pH, conductivity
 BIODIVERSITY
Haribon (1999 – 2 days)
• birds: 126 species/47 families (24% endemic)
• amphibians+reptiles: 53 spp. (51% endemic)
• mammals: 15 spp. (33% endemic)

17 – undergrowth plants
28 – vines, lianas, epiphytes
36- grasses, ground herbs
65 – butterflies
?? – insects/other invertebrates
17 – fish
21 –amphibians
39 – reptiles (snakes, crocodiles)
14 – mammals (bats, squirrels, wild pigs)
*small population (<10 adults) of Crocodylus
porosus, but no C. mindorensis (June-July
1999)
 BIRDS
• >200 species known to spend part of
year in Marsh, making it one of Asia’s
most important sites for both resident
and migratory birds
• rains October-March, thousands of
birds, eg, Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
migrate from Japan, China, Russia to
escape chilly winter winds
• valuable habitat for waterbirds, eg,
ducks, herons, egrets which build nests
as water level rises during rainy season
(for mating, reproduction)
• refuge of rare Oriental Darter Anhinga
melanogaster, Purple Swamp Hen
Porphyrio porphyrio, & threatened
Philippine Hawk Eagle Spizaetus
philippensis, Spotted Imperial Pigeon
Ducula carola and Rufous-lored
Kingfisher Todirhampus winchelli
 EXOTIC FISH/OTHER SPECIES
Xavier University Survey, 2000
• 17 fish species/9 families, including pigok Therapon
sp., in floodplain lakes, forest swamp, herbaceous
swamp
• among top 5 species WERE 3 EXOTICS!! – African
Catfish Clarias gariepinus, Nile Tilapia Oreochromis
niloticus, and Common Carp Cyprinus carpio
• invasive Golden Apple Snail Pomacea canaliculata
AGUSAN MARSH: THREATS/OPPORTUNITIES

WATER
Drainage (agriculture) Existing AMWS zonation
Dams/reservoirs (irrigation, hydroelec.) - rate of enforcement
3 dams to cause 40% dec. water volume - review validity

FORESTS
Legal/illegal logging 26% (29,235 ha) of AMWS land
area timberland

BIODIVERSITY
Plantations: rice/fruit trees, oil palm Inventory of native species
Exotic/invasive/introduced species: Inventory of introduced species
janitor fish/tilapia/catfish/carps, apple snail - eradication
The bad side of biofuel: palm oil in Indonesia
The Guardian (April 4, 2007)

• reduction of global warming/greenhouse gases will increase demand for

biofuels including palm oil

• >80% of world’s palm oil produced in Indonesia & Malaysia; UN predicts

that 98% of their rainforests will be gone in 15 years … inc. some of the
world's most important wildlife species, eg orangutans

• forests cleared by draining and burning peatland, releasing massive

carbon dioxide – Indonesia 3rd largest emitter of CO2 at 1,400 million
tonnes/yr

• clearing of land for biofuels merely provides cover for removing

remaining forests – only 250,000 ha of allocated 6 million ha in
Kalimantan planted to palm oil

• lessons for Agusan Marsh, esp. the peatlands

Metroxylon sagu – staple food of Agusanons during the war
SAGO PALM: a good substitute for NIPA?
VIRGILIO C. DELA CRUZ, Reg. Technical Director, ERDS-DENR, Caraga

¾ sago shingles last 15-20 yrs as roofing, longer as

wallings
¾ service life of sago shingle 4-5x nipa shingle
¾ 2 sago leaves = 1 shingle at P1.10 (double selling
price of nipa)
¾ therefore shingles most important product derived
from sago palm
¾ coastal folks claim sago shingles more durable than
G.I. roof - Bais City, Negros Occ. house built with
sago wallings during Liberation still in existence
OBJECTIVES: AGUSAN RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN
(Halcrow, 2006)

• Resource development of water supply/sanitation, irrigation/

drainage, hydropower, flood protection and drainage, fishery and
forest/watershed development, considering upstream and
downstream conflicts
• Balanced use of resources vs need to protect resources
• Reduction of water related diseases,
• appropriate water price structure (social/economic commodity)
• Management of water quality and water use/allocation in
integrated, environmentally sustainable way based on finite
resource
• Control/management of water pollution
• Sustainable management, conservation, restoration and
development of terrestrial areas in the Basin,
• Development interventions are planned, implemented, monitored
and evaluated in environmentally sustainable manner;
• Asset reform of communities
• Improve community access to various services;
• Employment and livelihood opportunities
The Agusan River Basin is envisioned as a pillar of peace-loving,
prosperous and empowered citizenry with equitable wealth anchored on
a well managed and balanced ecosystem for a sustainable agri-industrial
development and eco-tourism destination.

AIMS
• Reduction of poverty in the Basin focusing on
equitable and sustainable development
• Enhancement of Basin resources developments based
on the holistic approach and knowledge base
(available knowledge, study on water budgets???)
• Development of Basin resources based on resource
management of social, economic and environmental
soundness and sustainability,
• Community involvement and participatory approach
• Development of basin-wide implementing organization
(= Agusan River Basin Development Authority)
(Halcrow, 2006)
 ARBMP List of Projects by Key Theme and Cost, 2006
(CTI-Halcrow-Woodfields , 2007)

No. of Estimated
No. Program % Share
Projects Cost (P000)
1 Water Quality Management 2 93,223 1.0%
2 Flood Management 5 2,984,587 31.3%
3 Water Resources Development 25 2,615,920 27.4%
4 Watershed Management 152 3,445,457 36.1%
Agusan Marsh and Wildlife
5 2 47,979 0.5%
Sanctuary Management
6 Indigenous Peoples Development 78 229,973 2.4%
River Basin Organization
7 7 117,200 1.2%
Development
Total ARB Master Plan 271 9,534,339 100.0%
 ARBMP List of Projects by Type, 2006
(CTI-Halcrow-Woodfields , 2007)

No. of Estimated
Type of Project % Share
Projects Cost (P000)
Capacity Building 26 44,060 0.5%
Establishment/Strengthening of Data Sources and
19 42,573 0.4%
Establishment of Databanking Network
Management Plan and Water Resources Studies 11 103,927 1.1%
Feasibility Studies 17 172,930 1.8%
Feasibility Studies With Indicative Total Project Costs
6 460,900 4.8%
When Implemented
Implementable Projects With Completed Feasibility Studies 131 5,526,136 58.0%
Projects Dependent on Implementation of Initial Projects 61 3,183,813 33.4%
Total ARB Master Plan 271 9,534,339 100.0%
 ARB Water Policy: Principal Elements

• governance and empowerment

• demand and supply management
• groundwater and surface water management
• management of special Basin resources
• organization and management of basin information

ARB Development ARB Master Plan: Key Themes/Components

Strategy: Core
Initiatives •RBO Formation and Development
•Water Quality Management
•Flooding and Water-Related Risks Management
• River Basin Governance •Water Resources Development
• Key Water Resources •Watershed Management
Management (WRM) •Indigenous Peoples (IP) Development;
Interventions •Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) Mangmnt.
• Knowledge Total est. cost = PhP9.5billion, 14-year horizon
Development (2007-2020)

(CTI-Halcrow-Woodfields , 2007)
Proposed Categorization of ARB Recommended Category of Component
Programs/ Projects -SEA, ARB Programs Based on Potential Impact
Master Plan ARB Master Plan
CATEGORY PROJECTS Social
Program Impa IP Impact
Flood control, irrigation, multi-
ct
purpose (hydropower-cum-
Category A irrigation), water transport Water Quality Category Category
projects, establishment of Management C B
agroindustrial economic zones
Flood Management Category Category
Organic fertilizer and bio-gas A A
Category B production, water supply,
sewerage systems Water Resource Category Category
Development A A
Basin-wide water quality
management strengthening, Watershed Category Category
forestation projects, river bank Management A A
Category C erosion management, AMWS
management, IP development, AMWS Management Category Category
establishment of RBO, Basin- A A
wide data management Indigenous Peoples Category Category
Recommendation for next stage of Development A A
Program
project preparation:
RBO Formation and Category Category
Category A: a full-scale EIA Development C B
Category B – IEE
Category C - consideration of
environmental implications (CTI-Halcrow-Woodfields , 2007)
 THREATS
IFMA (Phil. Star, 20 April 1995)
• IFMA allows cutting of inadequately stocked/ open
Industrial Forest
and denuded forest & preserves uncut forests; designed
Mngt Agreement
to replace notorious TLAs
• Sec. Alcala suspended IFMA clearcutting in Sept.
1995 due to reported anomalies
•Rexcon Farms, Surigao Sur - 12,000 cu m/ P50M logs
seized by DENR not possible from 1,079 ha “inadequately
stocked” forests; Pres. Adviser helped nullify suspension
• Provident Tree Farm, Agusan Sur (corporate ADB
borrower) - ave. diameter of wood larger than from
“inadequately stocked” forests seized by DENR; wood
later released
• ADB objected to suspension of clearcutting bec. it would
hinder ability of borrowers to pay back loans ($25M
loan to IFMA), & endanger 2nd loan
• 15% of IFMA forest lands (deliberately) misclassified
as denuded/inadequately stocked
• legal DENR document for contraband products, “new
strategy for illegal logging”
From: B.O. Cunanan, Phil. Daily
Inquirer, 5 Oct. 2006
•Dec 2001- signing by DENR &
Shanalynne (owned by N.
Zealander-Singaporean),
multibillion peso pet project of ex-
Sec. H. Alvarez
• industrial pulp co-production
& forest conservation in 250,000
ha, designed by Finnish firm
• $1billion investments eg, tree
cloning lab/seedling bank for
massive refo
• dredging of Nasipit port, railway
system
BACKGROUND
• early 1990s – awarding to
Shanalynne by Central Office
of 110,00 ha (5 parcels) for
forestry, no info to regional
DENR
• 1996 - application
disapproved bec. satellite
photos (from ESSC) showed
area heavily forested
• 2005 – lifting of logging ban
in Caraga
 VERIFICATION OF SHANALYNNE CPA (ESSC)

• 42% of concession outside Timber

Corridor, one parcel located in Bukidnon
• recommend that govt. rescind CPA due to
technical errors, weak and poor investment
intent
• recommend new tree plantation strategy in
A. Sur production forests:
- wood sourcing from small scale tree farmers
- corporate wood processing plants
- corporate investors+DENR: tree species ID
& product diversification
 RECOMMENDATIONS
• Enforce protected status – review development
projects, existing permits
• Research: VERY FEW STUDIES SO FAR
- hydrology, ecology (biodiversity/endemic species)
- anthropology: culture (dance, song) of
Manobo/ethnic groups
• Sponsor scholarships, thesis grants for study of
AMWS by Agusan/Mindanao natives
Ex: Janitor Fish in Agusan Marsh (thesis funded by
Florida Butuanons/Butuan Global Forum)
• NGO initiatives
• July 2005 NCCA-UNESCO
Workshop: AMWS No. 3 of
list of Philippine nominations
to World Heritage sites
• 8 yrs St. Paul Subter-
ranean River, 7 yrs Ifugao
Rice Terraces to WH
inscription
• aim for Biosphere
Reserve list first
• need to fill up forms, for
point person
Philippines - archipelago of 7,150 islands + 36,000 km coastline,
with only 3 freshwater wetlands:
1. Candaba Swamp, Luzon: mostly drained for agriculture
2. Liguasan Marsh, central Mindanao: peace-and-order
problems
3. Agusan Marsh, eastern Mindanao: remaining FW swamp

Thank You!