By Arturo M. Cruje
SURIGAO CITY, Mar. 13 (PIA) -- The Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) is set to implement a project entitled Lake Mainit Migratory Birds Conservation Project at the country’s fourth largest and Mindanao’s second largest freshwater lake, Gov. Sol Matugas said recently.
Matugas said the project is funded by the Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia Wetland Fund (RRC-EAWF) through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the purpose of wetland conservation and wetland education programs.
The project, according to Matugas, hopes to establish Lake Mainit as a bird sanctuary, determine the boundaries for the mapping of the sanctuary, prepare lake management plan and make the project under the watch of the PAWB.
Migratory birds from Japan and Siberia seek temporary refuge in Lake Mainit annually during the months from September to February. In the last annual water fowl census conducted by DENR, a total of 23,335 birds were counted with the Tufted Duck having the largest population followed by Egrets, Chinese Pond Herons, Black Headed Gulls and Common Terns.
Lake Mainit Development Alliance, which is chaired by Gov. Sol Matugas, will be working closely for the said conservation project. Accordingly, the project complements the current development thrust of the alliance which is on the conservation, preservation and protection of Lake Mainit.
Lake Mainit, which is being shared by the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte, also carries the distinction of being the deepest lake in the country with maximum depth of 223 meters. (PPDO/FEA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
