THE declaration of Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA) as the country's newest Ramsar site is seen to boost the province's tourism industry, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
DENR-Negros Island Region (NIR) Director Al Orolfo, who led the press conference at the Pavillon Hotel in Bacolod City Tuesday, said the international recognition will further bring in more eco-tourists, both domestic and foreign, in Negros Occidental.
Orolfo said that Negros Occidental has finally been recognized mainly for its coastal wetlands known for rich and bio-diverse resources, including abundant migratory birds and globally threatened species of various animals like turtles and water fowls.
"With this recognition, we are expecting more eco-tourists who are high-end visitors who will surely bring in more income opportunities," he said.
Orolfo added that Negros Occidental will now be in the travel bucket list of many tourists, especially those who are doing tours for educational purposes.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that emphasizes the conservation and wise use of wetlands primarily as habitat for wildlife and as source of livelihood to the community.
On Thursday, Ramsar Convention delegates, national executives of DENR, and provincial government officials will lead the inauguration of NOCWCA as the seventh Ramsar site in the country.
DENR records showed the NOCWCA has a continuous coastline of 109.52 kilometers. It spans 52 coastal barangays in 10 local government units, including the cities of Bago, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, and the municipalities of Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, and Ilog.
Wilfred Ramon Peñalosa Jr., head of the Provincial Environment Management Office, said the NOCWCA will be highlighted in the province's hosting of the International Bird Watching Festival in November.
"This huge ecotourism event is also a venue to further promote the Ramsar site in the province, which will then result to awareness and advocacy on protecting our wetlands," he said.
The country's six other Ramsar sites are Palawan's Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Naujan Lake in Oriental Mindoro, Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area Sanctuary, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, and Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu.
