Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary celebrated its 20th year since its enlistment in November 1999 as a wetland of international importance in the Ramsar List last November 11-13, 2019 at Almont Inland Hotel, Butuan City, with a theme Ramsar Site 1009: Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary – Celebrating Platinum Anniversary and Facing the Future.
The conference was organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga Regional Office, Wetland International Philippines, AMWS Protected Area Management Office, Caraga State University, Fr. Saturnino Urios University, Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology, Philippine Normal University-Mindanao Campus, Bukidnon State University, Indigenous People-Local Researchers of Agusan Marsh and Sectoral Association, and the Ramsar Convention.
The activity was generously funded by GIZ Philippines and Partners for Resilience Philippines, and Wetland International Philippines. The conference aimed to increase the knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the interconnectivity of the marsh to other ecosystems.
Notable speakers were invited and provided the participants with information on government initiatives on the wise use of wetland, status and challenges in Agusan marsh, biodiversity studies that were conducted in the past and recent researches, looking the marsh at a landscape lens, and land administration and management.
Among the plenary speakers were active researchers from CSU, Dr. Joycelyn C. Jumawan from the Biology department and Engr. Jojene R. Santillan from the Caraga Center for Geo-informatics. A tour to the marsh was also done for the participants to better appreciate the importance of this ecosystem as the heart and source of life for most Agusanons.
Caraga State University, spearheaded by Dr. Romell A. Seronay, took charge of the technical paper and poster presentations where different researches were presented in different thematic areas of which were the following: Resource Valuation of Wetland, Conservation and Management of Wetlands, Sharing of Best Practices on Wetland Education and Ecotourism. Several faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, and College of Agriculture and Agri-industries were involved and collaborated to make the event a success. CMG/pico
College of Engineering and Geo-Sciences
College of Agricultural and Agri-Industries
College of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
College of Forestry and Environmental Sciences
College of Computing and Information Sciences
College of Education