Negros Occidental is conducting the Asian Waterbird Count (AWC) in wetland sites this January as part of the ongoing efforts to monitor and conserve waterbird populations in the province.

In 2025, Negros Occidental was cited as the province with the highest number of waterbirds recorded nationwide, with a total of 83,457 heads.

The AWC is a collaborative effort led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-PENRO), Provincial Environment Management Office and Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc.

Rosie Pablico, chief of PENRO-Negros Occidental Conservation and Development Section, said in an interview on Tuesday that this year’s waterbird census runs from Jan. 7 to 31.

“From Jan. 7 to 15, the count is focusing on the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA), the seventh Ramsar site of the Philippines,” she added.

The synchronized count was already conducted in Bago City and Valladolid on Jan. 7 and in San Enrique and Pontevedra on Jan. 8.

These will be followed in Hinigaran, Binalbagan and Pulupandan on Jan. 13; Himamaylan City, Jan. 14; and Kabankalan City and Ilog, Jan. 15.

NOCWCA, being a Ramsar site, is considered a wetland of international importance and is also the fourth East Asian Australasian Flyway Site.

Located across 10 localities in southern Negros, it is a contiguous wetlands area with a coastline of 109.52 kilometers, spanning 52 coastal barangays.

The waterbird census in areas outside the Ramsar site, including the cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias, Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante and San Carlos as well as the municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Manapla and Calatrava, will be conducted on Jan. 20 to 31.

During the AWC, field teams are mobilized to systematically document waterbird species and populations in coastal and inland wetlands, reaffirming the province’s importance as a critical habitat for migratory and resident waterbirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

According to the DENR, the AWC remains a vital conservation initiative for Negros Occidental as it provides essential data for monitoring population trends, assessing wetland ecosystem health and guiding science-based policies and management strategies.

“The continued strong performance of the province highlights the value of sustained collaboration among stakeholders in protecting wetlands and biodiversity,” it added. (PNA)