DENR confirms Loreto, Dinagat Islands’ peatland another climate refuge
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), has confirmed the 60-hectare inland wetland on Gibusong Island, Loreto, Dinagat Islands, as a significant peatland ecosystem, discovering another climate refuge and natural flood mitigation area in the country.
According to a 2024-2025 study spearheaded by the DENR-ERDB entitled “Comprehensive Assessment of Philippine Peatlands: Basis for Conservation, Sustainable Development Planning, and Management,” it verified that the 60.42-hectare waterlogged landscape on Gibusong Island meets the technical criteria for peatland under DENR Administrative Order No. 2022-06 and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
It is one of the 17 peatland sites assessed by ERDB out of the 29 confirmed peatlands in the Philippines. The research was conducted in close coordination with the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau, DENR Caraga, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Dinagat Islands, and the local government of Loreto.
Peatlands act as water sponges, or natural flood-control systems that reduce flood risk to communities. They absorb rainfall during wet periods and slowly release water during dry spells, helping regulate local water supply, reduce flooding, and support agriculture and fisheries, providing direct benefits to surrounding communities.
According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), unlike typical soil, peatlands are composed of up to 95 percent water and 5 percent partially decayed organic matter. Their ability to mitigate floods comes from three main characteristics: sponge-like absorption, the ability to reduce the velocity of water traveling across the landscape, and the capability to gradually release trapped water back into the watershed, helping maintain stable river levels and recharging groundwater.
Also, ERDB’s Watershed and Water Resources Research, Development, and Extension Center said that the site on Gibusong Island exhibited exceptional soil organic matter and high carbon sequestration capacity. The peatland holds an estimated 12,126.61 megagrams of carbon, with a density 15 to 20 times higher than that of typical tropical rainforests. Protecting this carbon store prevents massive greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be released if the peatland were drained or degraded.
It further recorded a wide variety of plant and animal life in the peatland, including threatened flora such as Narra, Malatambis, and Mangkono or Philippine ironwood, considered the hardest hardwood species in the country.
The peatland is also a home to diverse bat species that play an important role in forest regeneration by dispersing seeds and pollinating plants. These include the Peter’s short-nosed fruit bat, the lesser long-tongued fruit bat, and the near-threatened island flying fox. Reptiles and amphibians such as the Mindanao fanged frog and the Tokay Gecko, along with 28 species of resident and migratory birds, and several skink species, use the area as a crucial habitat.
Based on these findings, the Gibusong Island’s peatland is a candidate for designation as a critical habitat under DENR Administrative Order 2007-02, which would allow management planning and stronger monitoring. Its unique ecological features also make it a strong candidate for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. Ramsar recognition would place the site among the world’s most significant wetlands, which would grant global recognition and provide the framework necessary to maintain its near-natural conditions.
Aligned with the mandate of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on strengthening the efforts on biodiversity and climate change for resilient and liveable communities, ERDB reaffirmed its commitment to advancing peatland research and conservation, noting that these efforts align with proposed national legislation.
Director Lormelyn Claudio of ERDB shared House Bill No. 3684 or the National Peatlands Conservation Act, which seeks to establish a national framework for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of peatlands to enhance the Philippines’ resilience to climate change.
“Currently under review by the Committee on Climate Change in the House of Representatives, the Department continues to champion science-based initiatives to strengthen the protection and sustainable management of the country’s peatlands,” Dir. Claudio said.
Meanwhile, Gibusong Island is a serene and relatively untouched tropical island in the municipality of Loreto, the farthest town in the Province of Dinagat Islands. It is located at the northern end of the Surigao Strait, where it meets the Leyte Gulf. It is recognized for its pristine beaches and rich historical background. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from DENR-ERDB)