Site Nomination for Peat Site Profiles in Southeast Asia
Category:	Best Management Practices Site (BMP)
Name of Site:	Caimpugan Peatland
Country:	Philippines
GPS Point:	Latitude: N 08 23'48.9 Longitude: E 125 53'34.5
Location & Access:	Situated within Barangays Caimpugan, New Visayas of the Municipality of San Francisco and Barangays Causwag, La Flora, Maharlika, Sabang Gibong of the Municipality of Talacogon with grid coordinates N8 25”52’ and E125 54”50’, approximately it is 9 kilometers east from the national road and 12 kilometers north of the Municipality of San Franciso, Agusan del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines. The Caimpugan Peatland can be reached by land from the Poblacion, San Francisco to Barangay Caimpugan proper thru an all-weather road by 4-wheeled drive vehicle and motorcycle (habal-habal) which is about 15 kilometers. From Barangay Caimpugan to the core of the peatland, about 2 hours by foot traversing the Gibong River thru the use of a bamboo raft. It can also be reached thru: 1. Barangay Causwagan in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur route by single motorcycle and by foot from the Barangay Causwagan proper to the peatland. 2. By pumpboat ride from the Talacogon wharf to Barangay Gibong, Maharlika and La Flora, all in Talacogon and by foot from these barangays to the peatland.
Total Area:	5325.00 hectare(s)
Background of Site:	Typical peat dome a product of terrestrialization where the forest is mostly intact except those near the Gibong river . The mineral soils to the west of the Hibong River have been mostly cleared for rice, with a few isolated patches of swamp forest characterised by Terminalia copelandii. Tall forest is reached c 1.2 km from the river and the substrate was confirmed to be peat. This tall peat swamp forest is characterised by a stilted rooted species, Calophyllum cf. sclerophyllum with Tristanopsis species with bright orange bark. The forest was open enough to allow a relatively thick growth of Pandanus sp to c 3 m high and the climbing fern Stenochlaena palustris. The canopy height was c 25 –30m and the species richness appeared low. The peat area here may be up to 1,000 ha in size and from satellite images, it seems that the stunted forest is surrounded by a ring of taller forest. It is possible that this is a peat dome which has developed between the Hibong and Agusan rivers, with the stunted forest being found on nutrient-deficient deeper peat. If this proves to be the case, this may be the first record of a peat dome in the Philippines and as such, the stunted forest represents a unique, rare and fragile ecosystem. The Caimpugan peat is in the characteristic position in which these peat domes are formed; i.e. between two rivers. It has to be confirmed that this is a peat dome by measuring the peat depth away from the river, but a possible scenario for the development of the Caimpugan peat area is given below. Before clearance for rice culture, the area immediately adjacent may have been freshwater swamp forest (i.e. on mineral soil) dominated by Terminalia copelandi which gradually merged into peat swamp forest on shallow peat. These areas would have been subjected to flooding by the river and the input of water relatively high in nutrients. The forest would have been relatively high. Flooding by flowing water in the areas close to the river would have reduced the build-up of peat.
Significant Value of Site:	- Biodiversity - Hydrology - Soil/Carbon - Cultural & Historical Value - Socio-economic
Designated use (status/legal classification):	- International recognition (e.g RAMSAR| Man & Biosphere Reserve (MBR) etc.)|Watershed/Water Catchment|Wildlife Reserve|Community Conservation Area/Forest
Major Issues:	1. land conversion for agriculture (ricefields and cash crops) 2. oil palm plantations along the periphery of the peatland (FPPI and NGPI plantations, privately-owned) but within the Alienable and Disposable (A & D) lands 3. chemical waste discharge from the oil palm plantations leading to the peatland and the marsh area (herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers) 4. wildlife hunting (deer, birds, wild boar, monkey) 5. timber poaching (Lanipau, Mambog, Bangkal, and other marsh species delivered to wood processing plants in nearby areas)
Site Jurisdiction & Administration:	The peatland is part of the proclaimed Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) per Presidential Proclamation No. 913. However, 200 meters from the edge of the peatland is classified as Alienable and Disposable (A & D) land (no land titles were processed and issued yet)
Peatland Type:	Lowland
Management activities:	a) Past Conservation measures taken: The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary thru the Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) Office closely monitored the area in close coordination with the local communities of Caimpugan. Publication of the Philippine Action Plan for Peatlands Publication of leaflet on “Care for our Peatlands Formulation of Policies and Legislations Close coordination with the Provincial LGU of Agusan del Sur and Municipal LGU of San Francisco for local counterpart in the IFAD-GEF Peatland Rehabilitation Project. Regular wildlife monitoring by the Wildlife Enforcement Officer (WEO) in the area in close coordination with local communities. b) Current The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary thru the Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) Office closely monitored the area in close coordination with the local communities of Caimpugan. Close coordination with the Provincial LGU of Agusan del Sur and Municipal LGU of San Francisco for local counterpart in the IFAD-GEF Peatland Rehabilitation Project. Regular wildlife monitoring by the Wildlife Enforcement Officer (WEO) in the area in close coordination with local communities. Research And Development: Research on the Carbon Storage and the Role in Climate Change Mitigation of the Caimpugan Peatland in Agusan marsh Wildlife sanctuary, Philippines. Plant Diversity and Forest Structure of the Caimpugan Peat Swamp Forest in Mindanao Island, Philippines. Awareness and Capacity Building: Conduct of Seminar Workshop on the Protection and Sustainable Use of Peatlands through the Prevention and Supression of Wild land Fires – Bureau of Fire Protection in coordination with DENR Information Sharing – Initially downloaded information materials in the PAWB website and the Clearing House Mechanism for the Philippine Biodiversity. c) Potential The site is being promoted as an ecotourism site. It has been included in the Provincial Tourism Master Plan of Agusan del Sur. Ecotourism facilities will be constructed in the area such as the 200 m boardwalk starting from the forest edge and the observation hides to be established at the Station 1 of the peatland. Peatland conservation and management should be integrated in the Municipal Plans of the LGUs.
Facilities & Activities Available on Site:
Institution Responsible for the Site:	Name of Organization: Protected Areas & Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) Postal Address: Ninoy Aquino Park & Wildlife Center North Ave., Elliptical Road Diliman, Quezon City Phone: +6329258950 Fax: +6329258950 Website: www.pawb.gov.ph
Nominated by:	Name: Armida P. Andres Organization: DENR-PAWB