AGUINALDO, Ifugao, Jan. 20 (PIA)- -A water bird census was conducted at the wetlands of this town and nearby Alfonso Lista that surround the Magat Dam located between the province of Isabela and Ifugao.

The Water Bird Census is an annual activity held across Asia and Australia where government agencies, local government units and organizations dedicated to wildlife visit the wetlands in their areas and count the water birds. The event is part of the global water bird programs called International Water Bird Census led by Wetland International.

Held last January 14 and 15,the census was participated by officials and government workers of Aguinaldo and Alfonso Lista, personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, individuals from some private organizations and representatives from Wetland International.

The group worked with some other volunteers that assessed the status and population of the water birds over time. The information generated is used to identify wetlands of high importance for water birds and take conservation measures such as designation as Ramsar Sites or inclusion as priority wetlands within national government programs.

The Water Bird Census is an annual activity held across Asia and Australia where government agencies, local government units and organizations dedicated to wildlife visit the wetlands in their areas and count the water birds. The event is part of the global water bird programs called International Water Bird Census led by Wetland International.

This citizen-science program supports the conservation and management of wetlands and water birds worldwide, and information helps to promote the designation and management of internationally important sites such as nationally protected areas, important birds and biodiversity areas.

It serves as well to help in identifying and protecting new sites of importance for water birds and the result of the census and information are used to promote national water bird and wetlands conservation and international cooperation along the Central Asian Flyway and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Water birds are one of the key indicators of wetlands' health that provide feeding, resting, roosting and foraging habitats for various water bird species.(JDP/DBC- PIA CAR, Ifugao)