Published on 30 November 2024
The Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve on Siargao Island in the Philippines was recently designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance.
Spanning nearly 4,900 hectares, the reserve forms the country's largest contiguous mangrove forest. The area’s intertidal flats and upland forests are connected by the mangroves, providing a way for birds to move more easily between the two types of habitats. The reserve hosts 245 animal species, including endangered species such as the Philippine duck and Southern rufous hornbill, while supporting the local fishing and tourism industries.
The Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve is visible in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image acquired on 27 September 2024.
The Copernicus Sentinel satellites provide essential data on the state of mangroves around the world, providing key insights to better protect these important ecosystems.
As a flagship programme of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, the European Commission, in partnership with ESA, is supporting the creation of a Copernicus Data Centre in the Philippines. The CopPhil Centre is strengthening and promoting the operational uptake of free and open Copernicus data in the Philippines. In particular, the Centre will support and increase the ability of the Philippines to address climate vulnerability and biodiversity conservation while improving hazard management and resilience. The CopPhil activities include pilot services for mangrove monitoring. More information is available here.
Source:
Copernicus. (2024, December 12). The Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve, a recently designated Ramsar Site. Image of the Day.