Mr.
Title:
Mr.
Keywords:
Land use, Agricultural development, Biodiversity conservation, Wetland ecologyAbstract:
The vast land and fertile soil in the Agusan River Basin lured people to use the land for agricultural and tree plantations. The agricultural plantation development in the floodplain may have some implications to the wetland ecology, particularly on the water movement, biodiversity and in the overall relationships of the various aspects of the basin. Thus information on the agricultural plantation development and the use of agrochemicals that can contribute to water contamination in the basin were assessed as inputs for the management of Agusan River Basin toward sustainable development. Corn and rice are the dominant agricultural crops planted in the river basin. For the period 2005-2012, area for rice and corn production has been expanding. Likewise, the production area of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is increasing in the buffer zone of the basin. The contract growing scheme of large oil palm companies in Agusan del Sur is the major driver that encouraged landowners and cooperatives to venture in oil palm production resulting to the conversion of natural habitats in the buffer zones. Expansion of banana plantation and rubber has also reached the drier areas of the basin. The continued expansion of agricultural areas has changed the habitats in the basin. With the land use conversion, interconnectivity is reduced which is detrimental to the biodiversity. A policy review is, therefore, necessary to look at how to strike a balance between food production and biodiversity conservation.??
Objectives:
To assess the agricultural plantation development and the use of agrochemicals that can contribute to water contamination in the basin as as inputs for the management of Agusan River Basin toward sustainable development.
Methods:
Descriptive
Findings and Results:
Corn and rice are the dominant agricultural crops planted in the river basin. For the period 2005-2012, area for rice and corn production has been expanding. Likewise, the production area of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is increasing in the buffer zone of the basin. The contract growing scheme of large oil palm companies in Agusan del Sur is the major driver that encouraged landowners and cooperatives to venture in oil palm production resulting to the conversion of natural habitats in the buffer zones. Expansion of banana plantation and rubber has also reached the drier areas of the basin.
Conclusion:
1. Agricultural plantation development already encroached into the natural habitats of the Agusan River Basin, giving a real threat to the biodiversity therein,
2. Rice production and oil palm plantation development are the two most rapidly expanding land uses that can threaten the biodiversity of Agusan Marsh,
3. The continued expansion in the buffer zone of Agusan Marsh can alter habitats and their connectivity causing disturbances to the biodiversity in the marsh due to various human activities associated with agricultural operation.
This research is published at the