The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) echoes the call of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to put into law the advancement of wetland conservation and protection.

Wetlands, such as rivers, lakes, marshes and swamps, coastal, marine, and human-made wetlands, are essential to many forms of life. They comprise a wide range of ecosystems that support many species populations, as well as providing ecological, hydrological, and other functions and services. These functions include a critical role in moderating climate, as a big portion of the world’s soil carbon is stored in wetlands. This is a crucial factor towards maintaining long-term climate stability.

As early as 1994, the Philippines has been a Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention, the only international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. As a Contracting Party, the State commits to adopt and implement laws, policies, and plans to promote the wise use of wetlands. Although there are existing laws containing provisions that directly and indirectly promote the conservation of wetlands, there has been no specific law that explicitly governs the conservation and protection of wetlands.

At the House of Representatives, there are two existing bills that addresses them: a substitute bill titled, “An Act Institutionalizing the National Wetlands Conservation Policy”; and House Bill 7206 or the proposed National Peatland and Peatland Resources Act. Meanwhile, Senate Bill No. 2036 or the “National Wetlands Conservation Act” has also been filed at the Upper Chamber in February 2021.

Such proposed pieces of legislation will not only promote biodiversity and sustainability but is intricately linked to the realisation of many human rights concerning environment, health, and livelihoods. Thus, the wetlands are a critical resource of great economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value, and the loss of which would be irreparable.

Together with the DENR, the CHR is hopeful for the immediate passage of this law and stresses that the right to a healthy environment is a human right. But overall, the pursuit of conservation goals can contribute positively to the realisation of many human rights, and the realisation of rights can enable more effective conservation outcomes.