Nueva Vizcaya is looking to expand its ecotourism offerings by turning greater attention to one of its natural assets: its birdlife. A three-day inventory held from Sept. 15 to 17 is intended to build a clearer picture of the province’s bird species while helping identify opportunities for wildlife observation and conservation.
The activity was organized by the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office pursuant to Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance 2015-115. It was also included in the province’s Tourism Week activities and long-term tourism roadmap.
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Bird Survey Covers Six Priority Locations
The inventory is being led by the administration of Gov. Jose Gambito in partnership with the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines, a civil-society group specializing in avian documentation. Its leaders, Alain Del Pascua, and Don Geoffe Tabaranza, recently met with Gambito at the provincial capitol as the province works with private bird enthusiasts to document its biodiversity.
During the meeting, Pascua proposed producing a coffee-table book featuring Nueva Vizcaya’s birds. The publication would consolidate findings from the inventory while showcasing the province’s natural assets. Gambito expressed support for the proposal, saying, “I fully support this book and thank the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines for their help.”
The bird count is intended to produce an updated record of species found across Nueva Vizcaya, with particular attention to endemic, uncommon, at risk, and migratory birds.
Teams conducted fieldwork in six priority areas selected for their ecological diversity and tourism potential: Lower Magat Eco-Tourism Park, Balete Pass, Imugan Falls, the Capisaan Eco-Trail, the Dupax Watershed Forest Reserve, and Bangan Hill. The sites include lowland wetlands, reforested slopes, highland passes, and protected forests that serve as habitats for resident and seasonal bird species.
Provincial tourism officer Marichelle Costales said the enumerators are documenting where species occur and how they are distributed within each location.
“The census will help establish Nueva Vizcaya as a sustainable birdwatching destination while providing baseline information for conservation and ecotourism planning,” Costales said.
Birdwatching Plans Linked to Conservation and 2027 Summit
Beyond simply listing species, the inventory is designed to guide how potential birdwatching sites can be developed. Costales identified three objectives: establishing Nueva Vizcaya’s identity as a birdwatching destination; assessing potential birding areas based on species richness, habitat condition, accessibility and visitor experience; and collecting scientific information that can support conservation efforts and preparations for the Grey-faced Buzzard Summit in 2027.
The resulting data will also provide a basis for tourism programs, conservation interventions, and the development of visitor facilities and services in areas with birdwatching potential.
The project forms part of a wider effort to establish Nueva Vizcaya as an ecotourism hub, with birdwatching positioned as a specialty segment that can connect wildlife protection with community-based economic opportunities ahead of the 2027 summit.
If sustained, the initiative could give local communities another reason to protect forests, wetlands, and other habitats while creating new tourism opportunities beyond conventional attractions. For Nueva Vizcaya, putting its birdlife on the tourism map is not just about attracting visitors, but also about giving economic value to the ecosystems that make those visits possible.
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