MAINTAINING THE URBAN OASIS: ANALYSIS OF MAINTENANCE AND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF LAS PIÑAS-PARAÑAQUE WETLAND PARK

Urban wetlands, vital for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection, face growing threats from urbanization. This study examines the maintenance and conservation strategies at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP), a Ramsar site within the Philippines' National Capital Region, serving as a microcosm of urban wetland challenges. Employing a qualitative descriptive research design, the study investigates LPPWP's management through semi-structured focus group discussions with Department of Environment and Natural Resources - National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) Conservation and Development Division personnel. These discussions illuminated operational realities, challenges, and the rationale behind conservation decisions. The research critically analyzes LPPWP's successes and shortcomings, offering practical recommendations to enhance the resilience and sustainability of urban wetlands and protected areas, in the Philippines. The study promotes ecological conservation and the restoration of biodiversity. LPPWP's effective maintenance and conservation strategies are showcased, revealing the impact of the Protected Area Management Plan (PAMP), Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) programs, species monitoring, inventory efforts, and ecological service valuation. These initiatives have strengthened management policies and promoted sustainable practices despite the negative effects of anthropogenic activities, uncontrolled urban development, and other environmental threats. The study's conclusions are intended to provide critical information that can inform policy formation, guide conservation practices for other similar environments, and inspire creative solutions for protecting urban wetlands, these invaluable natural assets, that are confronting the increasing and significant pressures of urbanization and all of its effects.