On the occasion of the 20th year of the UN-declared International Day of Biological Diversity (IDBD) designed to increase the understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 8 has renewed the call for greater and broader participation of all stakeholders in the protection, conservation and sustainability of our rich biodiversity resources.
“The public has to fully comprehend the immense values and importance of biological diversity and that the solutions of many, if not all, of our global challenges can be sourced from nature itself. Let it be a constant reminder that while we have faced biodiversity losses, there is still hope and we need only to bounce back stronger and united in our resolve to sustain nature for a future that is in harmony with nature,” says Eugenia N. Bautista, OIC-Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services and Chief of the Conservation and Development Division (CDD).
The United Nations (UN) in a statement has emphasized the importance of working together and has challenged the global community during this trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic as a time for reflection, opportunity and solutions and that everyone now has the opportunity to reflect on how we can “Build back better” to increase the resilience of nations and communities.
OIC-ARD Bautista has expressed her enthusiasm that the local communities are now aware of the importance of protecting the region’s biodiversity resources and its sustainable use. This is particularly true for those living in protected areas that are dependent on biodiversity resources to sustain the economic activities of their respective communities. There is also a noticeable spike in people voluntarily providing information and even of turning-over to the proper authorities, wild animals they find or are accidentally captured.
“It is an indication that people are aware of the environmental laws and now has a higher level of respect to all forms flora and fauna that consists our biodiversity. This is important because as we strive to build back better from this pandemic, we need effective and efficient partners for biodiversity protection, especially from the local communities,” says OIC-ARD Bautista.
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- Parent Category: News & Events
- Category: Press Releases
- Published: 16 June 2020