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Sunday, March 5, 2017
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TWO DAYS ago, March 3, it was World Wildlife Day. The yearly observance was a call for people to take part in biodiversity conservation efforts.
Filipinos must get involved in efforts towards biodiversity conservation. Despite the abundance in natural resources, many remain poor and hungry. The Philippines is one of the mega diverse countries and has one of the highest rates of discovery of new species in the world. But in the midst of bountiful resources, many remain hungry. Many coastal residents, who should have access to marine resources, are among the poorest citizens.
We are all consumers and we contribute to the decline of the world’s resources because of our insatiable demand for new things. The rate of extraction and consumption is way faster than the rate at which the Earth can replenish its resources. The solution begins with us.
Three years ago, the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) presented the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) – thecountry’s roadmap to conserve its biodiversity. PBSAP was crafted by government agencies led by the DENR and in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme with the aim of restoring and rehabilitating the country’s biodiversity by the year 2027.PBSAP is anchored on the Philippine Development Plan, which means that the pursuit of economic growth while protecting the environment is the way forward. But to be effective, the PBSAP should be supported by citizens through their active involvement in biodiversity conservation. Local government units and their respective communities should work together towards the protection of natural resources, and green jobs and green skills should be further promoted to contribute to environmental protection.
The PBSAP highlights that people should be at the core of conservation, protection and rehabilitation, and developmental initiatives. The first step towards building a sustainable community, one that respects biodiversity, is to correct one of the biggest misconceptions about the environment—that natural resources are infinite. We all need to stop craving for and taking more than what we need. The most important step is for every Filipino to renew their commitment to preserving what remains of our natural resources by taking action today.
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