The global conservation communities commemorated International Day for Biological Diversity Saturday. This year’s theme calls for the participation of everyone in conserving and protecting nature.
Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2000, this international event, that is now drawing attention from various countries, including the Philippines, aims to increase awareness and understanding on biodiversity issues and concerns. It calls, too, for immediate actions to address the declining quantity and quality of the world’s biological resources.
Specifically, the theme for the 2021 commemoration of the Biodiversity Day is “We are Part of the Solution for Nature”, and international organizers encourage everyone to personally customize the theme with “I am Part of the Solution for Nature” in posting and engaging in social media and other communication platforms. Although it is quite challenging and it seems nm “undoable” task to come up with solutions to the damages inflicted to mother Earth, there is no other way but to be optimistic, inspired, and adoptive in coming out, even little as it may, with actions that could prevent the further deterioration of our natural environment, as well as the rehabilitation and restoration of damaged ecosystems.
Some damages created to our planet are irreversible, meaning they are beyond repair, and what we need to do is to develop creative and adoptive, yet practical, socially, culturally, and economically appropriate and science-based, measures in addressing the changing environment, and climate, in particular, of today.
With the advent of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, which affects the whole world, the more we rethink the way we are treating and using our environment and natural resources. We are now facing an extreme and serious situation with the pandemic, and millions of lives have been affected and lost while disrupting the social and economic fibers worldwide.
The threatening climate crisis is similarly in our midst as the Earth’s natural processes and ability to maintain a healthy climate and balanced ecology have already been disrupted. Scientists warn that the evolution and spread of several deadly viruses in recent years of our memory are partly, or even wholly, attributed to mishandling, misuse, and abuse of wildlife species and their habitats. COVID-19 may not be the last pandemic we might experience if proper and effective precaution is not in place and implemented, experts warn.
The Philippines’s biodiversity is one of the world’s most amazing and important, but sadly, it is also in the hotspot as numerous species endemic only to our country are already threatened to extinction in the wild. Many of these species, both flora and fauna, are listed in the Red List of Threatened Species, either as crucially endangered, endangered or vulnerable, by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Negros Island accounts for a number of threatened endemic species. Primarily, habitat destruction and hunting for various purposes are the main reasons why many of our species are at the brink of extinction.
Unfortunately, many of our natural habitats, both in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, are not yet fully secured from destructive activities. Aside from their ecological functions, these ecosystems are known as life-support systems as they provide clean air and water, help mitigate the negative impacts of natural hazards and risks, and offer countless socio-cultural and economic benefits. We should be reminded that the more diverse our species and habitats, the more we will enjoy not only a clean environment but it also means food sufficiency and ecological security.
However, development aggression, through the initiation of various projects, like establishment of industries, agricultural expansion, construction of roads and other infrastructures, settlements, and mining, among others, continue to threaten our natural habitats.
Sadly or even outrageously, it is not only private individuals and companies that are implementing these projects, but including the government.