Asean launches International Year of Biodiversity 2010

2010 International Year of Biodiversity  logo and theme

Hosted by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the event was part of the global celebration aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of biodiversity and the consequences of its loss. The celebration’s theme is “Biodiversity is life.  Biodiversity is our life.”

At the launch, the ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General awarded the ASEAN Heritage Parks certificate to the Philippines recognizing the Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Mindanao as the 28th and newest ASEAN Heritage Park in Southeast Asia. The award was received on behalf of the Philippine government by DENR Undersecretary Ignacio and senior DENR officials from Mindanao.

Undersecretary Ignacio said that “with this recognition, the Philippines is now home to three ASEAN Heritage Parks—Mt. Apo Natural Park in Davao, Mt. Iglit-Baco in Mindoro, and now, Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon. This reinforces the fact that despite its relatively small size, our country is home to an astonishing range of biodiversity. The Philippines stands out in the region in terms of richness of biodiversity as it cradles a treasure trove of plant, bird, marine, insect and other animal species.”

The launch of the International Year of Biodiversity also featured the formal call for nominations for ASEAN Champions of Biodiversity—a recognition program that will award outstanding biodiversity conservation and advocacy projects by corporations, youth and the media.

ACB and the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau presented the ASEAN Regional Clearing-House Mechanism and the Philippine Clearing-House Mechanism, which are both aimed at building strong biodiversity information sharing networks.

– Articles : From the website of ASEAN  Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)

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