The Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) held its first Asean Biodiversity Heroes Awards and recognized 10 heroes from the Asean member-states for their inspiring stories and championing biodiversity protection and conservation in their respective countries.
For ACB, a biodiversity hero could be a scientist, professional or a simple individual, who has proven his utmost dedication to conservation.
“A biodiversity hero is someone who believes in collaborative efforts in creating a positive impact for biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation must be the greatest concern of all as it is being threatened due to habitat loss and degradation, overexploitation and unsustainable use, invasive alien species, pollution and climate change,” the ACB said.
The awarding ceremony was held as part of the recent Asean ministerial meeting in Manila and 50th founding anniversary of the Asean, where the Philippines is a cofounder. Incidentally the regional group is currently chaired by President Duterte.
Heroes
Besides the Philippines’s Dr. Angel Alcala, a national scientist who champions coastal resource management in the country, named among the 10 Asean Biodiversity Heroes during the awards held at a hotel in Malate, Manila, were Eyad Samhan, wildlife-conservation officer who contributed significantly to research on floral and fauna in Brunei Darussalam; Sophea Chhin, a young biodiversity information specialist who sparked interests in wildlife research in Cambodia;
Alex Waisimon, an indigenous community leader who protects forests for future generations in Papua Indonesia; Nitsavanh Louangkhot Pravongviengkham, a business leader who promotes environment-friendly agricultural production in Lao PDR;
Zakri Abdul Hamid, an eminent scientist and diplomat who makes lasting impact analysis and assessment of global biodiversity and ecosystem services from Malaysia; Maung Maung Kyi, a conservationist who promotes community participation to conserve various habitats in Myanmar;
Leo Tan Wee Hin, an outstanding science educator who champions biodiversity outreach and education in Singapore; Nonn Panityong, a biodiversity expert and business leader who raises public awareness of biodiversity through taxonomy in Thailand; and Dang Huy Huynh, a senior scientist who fosters exchange of knowledge and solutions to conserve Vietnam’s biodiversity.
Besides the Asean Biodiversity Heroes trophy and cash prize, they were also recognized with Hyndai Icon for Biodiversity by Hari Foundation Inc.
Each of the awardees was recommended by environment officials, leaders of non-governmental organizations or academic institutions from the Asean member-state where they belong. They were awarded for having achieved significant feats in the fields of scientific research, education, communication, which led to successful biodiversity protection and conservation. To demonstrate their commitment, the awardees joined the Asean Biodiversity Heroes Pledge, during which a pledge board was unveiled to mark the commitment of the awardees, as well as the audience, to help promote biodiversity conservation.
For children of tomorrow
In his written message for the awards, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said biodiversity is a blessing from the Almighty, which should be preserved and protected. As such, he said: “We have intergenerational responsibility to care for Mother Nature today, for the benefit of our children tomorrow.”
“The Asean Biodiversity Heroes are citizens of the region that people can identify with and inspire others to take action for biodiversity in their own spheres of influence. They play the crucial role of spreading awareness on the urgent need to conserve biodiversity as Asean member-states continue to conserve [the] Asean’s shared natural wealth and their respective national development and sustainability goals,” Cayetano, a former Philippine senator said.
Shared responsibility
ACB Executive Director Robert Oliva said during the ceremony: “Biodiversity is not just about the bees, the birds and the trees. Without biodiversity, we will all be extinct.” ACB acts as the secretariat of the awards.
Oliva added anyone could be a biodiversity hero, underscoring the need to involve everybody in protecting and conserving the so-called web of life.
“It cannot be the task of government alone. It is a shared responsibility,” Olvia said, referring to the challenge of protecting and conserving biodiversity, particularly in Southeast Asia, which boasts of diverse species of plant and animal species, including marine wildlife.
The ACB has been promoting the declaration of protected areas in Southeast Asia through the Asean Heritage Parks Program.
He said there are 40 protected areas all over the region, eight of which are in the Philippines, which also hosts the main headquarters of the ACB.
“[The] Asean is very rich in biodiversity, upon which 633 million people or over are dependent. The continued stability, progress and development of [the] Asean is anchored on the continued safety and presence of our biodiversity,” he added.
“Today, we honor the 10 biodiversity heroes who understand clearly the value and importance of biodiversity. They love their children, they love their families, they love [the] Asean, they love the next generation, and that is why they moved heaven and earth to inspire people to carry the cause of biodiversity conservation,” Oliva said.
“[The] Asean is rich in biodiversity and there is hope because of you,” he added.
Inspiring people
Environment Undersecretary Jonas R. Leones who represented Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said in his message that the country’s hosting the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on its 50th anniversary, wherein an outstanding individual from the Philippines is honored as one of the 10 Asean Biodiversity Heroes, demonstrates the country’s commitment to the global effort toward biodiversity conservation and protection.
The message is clear that the Philippines and the Asean are teeming with champions in the biodiversity sector, he said.
He underscored the importance of the actions toward biodiversity protection and conservation, big or small. Recognizing biodiversity heroes, he said “is an important step toward inspiring people from all walks of life to contribute their share in combatting the loss of biodiversity resources.
“Many perceive biodiversity merely as the beauty of nature but it is certainly more than that. Biodiversity or the web of life is the foundation of our daily living. The richness of biodiversity resources in the Philippines classifies it as one of the Earth’s biologically wealthiest countries,” he said.
“It [the Philippines] is endowed with rich natural resources that sustain essential life-support systems both for the country and the region. Apart from providing water, food and energy, these natural resources play important roles in sustaining a wide range of economic activities and livelihoods,” he added.
He said the Philippines ranks fifth in the number of plant species in the world, and maintains 5 percent of the world’s flora, he said.
However, he said the country’s rich biodiversity is constantly threatened by deforestation, wildlife hunting for food, pest and medicine, climate change, population growth and other causes.
He added the government’s commitment to the regional effort is demonstrated by its effort in expanding the coverage of terrestrial and marine-protected areas. Echoing Oliva, he proudly said the Philippines is home to eight Asean Heritage Parks to date.
Leores said the Philippines support various regional initiatives to boost conservation and protection of the region’s natural resources, such as the Coral Triangle Initiative.
The country’s commitment to the regional effort, he added, is also demonstrated by its hosting of the ACB’s headquarters, citing its newly inaugurated building in Los Baños, Laguna, with funding support from the Philippine government.
According to Leones, preventing biodiversity loss remains a major challenge in the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia, despite notable gains in biodiversity conservation. He said many critical issues need to be addressed in reducing biodiversity loss in the region. The search for Asean Biodiversity Heroes, he said, is important in the regional effort to significantly reduce biodiversity loss.
“Without biodiversity, there will be no life, for biodiversity is life in itself. Without biodiversity and its interdependence, we will not survive and prosper,” he said.
He expressed hope that the 10 Asean Biodiversity Heroes will inspire other Filipinos and other “heroes” in the region to work for biodiversity conservation and protection.
EU’s commitment
For his part, Michael Bucki, Climate Change and Environment Counsellor of the European Union (EU) for the Asean, reiterated EU’s commitment to the regional effort in biodiversity conservation.
“As we all know, the future of our planet is now being challenged by an unprecedented pressure on global natural resources and the environment. Global diversity and ecosystems are under threat worldwide with an alarming extinction rate of species. With this current trend, scientists assert that the biodiversity crisis has now passed the tipping point of planetary boundaries with the risk of irreversible changes that will profoundly affect human beings. If we do not act strongly together now, what will be left to our children?” he asked.
Bucki said 50 percent of marine biodiversity has been lost since 1970, and that 50 percent of coral reefs have disappeared due to the acidification and pollution of oceans, while the life of half a billion people directly depends on reef resources and much more depend on marine resources to feed themselves.
Similarly, life on Earth is threatened to such level that 77,000 species have been listed as critically endangered by International Union for Conservation of Nature.
“The results of the latest assessment are disturbing with several species facing extinction: we are talking about 25 percent of mammals, 13 percent of birds, 41 percent of amphibians,” he said.
He said to save endangered species, there is a need not only stronger institutions and law enforcement, but also an assault on poverty, the creation of economic opportunities and the full engagement of communities in decision-making, along with the reduction of demand from the countries receiving illegally trafficked wildlife products.
Image credits: Alysa Salen