THE book Stats & Stories—Storytelling for Biodiversity Southeast Asia & Beyond, a compilation of feature stories on biodiversity by Philipp Gassner, was launched on November 26 at a hotel in Mandaluyong City. The book contains features simple stories explaining biodiversity issues and concerns.
The Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH of Germany, through the ACB-GIZ Biodiversity and Climate Change Project (BCCP), are behind the book’s publication and launching.
“Stats & Stories is a unique attempt to tell stories about biodiversity. It hopes to contribute to the promotion of biodiversity conservation using simple and clear language. People always love a good story. Be it told at the bonfires or by Hollywood movies. So why not also tell stories of biodiversity? If we want people to understand biodiversity and to create real behavior change, we must turn data into drama, numbers into narrative, and stats into stories,” Gassner earlier said. Dr. Berthold Seibert, BCCP project director, said storytelling provides entertainment and, at the same time, brings complex issues, such as biodiversity, closer to the reader.
Lawyer Roberto Oliva, ACB executive director, said Stats & Stories is tailored to the growing number of middle-class educated populace in Southeast Asia, being interested in issues of sustainable development. It is also written for facilitators, communicators, educators in the region, and their strategic communication.
ACB
Image credits: Alysa Salen