Forests are where most flora and fauna are found per square kilometers.
These are the lungs of the planet that store the carbon dioxide released by animals and supply oxygen released by plants which humans need.
This year’s World Wildlife Day 2021 was themed “Forests and Livelihood: Sustaining People and Planet” to highlight the central role of forests, forests species and ecosystems services in sustaining the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people globally, and particularly of indigenous and local communities with historic ties to forested and forest-adjacent areas.
This aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 12, 13, and 15, and their wide-ranging commitments in alleviating poverty, ensuring sustainable use of resources, and on conserving life land.
The celebration the international event at Taklong Island National Marine Reserve (TINMR) in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras last March 3, 2021 was just one of the venues for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Western Visayas as other provinces celebrated this global event in their own way.
Conservation and Development Division (CDD) staff Forester Mary Ann Astete briefed the participants on the importance of World Wildlife Day 2021 and the benefits of Forest Bathing.
TINMR Park Foreman Johnnys Gange presented the different wildlife species found within Taklong Island.
After the short lecture, Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr. and Provincial ENR Officer Vicente A. Sardina along with people’s organizations (Pos), the barangay captains of San Roque and La Paz, representative of Nueva Valencia municipal government, and DENR-6 staff from the regional and PENR offices, conducted a monitoring and inspection around the mangrove areas of TINMR and enjoyed communing with nature as well as appreciating and identifying the different flora and fauna within the marine park.
“Being able to experience this World Wildlife Day celebration in one of our protected areas in the region is something we need to treasure –the clean water, the fresh air, the biodiversities found in the area plus the mangrove forest bathing we observed,” Milla said.
“Surely, this environment of ours is the place where can go back and heal,” he added.
Other activities were paddle boarding/kayaking, island inspection, and coral reefs monitoring/diving.
“Environmental programs and activities like these are worth documenting for the people of today to learn and appreciate, and for the generation to come,” said Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Group (RSCIG) Chief, Artemio Salvador C. Colacion. (DENR-6)
