“Selfie Take 2 for Biodiversity” Launched

Quezon City (PIA)–The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), is holding, for the second year, a photo contest on biodiversity in celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22.

The contest to be conducted in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, under the Protected Area Management Enhancement (PAME) project started April 22, Earth Day.

Called “Selfie Take 2 for Biodiversity”, the contest requires participants to submit “selfies” that show commitments and efforts to protect biodiversity.

The photo should tell a story about efforts, campaigns,programs covering diverse topics under biodiversity – food production, water protection, climate change mitigation, ecosystem-based solutions in cities, and many more. A few examples include coastal clean-ups, estero cleaning, massive tree-planting, etc.

The chosen participant will have the chance to win a TRIP FOR TWO to any protected biodiversity area under the jurisdiction of DENR-BMB.

The contest’s mechanics are available at www.facebook.com/biodiversitychallenge.

Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim of the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) said the Philippines is once again in the world spotlight as it seeks to implement developments to mitigate the impact of climate change as the country continues to pick up the pieces more than one year after super typhoon Haiyan destroyed lives and damaged further vulnerable ecosystems.

“Biodiversity is not only a variety of life, but also a way of life. That is why there is a need to take charge of protecting biodiversity. Sometimes, we only bask in the beauty of nature, but rarely do we take efforts to protect the wildlife endemic to the Philippines and their natural habitats,” Lim said.

The contest is part of the celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDBD), proclaimed by the United Nations as a day to increase awareness and understanding of biodiversity issues. This year’s theme is Biodiversity for Sustainable Development.

A major player in this celebration is the Philippines, home to a number of endemic wild flora and fauna and vulnerable ecosystems.

“We are happy to partner anew with GIZ to increase awareness on the protection of biodiversity. We need more stakeholders to join us in this campaign, a difficult challenge to attain sans the help of other sectors,” Lim said. (DENR/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)