With over 53,000 species about almost half of which cannot be found in other areas including 10,000 plant species edible and available to man, Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional technical director of Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service Dioscoro Melana said Filipinos supposedly have no reason to suffer from hunger.
During a press conference yesterday for the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity with the theme “Biodiversity and Agriculture,” Melana said Filipinos are so choosy, preferring to eat the few plant species they know which somehow results to farmers doing monoculture farming that reduces the biodiversity of plants.
There are also about 6,900 animal species that can be a source of protein, Melana also said.
Experts say nutrition improves with consumption of greater food diversity in fruits and vegetables especially, diverse diet helps the fight against problems of malnutrition and obesity.
“So we have no reason na maka-experience og malnutrition. If we are to change our food preference, we shall not experience malnutrition and hunger,” Melana said.
Biodiversity can be preserved if man will use its natural resources effectively and manage biodiversity in such a manner that biological resources are sustained.
DENR believes that people and the government must work together to protect the biodiversity of a community, which is man’s source of food, water, medicine and livelihood. — Jessica Ann Pareja, UP intern/BRP