Media urged to help promote biodiversity

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is calling on the media to help disseminate the importance of biodiversity and the consequences of losing it.

“A well-informed citizenry translates to empowered individuals willing to take the initiative to help save our biodiversity from the perils of destruction. The help of media will contribute immensely for the fast and efficient dissemination of environmental challenges,” said DENR Secretary Horacio Ramos said.

Ramos urged the media to give more emphasis on environmental issues and match its coverage (of the environment) with the “scale of the environmental problem we face.”

At the same time, the DENR secretary called for a stronger partnership among the media, researchers and policymakers to “provide the public a better-framed story” that makes more sense and relevance to (the public’s) everyday life.

Ramos noted that the declaration of 2010 as “National Year of Biodiversity” by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo through Proclamation No. 2003 is in consonance with the United Nations’ declaration of 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity.

The said proclamation underscores the importance of biodiversity and the need for all sectors of the society to promote biodiversity conservation as the country continues to face the constant threats of degradation despite its being one of the world’s megadiverse countries,

Ramos added that the stewardship of nature is not the sole responsibility of the government or any individual person and that the proclamation calls upon all agencies to work hand in hand with other stakeholders to initiate activities promoting biodiversity conservation.(FREEMAN NEWS)