Asean center produces animated video on biodiversity conservation

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said yesterday that the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB) has produced an animated video that aims to creatively educate a wide range of audiences on biodiversity conservation.

Environment Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio Jr., who is also acting ACB executive director, said informing people on biodiversity issues is not easy.

“The challenge is how to make biodiversity an issue that can be easily understood by the public. So we came up with a communication material that will both educate and entertain our audience,” he said.

Animator Yvette Co said the characters in the animation - a 10-minute video titled ‘Animals and Plants in Danger’ - focuses on endangered species in the ASEAN-member states and on ways how to save them from extinction.

The lead character is Beruang, a Malayan Sun Bear representing Brunei Darussalam.

“Sun bear was picked as the lead character because Brunei Darussalam chairs the ASEAN Working Group on Environmental Education,” said scriptwriter Lilibeth Cabebe, of the Knowledge Management Research Associate at ACB.

“The video enumerates a number of critically endangered species in each ASEAN-member state. It also discusses destructive human activities that contribute to the worsening problem of biodiversity loss. The film ends with a call for action that is conveyed through a ‘wish list’ made by the endangered species as their petition to humans,” explained Dr. Sheila Vergara, director for ACB’s Biodiversity Information Management Unit.

Rolando Inciong, head of ACB’s Communication and Public Affairs, said the production of the video was made possible through the creativity and talents of ACB staff who did the scriptwriting, voice-overs, animation and video editing.

“It’s about time to veer away from typical lectures. We have to think of ways on how to attract a wider range of audience, regardless of gender and age. The best option, we believe, is through animation,” he said.