World Wildlife Day 2023 is celebrated every 3^rd of March which highlights the beauty and the diverse world of our ecosystems – both flora and fauna. This is also the time to remind the public on the urgent need to fight against wildlife crime and illegal trading.

With this year’s theme: “Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation”, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is grateful for all the conservation efforts of its environmental partners from local to the international level.

“In all forms of wildlife protection, whether it is done by big businesses, government institutions, civil societies or one that involves our children, to spread awareness about our wildlife, those individuals or organizations are worth commending. The DENR 6 is truly thankful for all of your hard work in helping us maintain the balance we all wanted in this world we live in,” said DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran.

In region 6, aside from highlighting the environmental partners, series of activities were also done in celebration of World Wildlife Day 2023.

The team of Conservation and Development Division (CDD) led by Forester Melba J. Salditos, chief of the Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Section (PAMBCS), went to Panuran National High School in Lambunao, Iloilo and conducted an information drive among the youths. Forester Salditos discussed the concept of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act No. 9147). At the end of the lecture, Forester John Carlo Legada asked some trivia questions among the students to gauge the things they have learned about wildlife protection.

The Provincial ENR Offices together with its Community ENR Offices also celebrated the WWD 2023 with series of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign which included Dalaw Turo, “Rekurida sa Karsada” and distribution of IEC materials at the seaport and airport. A simultaneous monitoring of the wildlife stocks among the holders of Certificate of Wildlife Registration (CWR) in their respective areas of jurisdiction were also conducted by the CENROs to have an updated data on the status of wildlife permittees.

Furthemore, the DENR 6 assures the public that the Department is doing its role to minimize, if not eliminate, the illegal wildlife trafficking and poaching in the region.

“We have our endemic species here in the region which includes the famous Rafflesia speciosa, Visayan Warty Pig, Visayan Spotted Deer, Negros Bleeding Heart Pigeon and many other species. In other words, our biodiversity is very rich and we need to protect them. They are the faces of the region and the very essence why we should strengthen our biodiversity protection,” said DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran said.

The World Wildlife Day activity was also in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 15: Protect restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.