LET WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BE YOUR CONVERSATION STARTER

#WorldWildlifeConservationDay2020 #SustainingAllLifeOnEarth

August 2019, intentional fires, more than 80,000 (Calma, 2019) were set off in the Amazon forests, the most important ecosystem in the planet. January 2020, where Australia’s annual fire season reached its peak, where 16 million acres of land have burned mainly in New South Wales and Victoria, losses in lives and property had increased and the smoke generated caused health effects to the population (Tarabay, 2020). These alarming events that has happened did not only affect humans and the environment but also the animals who are dependent to these biomes. Climate change is the main culprit in threatening the wildlife population however human activities continue to both directly and indirectly cause problems to wildlife.

In 2012, Secretary of the State Hilary Clinton has directed the attention on Wildlife Trafficking, she said, “Wildlife cannot be manufactured. And once it is gone, it cannot be replenished. Those who profit from it illegally are not just undermining our borders and our economies, they are truly stealing from the next generation.” The World Wildlife Fund joined the secretary’s call to raise awareness and engage conservationists for World Wildlife Conservation Day to be celebrated every fourth of December.

Threats that are imposed to wildlife are illegal wildlife trade, habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, and climate change (Prem, 2020). And these threats are present in the Philippines. The country is recognized in having a rich biodiversity and despite having the Republic act 9147 or the Wildlife resources Conservation and Protection Act, illegal wildlife trade is still occurring. Besides from this kind of threat, poor enforcement of environmental laws, mining, logging, rapid urbanization and agricultural practices (Perez, 2019) has led to the continuous increase of the species going endangered and/or extinct. Listed below are the endangered species, animals that are only found in the country.

Birds:

· Philippine Eagle

· Negros Bleeding- Heart

· Visayan Wrinkled Hornbill

· Cebu Flowerpecker

Mammals:

· Tamaraw

· Palawan Bearded Pigs

Reptiles:

· Freshwater Crocodile

Fish:

· Sardinella Tawilis

One can prevent the rising number of cases of declining wildlife if we improve our attitudes, awareness, and livelihoods. Conservation International Philippines launched Protect Wildlife Project which tackles the threats to wildlife and the causes of biodiversity loss also including environmental threat with deliberate consultation from the government and local members of the community. The process of awareness starts when we view that everything that we do will directly affect the health of nature and to see the necessity in conserving our natural resources and wildlife.

Stewards not Masters. Defenders and not mere Dependents. Don’t you think that constant reminders of our declining ecosystem, its biodiversity is grueling to hear and face if one still continues not to change their accustomed lifestyle. Again if our everyday actions that decreases the harmful effect to the planet, can have the possibility of a snowball effect where influencing and sharing of knowledge of our wrong actions in the household and society can produce positive changes for the planet and other species, not just the human population, to live and breathe.

References:

Calma, J. (2019, August 28). Everything you need to know about the fires in the Amazon. Retrieved from The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/28/20836891/amazon-fires-brazil-bolsonaro-rainforest-deforestation-analysis-effects

Perez, D. (2019, July 3). Species at Risk: The Most Critically Endangered Animals in the Philippines. Retrieved from Eco Warrior Princess: https://ecowarriorprincess.net/2019/07/most-critically-endangered-animals-philippines/

Prem, H. T. (2020, November 2). What are the biggest threats to Wildlife and Why? Retrieved from World Animal Protection: https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.in/blogs/what-are-biggest-threats-wildlife-and-why#:~:text=Wildlife%20is%20suffering&text=of%20climate%20change.-,Some%20of%20the%20biggest%20threats%20to%20wildlife%20include%20illegal%20wildlife,%2C%20arms%2C%20and%

Tarabay, J. (2020, January 21). Why These Australia Fires Are Like Nothing We’ve Seen Before. Retrieved from The New York TImes: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/21/world/australia/fires-size-climate.html