The Philippines has been chosen as the venue for this year's Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the only global intergovernmental treaty established exclusively for the conservation and management of terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range.

This was announced by Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) Director Theresa Mundita Lim during the launch of the logo for the 12th COP meeting, also known as COP 12, held at the Philippine Senate on Tuesday (February 28).

The event was graced by climate change committee chair Senator Loren Legarda, environment and natural resources committee chair Senator Cynthia Villar, and CMS Secretariat Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Lambertus Lenten.

Lim said the COP meeting will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on October 22-28, 2017, and will be attended by high-level dignitaries from more than 120 countries.

According to the BMB chief, the country's hosting of the CMS event will serve as an opportunity for the Philippines to showcase its important role as host to a number of migratory species in several of its coastal, marine, wetland and forest ecosystems.

"Birds, marine turtles, and marine mammals find it convenient to stop by our different host sites where they can feed and refuel before they continue on their journey especially during winter time,” Lim said.

She added that migratory sites allow the public, especially environmental hobbyists like bird watchers, to see such wildlife and appreciate the importance of conserving their habitats.

As this will be the first time for the COP to be held in Asia, Sen. Legarda assured the DENR and the BMB of assistance from the Senate to ensure the country’s effective and successful hosting of the event.

“As the only Southeast Asian country that is party to the convention, it is critical that we continue to take the lead and encourage other members to accede to the convention, considering that protection of migratory species and their habitats require cooperation beyond borders,” she stated.

Dr. Lenten underscored the importance of collaborative action in conserving migratory species. “If we bring our effort together, we can be stronger than when working separately,” he said.

These were echoed by Sen. Villar, who also enphasized the essence of the conference’s theme, “Their future is our future.”

“People should seriously bear in mind that the future of migratory species of wild animals is our future, making all of us stakeholders in making sure that all of us have a future together,” she said.

Villar has adopted as her personal cause the conservation of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area or LPPCHEA, which is a migratory bird site and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.

As part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, a substantial population of some 150 bird species find temporary homes in migratory sites in the country like the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu, the Naujan Lake National Park in Mindoro, the Tubbataha Reef Natural Park in Palawan, and the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area in Metro Manila.

Philippines also provides habitat to five of the world’s eight marine turtle species, and 28 species of marine mammals such as dolphins, whales and dugong.

The whale shark (Ryncodon typus), a known migratory species which also frequents the country’s waters, plays a centerpiece role in the logo designed by the BMB for the event.

The logo shows the whale shark as a composite of nine other migratory species and their habitats, rendered as a stylized tattoo.

The letter “O” in COP12 is portrayed as a color wheel signifying the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and underscoring how wildlife conservation plays a role in meeting them.

The bottom of the logo shows waves formed as a stylized hand reaching out to the whale shark, representing the role of people as stewards caring for the habitats of all species.

The conference theme, “Their Future is Our Future” completes the logo as an arc that highlights the connection between wildlife, the earth, and people in meeting the SDGs.

The general colors used for the logo are red, blue, and yellow to represent the Philippines as host country.

Also called the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the CMS is an intergovernmental treaty under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), providing a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats.#

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Published: 01 March 2017

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We, in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, welcome with much joy and hope in our hearts President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision for the Philippines to ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

As one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the Philippines cannot abandon its commitment in addressing the single greatest threat facing our planet. We are one with the world in tackling the threat of climate change.

By ratifying the Paris Agreement, we will be able to maximize our climate-adaptation and mitigation efforts to protect the Filipino people, among which include the Enhanced National Greening Program, Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program, solid waste management, pollution control management, to name a few.

There is also no doubt we will be able to fully transform our communities toward climate resiliency, and embracing the principle of sustainable integrated area development as the way forward to achieving a green economy.

The Paris Agreement will definitely bring a silver lining of hope to our sons and daughters—the Filipinos of the next generations—that they may continue to enjoy the country filled with bountiful natural resources and beautiful environment while having enough knowledge and wisdom to utilize them and be fully prepared for the “new normal” that is climate change. ###

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Published: 01 March 2017

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The Philippines once again demonstrated its strong commitment to the global fight against illegal wildlife trade after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) formally turned over on Monday its seized stockpile of rhinoceros horns to the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The turnover of the contraband -- estimated to be worth P74 million in the black market -- was done in simple rites at the BMB office inside the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC) in Quezon City. BMB Director Theresa Mundita Lim received the seized horns from the BOC, represented by its Environmental Protection Unit head Lt. Angelito Cruz.

Lim said the turnover of seized rhino horns to the BMB, the agency responsible for the implementation of the Philippine commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), was a reaffirmation of the country's resolve to end illegal wildlife trafficking and trade.

The Geneva-based CITES is an international treaty developed in 1973 to regulate commercial trade in certain wildlife species, including the critically endangered rhinoceros.

“We may not have rhinoceros in our country, but this does not mean we will allow others to use them and other such wildlife for unscrupulous gains and contribute to their extinction as a species,” Lim said.

Lim disclosed that the BMB would coordinate with the country of origin, Mozambique, for the possible return of the specimens.

Should the African state refuse to accept them, they would be disposed of properly or possibly destroyed, she added.

The horns were seized by the BOC in September 2012 at the Manila International Container Port. They had been declared as cashew nuts and shipped by Chistevas Import and Export from Maputo City, Mozambique.

The BMB had been coordinating with the BOC for the turnover of the specimens since their seizure. The process was put on hold as the BOC management underwent some changes.

The rhinoceros population is listed under Appendix I of the CITES, which means that its international trade and that of its by-products are strictly prohibited.

CITES is an international agreement between governments to ensure that the survival of wild animals and plants is not threatened by international trade. The BMB is the CITES Management Authority for terrestrial species in the Philippines.

Republic Act No. 9147, also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, designates the BMB’s Wildlife Rescue Center as depository of seized wildlife specimens, their derivatives or by-products.

It can be recalled that in June 2013, the DENR destroyed at least five tons of smuggled elephant tusks using a road roller, making the Philippines the first country in Asia to conduct physical destruction of massive ivory stockpile in support of global efforts to stamp out illegal wildlife trade.

The pulverized tusks were later on cremated in a government incinerator to ensure complete destruction, and the ashes were added as material in an elephant monument installed at the NAPWC.

As for the rhino horns, Lim said that the contraband’s country of origin suggests that the rhinos are African in species.

There are two African species – the white and black rhinos. Both have two horns. A subspecies of the white rhino, the northern white, is facing certain extinction as there are only five left in captivity and none in the wild.

The rhinoceros is the world’s second largest land mammal next to the elephant, and is ranked as one of the planet’s most endangered species.

This herbivore’s survival is threatened by extinction due to poaching for its horns, which, like the elephant, is a source of ivory. Some cultures also believe that its horn, when ground into dust, contains therapeutic properties.

Aside from the African species, other rhino species are Asian – the Sumatran, Indian, and Javan rhinos.

The two-horned Sumatran rhino, the smallest of the species, can be found in Indonesia and Malaysia. The single-horned Javan rhino can be found in Indonesia and Vietnam, while the Indian or great one-horned rhino is only found in India and Nepal. Sadly, the estimated population of the Sumatran and Javan species also indicate that they are facing extinction. #

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Published: 27 February 2017

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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has embarked on a comprehensive consultation and engagement with communities affected by the mining audit recently conducted by the agency.

The consultation kicks off in the Caraga region, where majority of mining operations ordered closed by the DENR are located.

In a special order she signed on February 20, DENR Secretary Gina Lopez authorized the conduct of simultaneous community consultation and engagement in the provinces of Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur on February 20-24.

Lopez said the exercise was meant to assist the communities and households affected by the mining audit, "particularly ensuring that they will be able to transition well from being mining workers or mining communities to an empowered social entrepreneur or a vibrant community enterprise, impelled by the principles of ecosystems integrity and social justice."

Lopez tasked Forest Management Bureau (FMB) Director Ricardo Calderon to head the DENR team that will conduct the consultation. Calderon will be assisted by DENR Caraga acting regional director Charlie Fabre and Director Nonito Tamayo.

Other members of the consultation team are personnel from the DENR central office, FMB, DENR-Caraga and consultants.

The team will be supervised by DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations Philip Camara and Assistant Secretary for Field Operations-Mindanao Marcial Amaro Jr.

The output of the community consultation and engagement will be presented during the plenary session with Cabinet officials and representatives of affected communities on February 25-26 in Butuan City.

On February 2, Lopez ordered the closure of 23 mining operations and suspension of 5 others found to have committed serious environmental violations. Fifteen of these mine operations are in the Caraga region.

Just last week, Lopez announced her plan to cancel 75 mineral production sharing agreements or MPSAs for mine sites within or near watershed areas. ###

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Published: 24 February 2017

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I have been told that there is a kitty of P50 million for every congressman that votes against me. This is not based on ANY evidence whatsoever, and should not implicate ANY congressman in the slightest way. It’s just talk.

I have met some congressmen and know of others, and my experience has been good – in fact, very good. I continue to hope that they will vote according to the highest principles of truth, service, and the common good – and wish them well.

I would also like to add that as of now there are no mining operations that have stopped because the process is they can go on appeal after receiving the notice of suspension or closure. There are NO jobs that have been lost because mining is seasonal, and as of now, operations are at a standstill because of the rains so there are no jobs to lose. And in the event that a closure order will take place, I am confident that with government’s help, we will be able to bring on a much more stable economy.

At the DENR, what we want is that the mining firms follow the laws pertaining to the protection of the environment for future generations. #

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Published: 22 February 2017

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