The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) will be joining billions of people across the globe in celebrating World Wildlife Day 2016 on March 3 under the theme, “The future of wildlife is in our hands.”
The PCSD is a multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary body, which under the law, is charged with the governance, implementation and policy direction of the Strategic Environment Plan (SEP) law, or Republic Act 7611, that only carries powerful environment responsibility over Palawan. It is also mandated to enforce RA 9147 or the Wildlife Resources and Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 in the province.
Through its technical implementing arm, the PCSD Staff (PCSDS), in partnership with the JCIP-Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc., will be spearheading the 1st Wildlife Kiddie Summit, with participants coming from Tagburos Elementary School, at the Palawan Sustainable Development Training Institute (PSDTI) in Bgy. Irawan, Puerto Princesa City.
With the theme: “May Forever ang Pawikan kung Ating Pangangalagaan,” the summit aims to familiarize the youth about Palawan’s efforts in marine turtle conservation and also to forge partnership approaches where the potentials of Palaweño youth will be maximized towards Palawan sustainable development, according to Charlene L. Chiu, 2016 LO President of JCIP-Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc.
The PCSDS will also expand its Kiddie Wildlife Savers’ Club, an organization of children ages 6-12 who are willing to learn and participate in the various promotional and visibility activities aimed at saving Palawan wildlife in particular and the Palawan environment in general, towards a healthy world.
“We believe that the participation of everyone, especially the younger generation, is ensuring the future of wildlife and their habitats,” said PCSDS Executive Director Nelson P. Devanadera.
In connection, the staff from the PCSDS ECAN Education and Extension Division will be distributing club registration forms in elementary schools within the city and also at the three PCSDS District Management Offices across the province.
On the same day, the PCSDS will also sign memorandum of agreements, for the co-management of marine turtle conservation, with the Arena Island Marine Turtle Sanctuary Resort of Narra town, Kaliksi Island Resort of Roxas town and Candis 3 Marketing Cooperative of Bgy. Bacungan this city.
World Wildlife Day marks the adoption on March 3, 1973 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international treaty aimed at ensuring that global trade does not threaten the survival of wild animals and plants. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 20, 2013 decided to proclaim as such to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.
“The world’s wildlife, whether charismatic or lesser known, is facing many challenges. The biggest threats to wildlife are habitat loss as well as overgrazing, farming and development. Poaching and trafficking in wildlife driven by transnational organized crime groups pose the most immediate threat to many iconic species,” according to UN official event website.