PH invests $17-M to stop trading of endangered animals

Rappler.com

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The government and several development partners are investing $17 million in a program that will put an end to poaching and trading of endangered species in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – The government and several development partners are investing $17 million on a program that will put an end to poaching and trading of endangered species in the Philippines.

The project aims to strengthen existing biodiversity conservation programs in 6 regions over a 6-year period.

The project will be financed by government funds and grants from organizations, broken down as follows:

  • $301,404 grant from the United Nations Development Program;
  • another $4.5 million from the UNDP-Global Environment Fund (GEF);
  • counterpart funding of $10.26 million from the national government; and
  • $1.96 million from non-government organizations and other partners.

The Partnerships for Biodiversity Conservation: Mainstreaming in Local Agricultural Landscapes/Biodiversity Partnerships Project (BPP) will cover the provinces of Cagayan, Quirino, Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, Capiz, Aklan, Negros Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte and Davao Oriental.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR-PAWB) said the project will help local government units (LGUs) plan and manage people’s economic activities in ways that meet biodiversity conservation goals.

PAWB Director and BPP National Project Director Theresa Mundita Lim said LGUs must address poaching and trading of endangered species because these would entail the loss of homes and livelihood of their constituents.

Among the concerns being raised in the consultations with LGUs are “encroaching issues in critical areas of the ecosystem” such as illegal logging, slash-and-burn farming, and the prevalence of informal settlers in waterways.

“That is why it is also important for us to be able to identify alternative livelihood for those who will be affected,” Lim said.

Institutions and agencies that will help in the project include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry and national NGOs such as the Leagues of Provinces, Cities and Municipalities.

Other agencies that will be involved in the implementation of the project are the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Philippine Commission on Women. – Rappler.com

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