Phl bags prestigious award at UN Biodiversity Summit in India
Posted on October 23rd, 2012 under Beauty of the Philippines
The Philippines was bestowed the Silver Future Policy Award 2012 by the World Future Council in recognition of the exemplary Tubbataha Reefs Natural Act in a ceremony held in conjunction with the United Nations Biodiversity Summit yesterday at Hyderabad, India.
Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources accepted the award from Dr. Vithal Rajan, Indian writer and member of the World Future Council. The ceremony was convened by the World Future Council, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with support from the Okeanos Foundation.
In her laudatory speech, Dr. Naoko Ishii, CEO and chairperson of the GEF, praised the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act: “In 1999, the Global Environment Facility confirmed its support for the challenging effort to establish the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. Thirteen years later, I am very proud to present the Future Policy Award to the Government of the Philippines for the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act. This award recognizes the Philippines’ vision and tireless effort to make the Tubbataha Park an essential asset for local prosperity and globally significant biodiversity conservation.”
Lim proudly accepted the award on behalf of the Philippines. She said, “The Philippine Government conveys its appreciation to the World Future Council for recognizing the efforts in the implementation of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act. The award is symbolic of the Philippines’ commitment to attain the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. We wish to share the award with the international community as a call for the continuation of achievements that shape policies towards the future we want.”
The Gold Award was given to Palau for two outstanding marine policies, the Protected Areas Network Act, initiated in 2003, and the Shark Haven Act from 2009. Namibia also won silver for its Marine Resources Act from 2000.
In the ceremony the importance of healthy oceans and coasts for the well being of future generations was given emphasis by high profile speakers like Dr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, executive secretary of the Convention on CBD, who delivered the welcome address, Julia Marton-Lefèvre, director general of the International Union on the Conservation of Nature and Jakob von Uexkull, founder of the World Future Council and the Right Livelihood Award.
(Story courtesy of Victoria Asuncion S. Mendoza of Philippine Information Agency)