SEAFDEC/AQD joins Iloilo biodiversity week

By Development Communication Section

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Iloilo Province held the first Iloilo Biodiversity and Watershed Week from December 1 to 3, 2014. The three-day event gathered the different watershed councils, national government agencies, the academe, non-government organizations and people organizations to display at the provincial capitol grounds their unique watershed and biodiversity features through posters and live flora or fauna.

This was undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 – Biodiversity Partnerships Project, University of the Philippines Visayas, West Visayas State University’s College of Agriculture and Forestry and the FishWorld Museum of SEAFDEC/AQD.

The event highlighted and recognized the importance of conservation and protection of local biodiversity and included series of lectures on the concepts of biodiversity and the status of biodiversity from the ridge to the reef in Iloilo Province. In addition, there was a biodiversity quiz, on-the-spot poster making and lantern-making contests. The indigenous peoples of Panay were also there to share their ethno knowledge on pharmacology, veterinary, healing potions, indigenous food and farming techniques. The general public and specially students were there and were given the opportunity to learn and appreciate the value of biodiversity.