WED calls for protection of nature, endangered species

The emerging coronavirus disease 2019 (CoViD-19) pandemic should have been anticipated due to the wildlife trade and habitat loss that cause “spillover event” where viruses, bacteria and parasites from animal “spillover” to other animals and humans, or also known as zoonosis.

Drastic damages on the habitat of wildlife species cause ecosystem imbalance that displaces species, and have become endangered.

Some endangered wildlife species move across the world potentially carrying diseases that can infect humans. These species and the ecosystem they lived in should have been protected and preserved to avoid harm they could cause to humans.

On June 5, the celebration of World Environment Day called on all humans to protect nature and conserve biodiversity, including endangered species.

The United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) celebrates the World Environment Day (WED) on the 5^th day of June to encourages worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment.

This year theme is, “Time for Nature,” focus on its role in providing essential infrastructure that supports life on Earth and human development.

Here in Western Visayas, there are five species that thrives in mountains and protected areas (PAs) in the region.

These are the Visayan warty pig (Sus veffucosus), Walden’s hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni), Negros bleeding heart pigeon (Gallicolumbia keayi), which are all considered as Critically Endangered (CR); Visayan spotted deer (Rusa alfredi) and Tarictic hornbill (Penelopides panini) which are considered Endangered (EN) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.

In this pandemic, nature is sending us a message:  to take care for ourselves we must take care for nature and all that dwells on it, especially the endangered species.

These species existence could indicate a thriving and healthy ecosystem thus every movement to save and protect these will create a positive impact in the environment.

Illegal poaching and wildlife trading should be stopped to conserve the species and activities such these have respective severe penalties and punishment.

“Nature sustains us all in order for us to live. But with exploitation, misuse and exceeding demand of supply of our resources, others were deprived and an ecological imbalance happens. This poses threat to our lives and that of the animals. We should do our part to flourish what’s left especially in this pandemic. Together we can heal as one,” said DENR 6 regional executive director Francisco E. Milla Jr. (DENR-6)