By Henrylito D. Tacio
When it comes to biodiversity and conservation, most people think of eastern Africa, the Amazonian rainforest or Madagascar.
But “on a per unit area basis, the Philippines probably harbors more diversity of life than any other country on the planet,” the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) said in its website.
Unfortunately, the Philippines is also considered as “one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.”
“This is because the Philippines continues to experience an alarming rate of destruction of these important resources brought about by overexploitation, deforestation, land degradation, climate change, and pollution, among others,” the BMB deplored.
The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) said the value of illegal wildlife trade (IWT) in the Philippines is estimated at $10 billion to $23 billion per year.
One international organization trying to stop IWT is TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce), also known as the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network. It is a global non-governmental organization monitoring the trade in wild plants and animals.
While working against unsustainable IWT, TRAFFIC also focuses on preserving biodiversity and sustainable legal wildlife trade. Originally, TRAFFIC was created in 1976 as a specialist group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Later on, it evolved into a strategic alliance of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the IUCN.
Recently, TRAFFIC introduced the Wildlife Sentinel Award (WiSe) under the project Taking Charge: Strengthening Criminal Justice Response to Wildlife Crime, which is supported by a grant from the United States Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
Early this month, the winners were finally named during a ceremony held in Quezon City. “The first award of its kind in the country, WiSe recognizes the exemplary contributions of law enforcement officers who have gone above and beyond in their duties,” the press statement said. In addition, “the award also encourages continued progress and commitment towards stamping out wildlife crime.”
The winners were chosen from among the dozens of law enforcement individuals, groups and units who contributed to thousands of wildlife seizures that occurred in 2023 in the Philippines, through groundbreaking and persistent investigations, and new approaches and even entirely new enforcement units to address pressing areas of wildlife crime.
“The achievements we celebrate today are reflections of what’s possible when we all work together,” said Quezon City Mayor Josefina Belmonte in her opening address at the awards ceremony.
“To all those working tirelessly to protect our natural world, your dedication inspires us all, reminding us that while the challenges are great, our collective will to protect and preserve is even greater,” she told the audience of about one hundred law enforcement officers gathered for the ceremony.
The winners received a medal carrying a stylized symbol of the award and icon of the country’s rich biodiversity, the Philippine Pangolin; one among several endemic and Critically Endangered species threatened by illegal trade.
There were five categories. The individual winner of the Innovation Category was PCOL Fernando Lacson Cunanan Jr., of the Legislative Affairs Center, Directorate for Plans, Philippine National Police (PNP), Camp Rafael Crame at Quezon City.
“Our Cyber Patrol Units aim to disrupt the sophisticated networks of illegal wildlife traders hiding on the web,” Lacson said in his acceptance speech. “These criminals exploit the internet to evade justice making it imperative for us to harness the same tools they use in order for us to protect our natural heritage.”
The unit winner of the Impact Category was Philippine National Police – Maritime Group (PNP-MG), which was represented by Brigadier General Jonathan Cabal, the director of PNP-MG.
In accepting the award, Cabal said, “This award is a reminder that while we have made progress there is still much work to be done to protect our maritime environment and ensure the safety of our waters. I am more motivated than ever to continue our efforts and to inspire others to join us in this difficult mission.”
PMAJ Leoncio P. Alcantara Jr.,was named as individual winner of the Leadership Category. He is the Station Chief of the Olongapo City Maritime Police Station – Regional Maritime Unit 3 (RMU 3), Philippine National Police – Maritime Group (PNP-MG).
“As we reflect on this accomplishment it is clear that while we have made significant progress our work is far from finished,” Alcantara said in his acceptance speech. “The achievements we celebrate today give us hope and remind us of what is possible when we unite for a common cause.”
The unit winner for Collaboration Category went to the Wildlife Regulation Section of the Wildlife Resources Divisionof the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The award was received by Nemalie Lita, the Chief of Wildlife Regulation Section.
“Thank you to Wise for recognizing our efforts to do all this capacity building work to strengthen enforcement,” said Lita, on behalf of the group. “We will continue to collaborate with our partners to have more capacity building to help our enforcement officers to strengthen their capacity.”
Jewel De Jesus Padullon, a forest ranger of the Enforcement Division of the regional office of DENR in Region XIII, was named as individual winner of the Integrity Category.
“Passion and commitment have been the driving force behind our success and continue to inspire us every day,” declared Padullon in his acceptance speech. “This award is a tribute to the collective effort of everyone dedicated to wildlife conservation. Let us move forward with renewed vigor knowing that every challenge overcomes, brings us closer to a world where our natural world thrives in harmony.”
“The victories celebrated by the award brought the critical importance of enforcement against wildlife crime and the serious challenges facing those at the frontline into sharper focus,” the press statement said.
“We saw so many inspiring achievements this past year from all the nominees. Many have years, even decades of experience, in overcoming complicated and sometimes dangerous situations, in the name of protecting our shared natural heritage,” commented Kanitha Krishnasamy, TRAFFIC Director for Southeast Asia.
“Some of them took years before they saw success. So, this shout out is to everyone: the winners, the nominees, and many other unsung heroes who go out every day to protect wildlife and nature,” added Krishnasamy, who was one of the panel of judges who selected the winners.
The other members of the board of judges were Imelda V. Abaño, the founding president of Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists, Inc.; Allison Lajeskie, program officer of the Washington, D.C.-based Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, executive director of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity; and Atty. Maria Paz Luna, an environmental lawyer and former DENR undersecretary. – ###
