2022 BIODIVERSITY-RELATED EVENTS
Year of the Protected Areas (YOPA) in the Philippines
The 2022 International Day for Biological Diversity will mark the celebration of the “Year of the Protected Areas” (YOPA) in the Philippines”. Coinciding with the 90th anniversary of the establishment of protected areas in the country, the Philippines will celebrate the “Year of Protected Areas in the Philippines” this year. As part of the 2022 celebration, a month dedicated to protected areas will be identified and celebrated annually to ensure the sustainability of the campaign. The DENR recommends the month of June, which coincides with the celebration of the Environment Month.
June 2022
World Wetlands Day 2022
World Wetlands Day is observed every year on February 2. It is celebrated to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet. This day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, (Ramsar Convention) in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. “Wetlands Action for People and Nature” is the theme for World Wetlands Day 2022 highlighing the importance of concerted actions in conserving and ensuring the sustainable use of wetlands for human beings, the environment, and all living creatures that depend on it.
The Philippines currently have 7 RAMSAR sites.
World Wildlife Day (WWD) Celebration 2022
United Nations General Assembly Resolution16.1 designating 3 March as World Wildlife Day, in order to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora, and recognized the important role of CITES in ensuring that international trade does not threaten the survival of species.
This year’s theme seeks to draw attention on the state of the most critically endangered species of wild flora and fauna, their role in the ecosystem and the importance of conservation efforts to save them.
3 March 2022
International Day for Biological Diversity 2022
Globally, around 25% of all animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. This year the International Day for Biological Diversity is targeted towards raising awareness and building momentum on the importance of biodiversity as well as global issues on biodiversity loss.
This year’s theme ” “Building a shared future for all life.” builds on last year’s campaign “ We’re part of the solution and is a call for continuous action for biodiversity. It highlights the need to act #ForNature and achieve a future where people and biodiversity thrive.
May 22, 2022
2022 Month of the Ocean (MOO)
In the Philippines, the month of May each year was declared as “Month of the Ocean (MOO)” through the Presidential Proclamation No. 57 issued in 1999. This month was dedicated to highlighting the significance of sustainable management of Philippine marine resources in ensuring a better future for humanity.
This year’s theme is “Protect and Restore Ecosystems and Biodiversity” is inspired by the United Nation’s Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development – The Science We Need for the Ocean We Want (2021 to 2030).
May 2022
24th Philippine Eagle Week (2022)
Proclamation No. 79 s, 1999 was signed into law declaring June 4-10 of every year as the Philippine Eagle Week (PEW). This yearly celebration highlights the ecological importance and social significance of the Philippine Eagle. This year’s theme, “Kapayapaan at Kalayaan: Ang Agila at Mamamayan, May Kaugnayan,” reminds us of our responsibilities as caretakers of the land and the importance of the Philippine eagle and other wildlife in sustaining life on earth.
June 4-10, 2022
2022 Month of the Ocean
In the Philippines, the month of May each year was declared as “Month of the Ocean (MOO)” through the Presidential Proclamation No. 57 issued in 1999. This month was dedicated to highlighting the significance of sustainable management of Philippine marine resources in ensuring a better future for humanity.
This year’s theme is inspired by the United Nation’s Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development – The Science We Need for the Ocean We Want (2021 to 2030).
World Oceans Day 2022
World Oceans Day takes place annually on the 8th of June. The concept was originally proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit – UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This year’s United Nations World Oceans Day, 2022 will highlight the theme “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean”. It emphasize the need to work together to create a new balance with the ocean that no longer depletes its bounty but instead restores its vibrancy and brings it new life.
June 2022
Coral Triangle Day 2022
The Coral Triangle (CT) Day is an annual event that brings together individuals, organizations, and government offices every 9th of June on ocean conservation and the numerous ways to protect and conserve the Coral Triangle — the world’s epicenter of marine biodiversity and one of the 3 mega ecological complexes on our planet, together with the Congo Basin and the Amazon Rainforest (WWF).
This year’s theme is, “Sustaining the Coral Triangle Ecosystems through Blue Economy” highlighting innovative solutions/actions being undertaken at the regional, national, and local levels by organizations, institutions, groups, communities, and individuals who are already involved in effort towards the promotion and establishment of the blue economy and its initiatives.
June 9, 2022
2022 Tamaraw Month
Presidential Proclamation No. 273 declared October of every year as a “Special Month for the Conservation and Protection of the Tamaraw in Mindoro, Philippines”. The Proclamation urges all government offices, agencies, and instrumentalities in the whole Island of Mindoro to implement activities geared toward the conservation of the Tamaraw and its habitats, and continuously intensifiy the same by having the month of October of every year as a special occasion to commemorate the month of Tamaraw, the critically endangered species and “The Pride of all Filipinos”.
World Migratory Bird Day 2022
World Migratory Bird Day was initiated in 2006 by the Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Since then, WMBD has been celebrated annually and has been growing in popularity with more countries, organizations and people joining the campaign every year.
Philippine Environment Month 2022
June was declared Philippine Environment Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 237 signed on April 4, 1988, by President Corazon Aquino. The proclamation emphasizes the necessity to heighten environmental consciousness among Filipinos.
The celebration coincides with World Environment Day, which is marked on June 5 every year.
June 2022
2022 International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples.
Indigenous peoples, today, are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world, yet they are the best custodians of nature. More than a quarter of the global land area is traditionally owned, managed, used or occupied by indigenous peoples, and some of the world’s most biodiverse areas are found within their lands.
On 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided, in its resolution 49/214, that August 9 of every year shall be observed as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People to recognize their traditional knowledge as a key to understanding nature and to recognize that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and ways of life. This year’s theme is “The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge.”
August 9, 2022
International Coastal Clean-up Day 2022
International Coastal Cleanup Day was established by the Ocean Conservancy, an organization that work to help protect the ocean from the challenges it faces every year.
Held every third Saturday of September of each year, thousands and thousands of volunteers from around the globe participate, clearing tons of trash from coastlines, rivers and lakes and recording every piece of trash collected on the Ocean Trash Data Form.
International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) provides the opportunity to make a difference in a global movement by getting rid of trash/debris from our shorelines, rivers, lakes and waterways; raising environmental awareness; and providing information which will guide and influence governments, corporations and industries in developing smart solutions to the marine debris problem.
September 2022