Rodrigo U. Fuentes, Executive Director ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity 04 June 2010
Save Plant and Animal Species. Save Our Planet. Save Our Future.
Scientists estimate that there are between five to 100 million plant and animal species sharing this planet with us. Thus far, only about two million of these species have been identified. But did you know that 17,291 of these plants and animals are threatened with extinction? In the ASEAN region alone, 2,517 out of 8,613 or 30 percent of species assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature are threatened. Once these species go extinct, we will never see them again for extinction is irreversible.
Rodrigo U. Fuentes, Executive Director ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity 04 June 2010
Save Plant and Animal Species. Save Our Planet. Save Our Future.
Scientists estimate that there are between five to 100 million plant and animal species sharing this planet with us. Thus far, only about two million of these species have been identified. But did you know that 17,291 of these plants and animals are threatened with extinction? In the ASEAN region alone, 2,517 out of 8,613 or 30 percent of species assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature are threatened. Once these species go extinct, we will never see them again for extinction is irreversible.
Message from Mr. Rodrigo U. Fuentes Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
The ten Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), through the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity join the world in celebrating the International Day of Biodiversity on May 22nd.
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD WATER DAY 2010
Rodrigo U. Fuentes, Executive Director ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity 22 March 2010
Conserve water, conserve biodiversity
Water is life. But did you know that waterborne diseases are causing the death of more than 1.5 million children every year? Statistics from the United Nations are indeed alarming: Two million tons of sewage and other effluents are draining into the world’s waters every day. In developing countries, 70 percent of industrial wastes are dumped untreated into waters where they pollute the usable water supply. More than 894 million people do not have access to safe freshwater.
Rivers, swamps, marshes, lagoons, deltas, and bogs – they are collectively known as wetlands. We see them yet we fail to recognize their value. Many of us do not realize the fact that wetlands are important ecosystems that support vital ecological functions, and provide valuable products and services for human survival.
Wetlands provide us with water and fish. As one of the most biologically productive natural ecosystems comparable to coral reefs, wetlands serve as habitat for plants and animals including many endangered or threatened species. Mangroves, freshwater turtles, waterbirds, crabs, monitor lizards, river dolphins, lobsters, and crocodiles are among the many species that thrive in these habitats.
Press Statements and Speeches
