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June 5 is World Environment Day.
The United Nations established Environment Day in 1972 to raise awareness on issues such as global warming, marine pollution, and wildlife crimes.
The first ever World Environment Day was celebrated on June 5, 1974 with the theme "Only One Earth."
This year's theme is "Bio Diversity." The Philippines is considered as one of only 18 "Mega Diverse" countries in the world with wildlife species that are found nowhere else in the world.
According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Philippines has two-thirds of the earth's biodiversity, meaning that 70-80 percent of all the animal and plant species around the world can be found in the country.
Unfortunately, according to a World Bank Report, illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is rampant in the Philippines, estimating the value of IWT in the country at P50 billion.
Among the most traded species are critically endangered animals such as the Philippine forest turtle, Hawksbill turtle, and the Philippine cockatoo.
ART CHALLENGE: Help raise awareness on Philippine endangered animals by posting your artworks or photos of them on your social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).
See a list of the animals that are being traded illegally in this World Bank Report. Do further research on the animals by visiting the websites of environment organizations.
