SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — La Union’s rich biodiversity and sustainability initiatives took center stage through the launching of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Love Biodiversity Campaign in the towns of Bauang and Naguilian on July 15.
The launch highlighted the Bakawan Eco-Tourism Park in Bauang and the Taratara Forest in Naguilian, both sporting lush greeneries due to public and private efforts to protect both sites.
DOT Assistant Secretary Giselle Marie R. Quisimbing said that La Union, as well as the rich flora and fauna of the Philippines as a whole, not only define the country’s rich heritage but also serve as the lifeblood for the ecosystem and communities.
“As proponents of sustainable tourism, it is in our best interest to love, protect, and preserve our rich biodiversity. La Union’s diverse flora, fauna, landscapes, and marine environments serve as a visual reminder of our unique biodiversity,” Quisimbing said.
Quisimbing added that the country is one of only 18 countries in the world that is considered mega-biodiverse, sporting around 70 to 80 percent of the world’s animal and plant species and about two-thirds of the earth’s biodiversity.
DOT-1 Regional Director Joseph Francisco R. Ortega remarked on the crucial role that each has to play to preserve La Union’s rich natural environment for the foreseeable future.
“Every one of us has a role in the protection and management of our eco-tourism sites. We need to work hand-in-hand with local government units for the accreditation of tourist guides while we in the DOT shall provide all the funds for the training,” Ortega said.
The launching included the unveiling of murals by local artists depicting La Union’s sustainability efforts and rich biodiversity in support of the promotion of eco-tourism sites,
A tree planting activity was also held at the Bakawan Eco-Tourism Park to support the natural ecosystem in the area while local workers at the Taratara Forest showcased their different paper and bamboo products. (MJTAB/CCMT, PIA La Union)
