World Environment Day 2010 celebrates year of biodiversity

'How much do you care about your environment?' was the label of WWF's Public Opinion Textile, on which His Excellency Dr Mok Mareth, Senior Minister of Environment, wrote an inspiring environmental message as the Ministry celebrated the World Environment Day (WED) with participations from other government agencies, many NGOs, as well as monks, students, journalists and companies. The ceremony itself was attended by more than a thousand of people, while 40 exhibition booths of 'green promotion' were open to general public from 31 May to 1 June in Phnom Penh.

After speeches and the cutting of red-ribbon, participants visited all exhibition booths one by one. WWF staff welcomed His Excellency Senior Minister to their exhibition where colourful WED posters and other displayed information materials brought to public's attention the message about threats to Cambodia's wild animals and plants.

"The event is a good opportunity to raise public awareness about problems Cambodian wildlife are facing such as habitat loss and degradation, illegal hunting and trade, unsustainable use of forest resources, as well as climate change," said Ms Michelle Owen, WWF Conservation Programme Manager, adding that illegal logging and habitat conversion remain serious threats putting pressure on Cambodia's natural resources.

Coordinating the WWF's exhibition during the event, Mrs Kim Thida Kallianey, Communications Officer, said that to the objecitve was to bring the idea of conserving the environment closer to the public with activites like note-writing about the environment on white textile and cutting the shapes of many endangered animals including tiger, banteng, green peafowl, elephant from cardboard.

"The idea is also to get the public to show their love for wild animals and express how much they care for the environment and Cambodia's natural resources," she said.

Ongoing screening of documentary films about wildlife and activities related to WWF conservation work in Mondulkiri's Eastern Plains Landscape and Mekong drew attention from visitors, some were tourists.

According to Mr Arnulf Koehncke, Volunteer with WWF's Communications Unit, visitors spent 15-20 minutes to watch films, ask questions about WWF work in Cambodia or learn from information posters and brochures, cut-out animal papers or write something before they left to visit other booths.

"I was so excited to see many participants used the opportunity provided by WWF to write their hopes and concerns about the environment."

With singing and comedy performances present in the evening, many more people estimated to be around over 500 came between 4 and 9pm.

As part of this year WED programme, the Ministry of Environment also organised a dialogue on responses to climate change and education on sustainable development. This event brought together representatives of the Cambodian government, local and international NGOs such as WWF, UNDP, UNESCO and SCW.

These festivities were part of the global World Environment Day initiated by the United Nations Environment Programme. World Environment Day has been celebrated since 1972 by the UN to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and encourage political attention and action.

For more details, email to asnarith.tep@wwfgreatermekong.org