World Wetland Day

Wet, Wet, Wet

By Chita Heap

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) joined in the celebration of World Wetlands Day on 2 February 2014. Their theme was Wetland and Agriculture: Partners for Growth. (Wet lands Day was adopted on February 2, 1999 with Proclamation No. 74.)

Seven staff of CENRO from Boracay were joined by their fifteen colleagues from CENRO Kalibo. Five members of PENRO also participated with the unexpected  members of Kool Earth together with the STI College Kalibo Travel Management students under the advisory of Ms. Megs S. Lunn.

The participants converged at the Shipyard Terminal of Dumaguit-Batan Ferries Corporation located in Barangay Ochando, New Washington, Aklan.

The message of PENRO Officer Mr. Ivene D. Reyes entitled ‘Wetland and Agriculture: Partners for Growths’ was delivered on his behalf by OIC, CENR Officer, Ms. Merlene B. Aborka. This was followed by an interesting presentation of Engineer Jonathan Salvador, proprietor of the Dumaguit-Batan Ferries Corporation on The Growing Concerns For the Environment.’ A very informative presentation.

Followed by the Kool Earth’s presentation on The Role of Kool Earth Incorporated as an Organization. The Vision, Mission and Goals were presented as follows after the audience was informed that Kool Earth is the environmental arm of the Aklan Medical Society. The Vision: Kool Earth foresees a cleaner, greener and healthier environment: Mission:  Kool Earth as an environmental advocate is committed to inform, collaborate, educate and encourage (ICEE) citizens to be pro-active for a healthier community. The goals ware very obvious looking at the mission of Kool Earth and that is to Inform, to collaborate, to educate and to encourage (ICEE).

A most interesting introduction to Understanding Wetlands and Basic Techniques in Mangrove Tree Planting was presented by Ms. Medelyn Quadra, CENRO Kalibo Protected Area Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management System (PAWCZM) staff. The audience learned the various kinds of wet lands, such as coastal wetlands, shallow lake and ponds, bogs, marshes and swamps and estuaries.

The audience also learned one way of conserving the wetlands, that is to stop pollution. After the forum the groups embarked on the ferry to take  them to the designated place to plant the mangrove propagules. Enjoy the photos readers. It was fun watching the participants getting wet but more fun knowing that there are still people like these who really are concern for their environment. And I may add that planting is definitely full of fun.

Last word came from the President and members of  Kool Earth: “It is not what we gather, but what we scatter that tells what kind of life we have lived!”/AR