Colombian Embassies Organise Virtual Conversation On Biodiversity

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 (Bernama) -- As part of the World Environment Day which is annually commemorated on June 5th, the embassies of Colombia abroad join hands to organise a virtual conversation on biodiversity and the presentation of a Colombian bio-documentary titled ‘Tacarcuna’. For the first time, the embassies of Colombia in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea hosted the live conversation to address issues related to sustainability, as well as discussions on restoring and preserving the world biodiversity. The virtual conversation on Tuesday includes a panel discussion among experts. Dr Brigitte Baptiste, a renowned biologist, suggested that it is important to have a mutual understanding with local communities (indigenous people) to strengthen nature protection measures. “We are not part of other species, we need to acknowledge everything in the world. The pandemic COVID-19 makes us realise that we are part of the whole system and we must protect nature as well as educate ourselves to take care of the environment,” she said. Meanwhile, the director of ‘Tacarcuna’, Patricia Ayala, highlighted that the commitment of biodiversity conservation belongs to everyone and people should be welcoming different kinds of views, including from ancient culture and knowledge, as well as science and new technology. “Through the expedition, while filming the documentary, I saw life from a different perspective, the construction of knowledge from a different kind of view should be welcomed,” she said. At the end of the virtual discussion, both panellists agreed that it is essential to build trust between scientists and local communities (indigenous) to strengthen nature protection measures as well as for the benefit of medicine to humans. ‘Tacarcuna’ is a documentary regarding a mountain between the border of Colombia and Panama, which is one of the most poorly-known and threatened regions in the world. Colombia is listed as one of the world’s “megadiverse” countries, sustaining close to 10 per cent of the planet’s biodiversity. The South American country also ranks first in bird and orchid species’ diversity and second in terms of diversity of plants, butterflies, freshwater fish, and amphibians. -- BERNAMA