World Wildlife Day 2025: A Call to Mainstream Biodiversity Solutions

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Philippines, a biodiversity hotspot teeming with over 50,000 plant and animal species, is celebrating World Wildlife Day 2025 with a renewed commitment to conservation. This year’s theme, "Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and the Planet," underscores the crucial role of sustainable funding in preserving nature.

Philippine Wildlife on Polymer Banknotes

To highlight the nation’s rich biodiversity, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is rolling out a new series of polymer banknotes featuring the Palawan Peacock-Pheasant, Visayan Leopard Cat, Visayan Spotted Deer, and native flora like the Sampaguita and Lanutan. These lesser-known species represent the country’s unique wildlife, emphasizing the need to protect them.

The move to polymer bills also aligns with sustainability efforts, as these notes are more durable and environmentally friendly than paper-based currency.

A Digital Approach to Wildlife Awareness: Animal Town App

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), are leveraging digital technology to educate the public. The mobile game "Animal Town" lets players manage a virtual town filled with iconic Philippine animals.

Since its launch in March 2024, the app has garnered over 20,000 downloads and generated more than USD 400 for conservation efforts. This gamified approach ensures that wildlife protection remains engaging and accessible to a broader audience.

Biodiversity solutions for public sector efforts. A recently-held workshop in Bacolod City discussed the best ways to integrate biodiversity conservation and sustainable funding into LGU plans and projects. Numerous SGLG biodiversity workshops were conducted for local governments in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. (Local Government of Negros Occidental) 

Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Local Governance

Efforts to integrate biodiversity into government policies are gaining momentum. The Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), the gold standard for public service in the Philippines, has expanded its scope to include wetlands management, green spaces, and public parks. Soon, it may require local government units (LGUs) to hire permanent Environment and Natural Resources Officers, further strengthening biodiversity conservation at the grassroots level.

In Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, BIOFIN has supported the development of local biodiversity finance plans, helping LGUs assess their financial needs and secure funding for conservation projects. These plans have steadily increased local government budgets for biodiversity protection.

Private Sector Engagement in Biodiversity Finance

Recognizing the financial sector's role in conservation, BIOFIN is working with private institutions to enhance nature-related financial disclosures. By incorporating environmental considerations into financial decision-making, businesses can improve transparency and accountability while supporting conservation.

Additionally, BIOFIN is exploring biodiversity credits—certificates representing measurable, long-term biodiversity gains. These credits could be a game-changer, offering businesses an opportunity to invest in conservation while meeting sustainability goals.

Time for all types wildlife. Snakes and lizards get scant attention but are just as important to the ecosystem as larger animals like Tamaraw, wild pigs and deer. The Yellow-striped Slender Tree Skink (Lipinia pulchella) is a denizen of many of the country’s misty mountain forests. It is endemic and can only be found in the Philippines. This juvenile was photographed wild in the upland forests of Luzon. (Gregg Yan)

Is it a vine? As stoic and unmoving as the branches around it, this Temple Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus subannulatus) can easily be mistaken for a coiled vine. A venomous bite is offset by relatively calm disposition. This adult was photographed wild in the lowland forests of Palawan. (Gregg Yan)

Global Biodiversity Finance Efforts

BIOFIN operates in 41 countries, supported by major international entities like the Global Environment Facility, European Commission, and the governments of Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, and France. In the Philippines, BIOFIN is collaborating with the DENR to bridge the biodiversity financing gap by improving expenditure reports, increasing investments in protected areas, and integrating biodiversity considerations into national policies.

Over the past year, these efforts have led to:

A. Increased LGU budgets for conservation

B. Stronger synergy between local and national government initiatives

C. Advocacy for smarter environmental policies, such as improved protected area management and carbon emission reductions

The Road Ahead for Biodiversity Conservation

Despite these achievements, much work remains. BIOFIN’s Philippine operations are set to conclude in 2027, making it crucial to secure long-term funding solutions for conservation initiatives.

"There are so many ways to integrate biodiversity solutions into governance and private sector efforts," says Anabelle Plantilla, DENR-UNDP BIOFIN Philippines National Project Manager. "We must continue investing in people and the planet."

As the world celebrates World Wildlife Day 2025, the Philippines stands as a model for how nations can mainstream biodiversity solutions—ensuring that wildlife conservation is not just an environmental priority, but an economic and social one as well.

Cover photo: Lesser-known Philippine species. With its beautiful, Dimetrodon-like sail, the Philippine Sailfin Dragon (Hydrosaurus pustulatus) is among the country’s most beautiful and colorful lizards. World Wildlife Day is observed every 3 March to celebrate all types of wildlife – whether beautiful or ugly, cuddly or scaly. This sub-adult Sailfin was photographed wild in the marshes of Mindanao. (Gregg Yan)

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.