The Philippines and France continued to strengthen cooperation in ensuring marine conservation.
On Wednesday, key Philippine government officials and local and foreign experts on biodiversity gathered together for the first of a series of biodiversity conferences or Blue Talks between Manila and Paris.
The conference, organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute in partnership with the Embassy of France in the Philippines, aims to strengthen cooperation between the Philippines and France on biodiversity conservation.
French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said the Blue Talk conference is part of the Blue Nations initiative, a holistic program of bilateral cooperation between the France and Philippines in the perspective of working together as two maritime nations toward the next United Nations Ocean Conference(UNOC), which will take place in France in June 2025.
“It was very important to start this cycle of five conferences with a discussion on biodiversity, because this subject will be at the core center of the next UNOC in France… Discussions on marine biodiversity and biodiversity conservation is also very important because the Philippines, an archipelagic state made up of more than 7,100 islands, maintains an existential link with the ocean,” Fontanel said.
“The purpose of this conference is to foster the dialogue between all stakeholders in order to identify successful ways and ideas to help the policymakers and every one of us, better protect and preserve the biodiversity that we all depend on,” she added.
Fontanel said the second Blue Talk conference will take place on November 21 and will explore the possibility of having a maritime dialogue between France and Philippines.
Stratbase ADR Institute President Dindo Manhit noted the importance of working with like-minded states like France in protecting the Philippine marine environment for future generations.
“The development of a blue economy is a crucial step towards sustainable growth, and today’s collaboration with the Embassy of France offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnerships with like-minded nations. France, a staunch advocate for ocean and marine biodiversity protection, serves as a key ally in this endeavor,” Manhit said.
“This conference has underscored the many benefits of sustainable ocean use and conservation, from ensuring food security to boosting livelihoods, trade, and connectivity. It is essential that we give this industry the attention it deserves given the increasing threats posed by climate change,” he added.
Environment Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr., who is also supervising the Biodiversity Management Bureau, underscored the importance of collaborations between the Philippines and France in enhancing political, scientific, and civic engagement in environment protection, climate action, blue economy, and maritime security.
“We need to ensure the sustainability not only of our use of marine biodiversity, but also of our conservation, restoration, and regeneration efforts. We can only do this through cooperation. Indeed, this event is the fruit of the remarkable partnership between the Embassy of France in the Philippines and the Stratbase ADR Institute,” Adobo said.
