PH, France kick-off ‘Blue Talks’ to strengthen cooperation on marine conservation
The Embassy of France in the Philippines in partnership with Stratbase ADR Institute holds a forum titled “Strengthening Collaboration for Sustainable Ocean Biodiversity Conservation” at Manila House Private Club, Taguig City, on October 12, 2024. In photo: Ms. Jevon Imedechong Sato (Project Coordinator, Division of Protected Areas, Bureau of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment, Republic of Palau), Atty. Fretti Ganchoon (Senior State Counsel, Department of Justice), VADM Robert Patrimonio (Commander, Maritime Security Law Enforcement Command, Philippine Coast Guard), H.E. Marie Fontanel (Ambassador of France to the Philippines), Ms. Dana Dinsay (Chief of Staff, Stratbase Group), and Ms. Joyce Reyes (Deputy Executive Director for Strategic Engagements, Stratbase ADR Institute.
Key government officials and foreign experts on biodiversity recently gathered for the first of a series of biodiversity conferences or “Blue Talks” between the Philippines and France.
French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel explained that 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 towards 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 the Philippines.
The Embassy of France in the Philippines organized the first conference in partnership with the Stratbase ADR Institute.
Environment Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr, who is also supervising the Biodiversity Management Bureau, emphasized 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.
Stratbase ADR Institute President Dindo Manhit, for his part, reiterated that the Philippines must continue to work with like-minded states like France in protecting its marine environment for future generations.
“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,” Adobo said.
“Undoubtedly, the triple planetary crisis, biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution have interlinkages with, among others, the economy, food and water security, peace-making, human health, and well-being. Our cooperation with the Embassy of France and the Stratbase ADR Institute contributed efforts to mainstream environmental and biodiversity considerations into various sectors,” he added.
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