Gov't to enhance biodiversity conservation: official

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has unveiled programs for this year that will further contribute to the protection and preservation of the country's biodiversity, a senior government official said here today.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said that the DENR's biodiversity team is undergoing structural reforms to meet the changing needs of the sector.

He also noted the threefold increase in the 2014 budget of the department's Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), formerly the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), compared to its budget last year.

The bureau is also currently going through manpower rationalization to ensure a more efficient and effective implementation of its programs, he added.

Apart from the new undertakings, Paje said that his office will continue to implement programs like the total log ban, the National Greening Program (NGP) and the new mining policy, which contribute to the protection and preservation of the nation's floral and fauna species and their habitats.

He said these programs, along with effective protected areas management, will help to reduce biodiversity loss and provides significant contributions to national and global conservation efforts.