Twenty young and talented writers, artists, and photographers representing ASEAN member states featured the ASEAN Heritage Parks in a three-dimensional (3D) online exhibition supported by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), Germany, and the European Union.
The artists were selected by the ACB to be part of the Young ASEAN Storytellers (YAS) sub-programme of the ACB-EU ASEAN Youth Biodiversity Programme (AYBP) to tell stories about the ASEAN Heritage Parks using various media and tools such as photography, film, painting, weaving, audio tracks, podcasts, long-form narratives, poetry, and visual performance.
Ten of the 20 storytellers participated in the ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes (ABH) Forum in Manila the Philippines recently, where they presented their works among the ABH and communication students from the Philippines.
“To the YAS who are here, I have equal respect for your presence. Conservation stories woven in a skillful way through photography, writing, public speaking, videography, or social media reels are powerful tools to promote the natural and cultural heritage of our region.
“You have powerful platforms that can raise awareness and change the course of action of various audiences to safeguard nature,” said Department of Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects and Director of the Bureau of Biodiversity Management Bureau Marcial Amaro Jr.
“ASEAN youth – those aged 15 to 35 – account for more than 33 per cent of the region’s population. These empowered young people are drivers of positive change–they use their voices and platforms to advocate gender equality, human rights, and environmental protection,” said Executive Director of the ACB Dr Theresa Mundita S Lim in her message at the opening ceremony of the forum.
She highlighted the ACB’s recognition of the youth’s vital role in creating a resilient and sustainable future for all, in which one of the ways is by using their talents and skills in communication and technology for biodiversity conservation.
“We aim to encourage the young communicators, storytellers, content creators, journalists, and creative writers to help send the message that everyone can become biodiversity champions,” Dr Lim said.
Celine Murillo, the YAS from the Philippines, said that the ABH forum was an enriching experience to share their stories and interact and learn from the ABH and the communication student participants.
“From the oceans to the mountains, from fungi to megafauna, our lives depend on biodiversity. We are not separate from nature, and it is important to advocate for it because that means advocating for our own survival.
“This is why I encourage future communicators to promote and mainstream biodiversity,” Murillo said.
“The YAS are here to amplify the biodiversity agenda of the region, from helping promote ASEAN Heritage Parks in our countries to imparting our knowledge and experiences to future storytellers, so I really hope the ACB will further utilise this group of amazing creatives!” Murillo added.
