OECS Celebrates International Day for Biological Diversity

“Everything in life is connected. Life is biodiversity. Even the grass and the soil beneath your feet here today are teeming with life.”

OECS Celebrates International Day for Biological Diversity

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, in collaboration with the Government of Saint Lucia’s Ministries of Sustainable Development, Education, Fisheries and Forestry, and with the support of other partners and sponsors, celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2019 under the theme “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health.”

The event was marked with an all day Health and Food Fair at the Provost Park, Morne Fortune in Saint Lucia which featured local entrepreneurs in the food and health sector, health checks, fitness sessions and traditional herbalists.

In an opening ceremony to mark the start of the day’s activities, OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules, speaking directly to students present, explained the importance of biodiversity and the need to value our diverse resources in the Caribbean.

Dr. Jules implored the students to visit the exhibitions on display to enrich their knowledge and spark their interest in the region’s flora and fauna.

Biodiversity includes all of the plants, animals and microorganisms around us, the places where they live, and the products which can be made from them. It supports clean water sources, supplies healthy soils for food production, provides medicines to prevent diseases and maintain good health, and forms the basis for livelihoods such as farming and fishing. Sustaining biodiversity is crucial for reducing hunger, poverty, illness and vulnerability.

Mrs. Silka Tobias, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Department of Sustainable Development, emphasised Saint Lucia’s commitment to protecting and preserving the island’s rich biodiversity.

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