Saint Lucia celebrates World Wildlife Day, aims to explore Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation

Castries, Saint Lucia: The Forestry Department celebrated World Wildlife Day on Sunday under the theme, “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.”

The day is celebrated to spread awareness and take action to protect and secure the planet’s flora and fauna. Wildlife becomes an important part of human life as it sustains ecosystems and supports human livelihood and well-being.

The theme sheds light on the importance of technology in protecting precious wildlife. This is particularly important in the current global context, where biodiversity loss, climate change, and habitat destruction threaten the wildlife population across the globe.

Saint Lucia has an impressive count of endemic and indigenous flora and fauna, including 132 bird species (5 endemic and 13 endemic subspecies) and 13 indigenous reptiles (including 7 endemic and 5 endemic subspecies).

However, they are experiencing a constant threat of extinction due to fragmentation or degradation and habitat loss.

Further, the theme emphasized the innovative solutions that emerged from the digital revolution to tackle the major challenges, such as climate change, illegal trade, and habitat loss.

The authorities urged citizens to come together and support each other in spreading awareness of the importance of conserving the natural heritage. The Forestry Department appreciated the contributions that digital innovations made towards the protecting of wildlife and habitat preservation.

They will use real-time cameras to capture the presence of feral pigs in their forest reserves and private lands.

It is to be noted that the forestry department revealed that they would used satellite imagery, who will guide the forest inventories and habitat assessments after the natural disasters like hurricane Tomas.

The authorities seek to connect incorporate computer with the local communities and also introduced other digital tools to support their conservation mandate.

The department is collaborating with local organisations to develop a local wildlife documentary. The primary aim of this documentary is to raise awareness of wildlife species and their conservation.

The United Nations General Assembly also declared March 3 as a World Wildlife Day during their 68^th Session on December 20, 2013.