If there is a real-life version of Eliza Thornberry in the Philippines, it will be Marivic G. Pajaro. (Eliza Thornberry is a cartoon character who loves animals.) Ms. Pajaro has the same passion for nature and the environment.
A member of the Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources (Haribon), Ms. Pajaro is the country’s national coordinator for Project Seahorse. Project Seahorse is an international organization whose main vision is to protect and conserve the world’s coastal marine ecosystems. As national coordinator, Ms. Pajaro is in charge of the following programs: managing fisheries and adjusting supply by initiating projects such as community-based conservation in fishing villages, a regional coastal resources management program, and a national initiative for seahorses; and educations and dissemination of information involves giving presentations, publishing books and reports, as well as managing high school scholarships.
At present, Ms. Pajaro is pursuing her doctorate degree at the Department of Resources Management and Environmental Studies at the University of British Columbia Fisheries Center. The focus of her study is on the biological, social, and economic indicators of success in community-managed marine protected areas.
Marivic Pajaro obtained her baccalaureate degree from the University of the Philippines, Los Banos. She majored in Zoology and published several papers, including “Status of marine protected areas in the Philippines: better management of coral reefs and the coastal areas in the tropics”, “Using education to stop destructive fishing practices: a partial success in several communities” (Kumarian Press, 1994), and “Alternatives to cyanide use in aquarium fish collection: a community based approach” (Sea Wind, 1992).
Sources
►The Project Seahorse Team, http://seahorse.fisheries.ubc.ca/team.html
►Marivic Pajaro, www/fisheries.ubc.ca/students/mpajaro/
►Haribon Foundation, htpp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haribon_Foundatin
