By Brian Jules Campued
To foster love for Philippine wildlife and forests, the government and environmentalists have developed a new way to increase public awareness as well as generate financial support for the conservation of the country’s biodiversity—through a mobile game.
Launched on March 8, the “Animal Town: Cute City Builder” simulation game allows the player to become a recruit in a team of biodiversity advocates to help a group of talking animals manage a town to protect biodiversity.
App Developer Lord Gosingtian said players can collect resources, develop various characters, and complete quests in Animal Town.
“The game also serves as an educational tool to learn about the challenges and solutions to protect Philippine biodiversity,” Gosingtian added.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran expressed hope that Animal Town will inspire young gamers to learn about Philippine wildlife and “do better things for a greener and bluer planet.”
Animal Town was developed by the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the UNDP, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB), Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP), ThinkBIT Solutions, Inc., and supported by the government of the United Kingdom.
According to Annabelle Plantilla, country manager of DENR-UNDP BIOFIN Philippines, the mobile app will also test whether free-to-play games can serve as a source for conservation funds.
“There are 46 million registered mobile app users in the Philippines, so even a tiny percentage of paying gamers can do a lot to support our country’s conservation initiatives,” DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said.
The funds that will be collected from the mobile games will be managed by FFP, while DENR-BMB will identify the programs to be supported in accordance with the implementation of the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan including reforestation projects and wildlife protection efforts.
FFP Executive Director Atty. Jose Andres Canivel stressed that they will ensure proper utilization of the revenue, adding that the fund will be directed towards conservation of the Philippines’ natural resources.
“We also commit to maintain transparency in reporting the utilization of the funds to our valued players and partners,” Canivel said. – avds