Professional, amateur and student photographers and photo hobbyists have until September 6, 2009 to submit their photo entries for the first ASEAN-wide photo contest on biodiversity with the theme, Zooming in on Biodiversity.

Biodiversity – the source of the air we breathe, the food we eat, the medicine that cures – is confronted with a host of threats. Man’s wasteful and inefficient consumption patterns brought about by modern development have posed dangers today than any other time in the history of mankind.

The photo contest underscores the urgent need to make biodiversity known to people all over the ASEAN to show the imperative of addressing the escalating problems on biological diversity. Depicting biodiversity in all its facets will hopefully gain awareness and support for its sustainability.

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity together with the ASEAN member states, the European Commission and the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication will provide a total of US$7,700 cash prizes for the winners.