Los Baños, Laguna – Over 400 DENR personnel from various bureaus, regional offices, and attached agencies attended the first-ever Sylvatalks: A Forum on Using Science-Based Research results in Policy and Decision-Making organized by the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau on June 17, 2022, via Zoom and Facebook Live.
ERDB Director Maria Lourdes G. Ferrer, CESO III, officially welcomed the participants and acknowledged the discussants, organizing committee, participants, and presenters of the event. She highlighted the importance of Sylvatrop as DENR’s official technical journal and the main vehicle for disseminating science-based research information on ecosystems. In her message, she emphasized using “research breakthroughs published in Sylvatrop and recommendations in the study as possible inputs in DENR’s policy and decision-making process”.
The DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Atty. Jonas R. Leones, CESO I, also acknowledged the relevance of the event towards the fulfillment of the mandates of the Department. “Sylvatalks aims to enhance our technical knowledge which is useful to the work on the ground, influencing decision-making and policy formulation, amendment and enforcement for the protection and sustainable use of our environment.” Atty. Leones said in his inspirational message.
Mr. Jon Alfonso P. Horvidalla, Senior Science Research Specialist at the ERDB – Coastal Resources and Ecotourism Research, Development, and Extension Center (CRERDEC) presented the topic on the status of microplastics in Boracay Island. Horvidalla recommended conducting the same study on the seafloor, studying the effects of microplastics on marine organisms, and making an inventory of land-source outputs.
Mr. Reynaldo Lanuza, Supervising Science Research Specialist of CRERDEC, also shared his study on the integration of vulnerability assessment (VA) in carrying capacity (CarCap) computations in Bilar, Bohol. Lanuza suggested expediting the application of VA and CarCap for protected areas, the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plan.
Lastly, Ms. Minda S. Odsey, Center Head of ERDB – Agroforestry Research, Development, and Extension Center (ARDEC), delivered her findings on estimating water user fees in Busol Forest Reserve in Baguio City. Results revealed that households were willing to pay PhP 20.00 to P 56.00 per month for improved management of watersheds. Odsey then recommended strengthening the use of valuation or the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) as the basis for local environmental user’s fees and to maintain or improve functions of ecosystem services and protected area management.
Three discussants – Engr. Arcely Viernes from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Former ERDB Assistant Director Dr. Antonio Daño, and Mr. Alejandrino R. Sibucao, Jr. from the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) – shared their insights about the presentations, respectively. As experts in their respective fields, they also shared possible uses of the studies presented in policy formulation and decision-making among the participants.
In her closing message, For. Mayumi Quintos-Natividad, Editor-in-Chief and Chair of the Sylvatrop Editorial Board (SEB), emphasized Sylvatrop as a product of DENR and its attached agencies and its importance in communicating results published in the journal to formulate and improve policies using a science-based approach. /Allysa Marie C. Federio, TTD
For further information, you may contact:
MARIA LOURDES G. FERRER, CESO III
Director
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
Email Address: erdb@denr.gov.ph
Telephone Number: (049) 536-2269
FOR. MAYUMI QUINTOS-NATIVIDAD
Editor-in-Chief and Chair, Sylvatrop Editorial Board
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
Email Address: mayumiquintos@gmail.com
JUAN B. EBORA
Chief, Technology Transfer Division
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
Email Address: erdbtechnotransfer@gmail.com
Telephone Number: 049-536-2269 local 222
For media inquiries, you may contact:
ALLYSA MARIE C. FEDERIO
Media Production Specialist II
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
Email Address: amcfederio@gmail.com
Telephone Number: 049-536-2269 local 224
Mobile Number: 0966-557-9901
