The 25Th Philippine Biodiversity Symposium 25 Years of Collaborative Biodiversity Conservation in the Philippines: Global Relevance, Local Realities
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The 25th Philippine Biodiversity Symposium 25 Years of Collaborative Biodiversity Conservation in the Philippines: Global Relevance, Local Realities 05 - 09 April 2016 | Filipiniana Hotel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro The 25th Philippine Biodiversity Symposium 25 Years of Collaborative Biodiversity Conservation in the Philippines: Global Relevance, Local Realities 05 – 09 April 2016 The Filipiniana Hotel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro Message uch has been accomplished in the Philippines over the past 25 years for biodiversity research, Mmanagement and conservation. More than 270 new species of fauna and flora were discovered; national policies on wildlife management and conservation such as the Wildlife Act and the NIPAS Act were enacted into law; and a growing number of researchers and conservationists are working in this field — demonstrating local action and relevance to global conservation. The Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (BCSP) is one of the significant milestones in biodiversity research and conservation in the Philippines. From a small group of passionate wildlife biologists in 1992, the Society has been instrumental in bringing together different sectors and institutions through the Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium. In the last 25 years, we have seen junior researchers turn into mentors, students into conservation practitioners, and colleagues into global models for conservation, all of whom have used the Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium as a platform to network, to share new experience and studies, and to contribute to policy development and effect conservation management. I would like to salute the men and women who have been instrumental to the growth and continuity of the Society and biodiversity research and conservation in general. As we commemorate a momentous occasion for BCSP, it is a thrill to be on Mindoro Island (a first!) especially given the importance of Mindoro’s biodiversity: Mindoro has a number of notable endemic species such as the iconic Tamaraw, the Mindoro Bleeding-heart, and the Mindoro Striped- faced Fruit Bat; it was once a habitat of the Critically Endangered Philippine Crocodile; and ten sites within the island were identified as a conservation priority area, a key biodiversity area, and an important bird area. The organizers of this year’s symposium have been working tirelessly to bring together a special symposium to celebrate our 25th year. I would like to recognize the commitment that the team behind the 25th Philippine Biodiversity Symposium has shown — a true example that collaboration between and among organizations and individuals can make a big difference for conservation in the Philippines and in the region. I thank the City Government of Calapan and to the Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (MBCFI) for graciously hosting the 25th Philippine Biodiversity Symposium. I am also grateful to our partners and sponsors for supporting this endeavor. I hope that through this symposium, we leave the halls of our venue more inspired to pursue biodiversity research and conservation through the knowledge that we will gain, and the partnerships and network that we will build this week. With that, I wish everyone a fruitful time in Calapan City, and a wonderful 25th Philippine Biodiversity Symposium to all! Cynthia Adeline A. Layusa-Oliveros President Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Phiilppines th 2 25 Philippine Biodiversity Symposium Message Message s our country experiences rapid growth and urbanization, various species are now facing threats Ain an accelerated and dangerous rate, all because of non-natural environmental changes caused by human activities. Habitat loss, over exploitation, climate change and pollution are some of the threats we have created that continuously strains on the diversity of species on earth. While many people will continue to challenge our protection and conservation efforts, social evolution has always been neglected relative to nature conservation. And as the need for an effective, efficient and comprehensive conservation solutions arise, I encourage everyone to look at a social concept we call stewardship — a concept to which we provide and benefit from the various life on earth by understanding the relationships between all life forms. We all play important parts in the protection of these species and our efforts must be holistic and must also involve a continuous process of educating people, especially our youth, on how they can care and protect their environment. And like what Pope Francis stated in his encyclical “Laudato Si,” let us not plunder our earth’s resources because of short-sighted approaches to the economy, commerce and production, for the loss of these resources entails the loss of species which may constitute extremely important resources in the future. This year, Calapan City, as host of the 25th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium, expresses its deep support to the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines and all of its partner organizations, as we move forward beyond the 25 years of collaborative biodiversity conservation in the Philippines in our search for global relevance and local realities. Let us use this event as our avenue to educate people and advocate for our biodiversity’s conservation and protection. I urge you to think and act of conserving biodiversity as our social responsibility and when we move as ONE, we can make that change happen! ARNAN C. PANALIGAN City Mayor Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines 3 Message reetings to all guests and participants, welcome to Mindoro. Congratulations to those who worked Ghard for the success of this conference, it is indeed a great task and accomplishment. And we thank all the supporters, the local government, the partner agencies and the fund providers; you have made the plan come true. I remember in 1991, some young scientists convened and guided by Dr. Lawrence Heaney in Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental envisioned an organization that will take the lead for the protection and conservation of this country’s wildlife resources. It was then called and established as the Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines Inc. (WCSP). Today we celebrate the 25th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium and General Assembly of the WCSP which is now the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (BCSP). We are glad that WCSP-BSCP came into being as we now celebrate its successful 25 years of active leadership in significant decisions for the country’s biodiversity conservation. Then in 1997 Dr. William Oliver supported some of us here to stay nights in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro for our first extensive field work to discover the richness of the unique Mindoro Island. From that research, series of additional field studies were conducted, mostly headed by Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez; concurrently, I did the series of Environmental Education with the Department of Education, Region IV, with support from the Governors of both Occidental and Oriental Mindoro. Further onward, William partnered with the Shell Philippines Expedition (SPEX) and Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI), and Malampaya Joint Ventures Partners (MJVP) to establish the Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (MBCFI). It took us ten years to have the MBCFI registered but it was fast in its conservation programs because of the consistent support of SPEX, PSFI and MJVP. MBCFI has actively connected with the important sections of Mindoro and has current programs in Research, Mission, SEED and IEC (CARE) areas. Today, this celebration is a beautiful unification of those who were concerned with Philippine biodiversity conservation with special focus on Mindoro with our theme “25 Years of Collaborative Biodiversity Conservation in the Philippines: Global Relevance, Local Realities”. We do hope everyone of you will find each day of 5-9 April 2016 here in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro to be very productive and significant, especially in line with your own research endeavours. Leticia E. Afuang PhD President Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. th 4 25 Philippine Biodiversity Symposium Message Program 5 April 2016, Tuesday 09:00 Registration opens Filipiniana Hotel Ingress of poster exhibits Lobby 10:00 Press conference Conference Hall 13:30 – 14:45 Opening Program Conference Hall Master of Ceremonies: Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez, Director, Museum of Natural History, University of the Philippines-Los Baños Invocation, National Anthem and Calapan City Hymn City College of Calapan Choir Welcome Remarks Hon. Arnan C. Panaligan, Mayor, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro Opening Remarks Cynthia Adeline A. Layusa-Oliveros, President, Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines Message Facundo Roco, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. Message Mary Jane Maypa, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, DENR–Oriental Mindoro Cultural Presentation Teatrong Panlungsod Inspirational Message: 25 Years of the Society Blas R. Tabaranza, Jr., Board Emeritus Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines Symposium Artwork by Prime Premne: Commemorating 25 Years of Philippine Biodiversity Don Geoff E. Tabaranza, Program Manager, Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. Getting to Know You Apolinario B. Cariño, Vice President, Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines 14:45 – 15:00 Group photo Filipiniana Hotel 15:00