CASNR Dean joins int'l. conference on biodiversity, climate change

Dr. Rowena P. Varela, CASNR Dean, was one of the paper presenters during the International Conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change (ICBCC) held at the PICC in Manila last February 1-3, 2011.

Dr. Varela (shown in the photo), Project Leader of a CHED-funded research project, presented in the conference the status and initial findings of her on-going research project entitled ‘Aquatic Insects in the Lentic Region of Agusan Marsh’ (photo courtesy of Dr. Varela). The research project is under the CHED-funded research on Biodiversity Assessment and Construction of Philippine Biodiversity Database Program.

Also with her in the conference were Ms. Sheryl L. Paz, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Faculty, and Ms. Julie Rose S. Degamo, her Research Assistant. The conference was attended by foreign and local guests who are officers and researchers from government or non-governmental organizations that are experts or are deeply involved in the field of biodiversity and climate change.

The ICBCC was organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to provide a venue for information-sharing about biodiversity and climate change. It also aims to identify research gaps and conceptualize collaborative research undertakings on biodiversity and climate change; and identify strategies of mitigation and adaptation that includes education and advocacy. The conference was held with the theme “Conserving Biodiversity Amidst Climate Change”. It was collaborated with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), DIVERSITAS, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Committee on Climate Change (CCC), Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), and the Department of Science and Technology through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) and the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Resources Research and Development (PCAMRD).

At the end of the successful 3-day conference, the participants and organizers surely took the challenge of the keynote speaker, Senator Loren Legarda, to forge a network of cooperation to reverse the effects of climate change.