A round table discussion on coastal ecosystems rehabilitation and management is to be hosted by OML Center, in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Assistance on Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) and its parters.

This round table discussion will bring together all stakeholders involved in coastal ecosystems rehabilitation and management in Typhoon Yolanda-affected areas. This will provide a venue to present the progress of rehabilitation programs and key lessons learned and provide an overview of the guidelines used by several key actors working on the ground. This shall be an avenue on finding a common ground where the government, academe, research institutions and civil society organizations can work hand-in-hand. The framework of the discussion revolves around the guiding principles as presented by OPARR that is grounded by science. The framework explores options for the mangrove rehabilitation implementers and other stakeholders as to where they can collaborate.

The discussions aim to: (1) Provide a venue for discussion between and among government agencies and academe/research/civil society working on mangrove/coastal rehabilitation on basic and common guiding principles, (2) Identify points of integration and complementation on the proposed principles for mangrove/coastal ecosystem rehabilitation in Yolanda-affected areas and the rest of the country; (3) Discuss next steps/way forward on coastal ecosystem rehabilitation and management.