By: Carlo Carlos

The OML Center along with OPARR and the Rehabilitating Ecosystems and Livelihoods After Yolanda (RELAY) consortium organized a Round Table Discussion (RTD) on Coastal Ecosystem Rehabilitation and Management. The said event was held last 27 November 2014 at the Richmonde Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The event was attended by the different stakeholders from the government, civil society organizations and private organizations, among others.

The discussions aimed 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.

The event started with the introduction and welcoming remarks from OPARR’s Usec. Danilo Antonio and Ms. Beth Pua-Villamor. The guiding principles on mangrove rehabilitation was briefly described by the OML Center’s Scientific Director Dr. Rodel Lasco. Responses and short presentations in relation to the guiding principles were done by Dr. Jurgenne Primavera of ZSL, Dr. Ma. Lourdes Moreno of DENR-ERDB, Commo. Geronimo Reyes of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary and Ms. Abigail Javier of BFAR. The reactions were then proceeded by the comments and other discussion points from the co-participants as managed by Ms. Ma. Christine Reyes of PDRF.

The workshop was able to stimulate discussion among the key stakeholders in mangrove rehabilitation and management, raising issues, concerns and potential partnerships within the organizations working along the Yolanda-affected areas. The RTD likewise generated comments and recommendations on how to further improve the guiding principles of mangrove rehabilitation. Finally, the discussions also generated short-term and long-term key results area on mangrove rehabilitation.

The RELAY Consortium is composed of various government and non-government organizations that aims to rehabilitate mangroves as well as coastal communities along the Yolanda-affected areas. The OML Center and the entire RELAY Consortiuim shall push science-based information in rehabilitating mangroves and uplifting coastal communities.

For a copy of the summary of the workshop, click here.

To view pictures and presentations from  the RTD, click here.