DENR-ERDB calls for abstract, research papers for the First ASEAN Congress on Mangrove R & D slated in Manila on December 3-7, 2012

Tuesday, 19 June 2012 00:00 |

Mangroves are an important tree species that thrive well on inter-tidal zone of sheltered coasts around estuaries and lagoons. Known as the “rainforest of the sea,” it covers approximately 17 million hectares in 112 countries in Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas (NACA, 2009).

Southeast Asia harbors the largest mangrove areas, covering some 4.9 million hectares or about 35% of the world’s total. It is also the most diverse in terms of plant and animal composition. Of the 268 plant species recorded from these mangrove areas, 52 are considered true mangrove species, the rest are mangrove-associated species.

In the Philippines, there are at least 40 species of mangroves known to grow well in the coastal areas. Unfortunately, the extent of mangrove forest in the country has been experiencing a sharp decline in the last century. From an estimated 450,000 hectares in 1918, only about 200,000 hectares exist today. The reduction is being attributed to the development or conversion of mangrove swamps into different land-uses like aquaculture ponds, salt beds, reclamation of areas and other agricultural uses, among others.

Thus, in a move to integrate, re-focus and update the research directions in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region in light of climate change, among others, the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is organizing the First ASEAN Congress on Mangrove Research and Development to be held in Manila on December 3-7, 2012.

The congress shall serve primarily as a venue for the exchange of research information and updates among researchers and managers on the status of mangrove resources management in the ASEAN region.

Relative to this, the ERDB-DENR is calling for submission of abstracts/research papers on mangrove R and D for presentation in the ASEAN Congress. For those who are interested, they may submit an abstract, either for paper or poster presentation, of no more than 500 words to the ERDB (( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) . Deadline is set on August 31, 2012.

The research paper or poster may cover either a completed or current research project dealing on any of the following topics: ecosystems functions and fisheries; silviculture, forest and stand; climate change adaptation and mitigation; and socio-economic issues and valuation.

For more information, pls. click here.

EnvironmentNatural Resources Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje rallied last week his field officials to ensure the success of the National Greening Program, saying the program has full support of the President.

“There is no reason to fail considering that President Aquino has amply given all the support this program (NGP) needs to succeed,” Paje told the regional executive directors (REDs), regional technical directors, and the provincial and community environment and natural resources officers (PENROs, CENROs) attending the 2-day National Convention of Field Officers held May 31-June 1, 2011 at the DENR Social Hall in Quezon City.

Paje also challenged the field officials “to give their best shot” as their performance in implementing the NGP will be “highly taken into consideration’ in the evaluation of officials for promotions.

“Those who will be performing will be rewarded. Wala pong biro yan,” Paje said, stressing that the field officers will be evaluated fairly based on a purely-merit system “without regard for personal ties or past associations” he has made through over 20 years at the DENR where he started his career as a casual forester.

Paje said the NGP-driven performance-based incentive scheme will first zero in on the PENRO and CENRO positions, with an instruction to DENR Assistant Secretary for Management and Finance Corazon Davis to reserve the vacant PENRO and CENRO posts as rewards for NGP’s top performers especially those that are on an acting capacity.

“If you are a CENRO, you will automatically become a PENRO. Those who are not yet full-pledged CENRO (with temporary appointment), we will make you full-pledged CENROs. Performance lamang, wala nang iba,” Paje stressed.

Of the 168 CENRO plantilla positions, 47 have yet to be filled; while 25 remain vacant in the 73 PENRO plantilla posts.

The incentive scheme forms part of Paje’s overall program to strengthen DENR’s performance-based promotion system to beef up the national leadership’s efforts in professionalizing the Philippine bureaucracy.

But Paje was quick to clarify that the quality of their performance will be determined by the survival of the seedling declared in their performance and not merely on the number of seedling planted.

“Remember, the NGP is a national priority program of President Aquino, and this is not for show but for grow. Gone are the days when tree planting activities were just to set world records or just for photo opportunities,” Paje noted.

At the same time, Paje asked “doubting Thomases” to be forthcoming this early with their hesitation to go all out to meet their targets to allow for management to act appropriately in their particular case.

“We will make sure that everybody performs. Kung sino sa inyo ang tingin ay hindi kayang ipatupad ang programang ito, sabihin na ninyo ngayon,” Paje said.

The performance-based incentive will be based on the field officials’ scorecard in the yearly targets given them and will be validated with the use of state-of-the art technology such as satellite mapping and internet-based technology through NGP’s website at the www.ngp.denr.gov.ph

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