The UPLB-INREM Center is one of the newly established centers at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. The Center serves as the lead role in the rehabilitation and management of Laguna de Bay and Makiling watershed through integrated training and research and development. It aims to create a long-term and campus-wide education, research and development initiatives focused on the integrated management.
As a take-off activity, the Center organized a national conference. Researchers, scientists, faculties and different institutions all over the country were invited to join and participate. The conference was held at the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR), UP Los Baños, College, Laguna on October 16 and 17, 2014 with the theme “Learning Lessons, Sharing Knowledge: Strengthening the Role of INREM in Sustainable Development”.
The conference was attended by several technical staff of the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME). Forester Leonardo D. Barua, a University Extension Specialist I (UES I) presented a paper entitled “Forest Degradation Analysis using Remote Sensing and GIS”.
The NC-INREM 2014 aims the following: (1) bring together INREM stakeholders in the country and facilitate sharing of ideas; (2) synthesize knowledge about INREM-related initiatives on lake and river basins, landscapes, small islands, and rural-urban areas; (3) establish a network among INREM stakeholders in the country; and (4) develop an INREM Research, Development and Extension (RDE) agenda for the country. It holistically looked at the direct and indirect drivers of resources degradation and how these drivers can be dealt with through integrated solutions. Parallel sessions were conducted during the conference that is divided into four themes: (1) Lake and river basin; (2) Landscapes and seascapes; (3) Small islands; and (4) Rural-urban areas.
Mae Belen C. Llanza