Mr. John Benrich Zuniga of the Forestry and Environment Research Division (FERD) of DOST-PCAARRD receiving the best poster award from the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) President John Parrotta. (Image credit: FERD, DOST-PCAARRD)
The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) participated in the 26th International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) World Congress held on June 23–29, 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden. Mr. John Benrich M. Zuniga of the Forestry and Environment Research Division (FERD), presented two papers and won the best poster award under Theme 4: Forests for Sustainable Societies.
The winning paper, “Strengthening Intersectoral Convergence in the Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR) of Abandoned Brackishwater Fishponds in the Philippines,” highlights the strategies to mainstream institutional convergence among relevant agencies and the participatory governance with local community in implementing EMR.
The paper is part of Mr. Zuniga’s Master’s thesis supported by the DOST-PCAARRD under the Thesis/Dissertation Assistance program monitored by the Institution Development Division (IDD). The study is also part of the completed project, “Ecological Mangrove Restoration of Abandoned Brackishwater Fishponds in the Philippines,” implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB). Mr. Zuniga was a former project staff of the said DOST-PCAARRD-funded project.
Mr. Zuniga presenting two poster research papers during the IUFRO World Congress. (Image credit: FERD, DOST-PCAARRD)
Mr. Zuniga also presented the paper, “Complementing Natural Regeneration with Actual Planting: A New Approach to Mangrove Rehabilitation in the Philippines,” which also piqued the interest of fellow researchers in the congress.
Participation in the congress served as a platform to further develop ecological mangrove restoration in the Philippines through open forums that welcomed recommendations from scientists.
The IUFRO World Congress was attended by around 5,000 participants from more than 100 countries, making it one of the largest global forest events in the world. Held every 5 years since 1893, the Congress gives a unique opportunity to gather leading scientists and top leaders worldwide to contribute and co-create a sustainable future within forestry, climate, and society—aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Best poster awardees from 16 different themes and divisions in the congress. (Image credit: FERD, DOST-PCAARRD)
Thus, it was further noted that the congress’ objectives are aligned with the priority areas of DOST-PCAARRD’s Forestry and Environment sub-sector. As a way forward, the Council’s possibility of being an official member of IUFRO, to be represented by FERD, will be explored and proposed. This will provide a venue to strengthen and widen the international network/linkage of DOST-PCAARRD with worldwide researchers and organizations igniting possible collaborations in the future.
The attendance at the congress was supported by DOST-PCAARRD’s Foreign Travel Fund (PFTF) and was facilitated by the Policy Coordination and Management Division (PCMD). Additional support was also provided by the Office of the Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management and Support Services (OED-ARMSS) through the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF).