Bannering the theme: “𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺,” the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (BCSP), co-hosted by Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and Sorsogon State University (SorSU), is currently conducting its 31st Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium & General Assembly of the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines — an annual convention of researchers, students, conservation practitioners, and advocates with a shared commitment toward the advancement of biodiversity research and conservation, from August 22-25, 2023, at SorSU Audio-visual Hall, Sorsogon City Campus.
This year’s annual symposium commenced with respective welcome messages from Atty. Alan V. Barcena (Assistant Vice President and Head of Corporate Relations and Communications, EDC) and SUC President III, Dr. Geraldine F. De Jesus, followed by the opening remarks of Ma. Nancy P. Ibuna (Vice President, BCSP) and the keynote message by Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim (Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity. Dr. Mariano Roy M. Duya (Co-chair, BCSP Symposium Organizing Committee) provided the program overview afterward.
The first Plenary Session (Day 2), focusing on 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, features distinguished speakers, namely: Atty. Jose Andres A. Canivel (Executive Director, Forest Foundation Philippines); Dr. Leticia E. Afuang (Institute of Biological Sciences-Professor, University of the Philippines Los Baños); Ms. Emerita B. Albas (Protected Area Superintendent, Mount Pulag National Park); and Dr. Jayson C. Ibañez (Director of Research and Conservation, Philippine Eagle Foundation).
On the other hand, the second Plenary Session on Day 3 will highlight 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 with notable speakers including Dr. Pastor L. Malabrigo, Jr. (Professor, University of the Philippines Los Baños); Mr. Anson M. Tagtag (Chief of Wildlife Resource Division Biodiversity Management Bureau); Ms. Jennica Paula C. Masigan (Ecological Modeling Specialist, Center for Conservation Innovations Ph, Inc.); and Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez (Institute of Biological Sciences-Professor, University of the Philippines Los Baños).
Moreover, the Plenary Session on Day 4 will center on the discussion of 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴: 𝘛𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 by Ms. Grace Rosell-Ambal, Mr. Angel Gabriel D. Pineda, Mr. Giancarlo Pocholo L. Enriquez, and Ms. Ma. Nancy P. Ibuna (Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines).
Further, the annual gathering likewise includes concurrent talks sessions, two concurrent workshops, as well as institutional and poster exhibits. In addition, an optional post-symposium field trip to Bacon-Manito Geothermal Project (BMGP) on August 26, 2023, was also organized by Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
Accordingly, the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (formerly known as Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines), founded in 1992, is a professional organization of wildlife researchers, managers, scientists, and conservationists, with the mission of serving as a catalyst for effective biodiversity conservation through science-based research, education, and management anchored on collaboration for the Philippine society (BCSP, 2023). Along with traveling across various places in the country conducting the Philippine Biodiversity Symposium since 1992, the organization also publishes scientific papers centered on Philippine biodiversity and assists in creating national policies concerning biodiversity conservation and management. (SorSU PIO)
