Sagay grassroots groups trained on beach forest rehab, conservation

Seven community associations attended the two-day training on Mangrove and Beach Forest Rehabilitation and Conservation at NONESCOST Old Sagay Campus on Sept. 28 to 29.

It was spearheaded by Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology-College of Fisheries and Allied Sciences (NONESCOST-CFAS) under the Commission on Higher Education- CHED StudyPH Program, titled "Enhanced Aquasilviculture facility, Fishyalan sa Katunggan, Mangrove Genetic Library and Biodiversity Museum.”

The training was also in partnership Local of Sagay through Sagay Marine Reserve and Sagay City Information and Tourism

Office.

Topics were the Mangrove Biology and Taxonomy, Beach Forest Biology

Mangrove Conservation and

Rehabilitation, Mangrove and Beach Forest Nursery Establishment Mangrove Outplanting, Monitoring and Maintenance, Field Work on Nursery Site Selection, Mangrove Seedlings Bagging, and Outplanting, Mangrove and Beach Forest Species Identification, Demo on Pagatpat Germination, Involving the Community, Realities of Climate Change, Love of Country and Planning.

Speakers were Ms. Dina David-Lagutin, CHED StudyPH Project Leader on Mangrove Genetic Library & Biodiversity Museum, Mr. Kurt John G. Senoro, Sagay Marine Reserve Staff, Resource Management Section, Ms. Helen Arguelles-Cutillar, Head of Sagay City Information and Tourism Office and assisted by Mrs. Melanie Mermida, President of Suyac Island Ecopark Tourist Attendant Association and Mr. Renante Villaflor, Vice President of SIETAAS. The training was moderated by Ms. Shiena May B. Espenida, faculty of NONESCOST.

Quiresa Mae C. Montaño, Dean of CFAS and CHED StudyPH Program Director welcomed the attendees and underscored the critical role of communities in rehabilitating, protecting and conserving our mangrove forest in Sagay City.

Abegail A. Gelantaga-an, CHED StudyPH Project Leader elaborated the objectives of this training, such as, to capacitate the faculty, students, and communities on the biology and ecology of mangrove and beach forest ecosystems through lectures and on-site practicum and to integrate the roles of communities on mangrove and beach forest rehabilitation and conservation activities.

Attendees were members of the following associations: Lapus Lapus Floating Cottage Association, Suyac Island Ecopark Tourism Attendant Association, Bougainvilla Sikad Guide Association, Old Sagay Vendors Association, Purok Santan II Mangrove Growers Association, Sagay Coastal Area Fisherfolk Association, Lo-oc Dasok Fisherfolk Association, and faculty and students of College of Fisheries and Allied Sciences.

“Capacity building is an important component of building the knowledge and skills of our community-based eco-tourism stakeholders and this training is an answered prayer to our training wishlist,” Cutillar said.

SMR Resource Managemeng Head Jose Roberto Togle highlighted the need for more community-based mangrove rehabilitation initiatives so that we can do more for our marine reserve.

Speakers are all alumni of ZSL Training on Mangrove and Beach Forest Rehabilitation and Conservation Training of Trainors. (PR)