DENR to hold its 1st Central Visayas PAMB Summit on July 10-12 in Bohol

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 through its Protected Area, Wildlife, Coastal Zone and Management Services (PAWCZMS) is set to hold its 1st Central Visayas Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Summit on July 10-12, 2013 at the Bohol Plaza Resort and Restaurant in Panglao Island, Bohol.

Around 121 representatives from the private sector, non-government organizations, other government agencies and the local government units are expected to participate in this two-day activity.

With the theme, “PA Management Innovations: Towards Sustainable Biodiversity Conservation in Harmony with the Needs of the Host Communities”, the activity aims to discuss status and direction of PA management in the region, present innovative protected area management interventions for the enhancement of biodiversity conservation, and showcase ecotourism potentials of PAs that benefits different communities in the region.

“Central Visayas is home to 24 protected areas and this activity will certainly highlight the significance of these protected areas not only in biodiversity conservation but its worth to the economical and cultural values of the Visayan people,” said DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelito R. Montejo.

The summit, jointly organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), and the Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW), will also focus on the status of current PAs and its new directions and development given its changing and dynamic environment.

“Our PAs must be preserved, conserved, and developed that would benefit fully the host communities and other stakeholders while we maximize the use of the necessary tools or technologies to improve its preservation efforts,” Montejo added.

Meanwhile, Montejo, RAFI Executive Director Evelyn Castro, DENR Undersecretary for Staff Bureaus Atty. Ernesto Adobo, Jr. and Governor Edgar Chatto are expected to deliver their respective messages.

Also, activities during the summit include enterprise development tour, lessons from technically-assisted special projects, success stories, applied practices and series of workshops to address the identified gaps especially in protected area management. (DENR)