𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐒𝐔, 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Partido State University (ParSU), in collaboration with the University of Kansas (KU), reinforced its commitment to biodiversity research and conservation through a series of academic and research activities culminating in a hybrid expert-led lecture titled,  “From Knowledge to Conservation: Where Experts Shape the Future of Vertebrate Wildlife,” held yesterday, January 15, 2026, at the Museo de Isarog. 

The collaboration began with an extensive fieldwork component conducted from January 4-14, 2026, in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur. The joint research activities focused on herpetology, ornithology, and mammalogy, which were led by Dr. Rafe M. Brown, KU Curator-in-Charge; Dr. Michael A. Clores, ParSU Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research Project Co-Leader; Dr. Michael A. Cuesta, Director of the Ateneo Social Science Research Center and Project Co-Leader, and other researcher-delegates from both universities. The field studies generated critical data on vertebrate species in the Partido area, contributing to ongoing efforts to document and understand the region’s rich yet vulnerable wildlife.

On January 15, 2026, building on the fieldwork, the KU delegation paid a courtesy visit to the 83rd Infantry Battalion Commanding Officer, Lt. Colonel Randy Eloreta, and President Dr. Arnel B. Zarcedo, along with key officials, who welcomed the visiting researchers. The visit further strengthened the institutional ties and reaffirmed the shared commitment of both ParSU and KU to collaborative research, faculty exchange, and capacity-building initiatives. The delegation also toured around the ParSU’s College of Science laboratories, providing opportunities for dialogue on potential research integration and the enhancement of laboratory-based studies.

The day’s activities culminated in the hybrid lecture and discussion at the Museo de Isarog attended by faculty researchers, students, and wildlife advocates, alongside those participants who joined via Facebook Live. The forum underscored the Philippines’ global recognition as one of the world’s megadiverse countries, hosting an extraordinary concentration of vertebrate wildlife, despite its limited land area.

In his address, President Zarcedo emphasized the ecological importance of the Bicol Region, particularly the Partido area, as a critical biodiversity stronghold characterized by forests, coastal ecosystems, and protected landscapes that support diverse species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians; many of which are endemic and increasingly vulnerable. He noted that these ecosystems are closely linked to local communities’ lives and livelihoods, yet face mounting pressures from habitat loss, climate change, emerging diseases, and human-wildlife conflict. 

“This activity is a concrete expression of the continuing academic and research partnership (...) one that recognizes that while biodiversity issues are global in scale, conservation action must always be rooted in local contexts,” he explained.

The lecture featured KU’s experts Dianna M. Krejsa, Mammalogy Collection Manager, on Holistic Specimen research, and Lucas H. DeCicco, Ornithology Collection Manager, on the Specimens-to-Research approach in wildlife conservation. Drawing on their extensive experience in managing biological collections and conducting field-based research, the speakers shared insights on biodiversity documentation, species monitoring, and the use of long-term data to inform conservation policies. They also highlighted their recent fieldwork in the forests of Lagonoy and, during the exhibit, shared the species they found and preserved, underscoring the value of systematic research in shaping effective conservation strategies.

Through a combination of in-person and online engagement, the discussion highlighted pressing challenges facing vertebrate species and emphasized the vital role of international academic collaboration in addressing these concerns. The speakers underscored how museum collections and sustained research initiatives contribute to habitat protection, conservation planning, and public awareness efforts.

Vice President for Research and Knowledge Management, Dr. Raul G. Bradecina, and Director of the International Affairs Office, Leih Anne R. Odoño, noted that the activity aligns with ParSU’s commitment to advancing research, strengthening global partnerships, and fostering environmental stewardship among its academic community. By bridging scientific knowledge and practical conservation action, the event reinforced ParSU’s role in promoting science-based solutions to contemporary environmental challenges.

The lecture and related activities served as a platform for meaningful knowledge exchange, inspiring participants to actively contribute to the protection and sustainable management of wildlife resources, consistent with the university’s commitment to academic excellence and social responsibility.

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘴: 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘴