From July 16 to 23, 2024, a diverse group of participants comprised of senior high school students, college students, faculty members, and researchers from across the Bicol region attended the second installment of the Marine Conservation and Restoration Summer Camp at the Partido State University College of Sustainable Communities and Ecosystems (Caramoan Campus).
The week-long activity included lectures, workshops, and educational field demonstrations on mangroves, corals, fishes, seaweeds, and seagrasses ecosystems designed to give participants pivotal knowledge and skills on biodiversity assessment. The hands-on learning approach during the camp allowed the participants to actively engage with the subject matter. A culminating activity where participants presented their collected data was also conducted as part of the week-long camp activity.
Resource speakers were Mr. Jaspher R. Nieves, MSc, and Ms. Divina P. Chica who covered lectures on mangroves; Mr. Raul B. Burce, MSc, and Mr. Ronnel A. Dioneda, Jr.on corals and fishes; Mr. Eljenmer L. Sindo, RFP highlighted the topic on seaweeds while Dr. Michael A. Clores discussed about seagrasses. They also facilitated the workshops and fieldwork activities during the camp. The lecture provided the participants with basic concepts related to each ecosystem and the workshops allowed them to have an overview of the biodiversity assessment unique to each of the ecosystems. Moreover, the educational fieldwork demonstrations in Tabgon, Paniman, and Guijalo — all in Caramoan, Camarines Sur — allowed the participants to collect data, which they presented during the data presentation. Mr. Cyrus Job Dela Cruz, MSc; Mr. Reyland Alegroso, RFP, and Mr. Diomerl Edward B. Baldo, MSc, were invited to provide feedback and critique the presentation.
These activities align with the Futures Thinking programs and initiatives of the college and the University for Sustainable Marine Ecosystems allowing the participants to discern an overview of the probable and possible futures of these ecosystems and the preferred futures they want. At the end of the activity, a strong call for action was emphasized, underlining the urgent need for the conservation, protection, and management of these vital ecosystems.
Article by Eljenmer L. Sindo, photos by Bryan V. Barillo
