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ACB, experts discuss plan to develop biodiversity management courses

Filipino environment experts from the government and private sectors, the academe, and various organizations recently joined ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) officers and technical staff to share their views on ACB’s plan to develop course programmes on natural resources management.

In a workshop held on 11 June 2008 at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna, the experts, discussed, identified and prioritized course programmes and training sessions that will be developed to enhance the competence of managerial and technical staff in charge of protected areas and conservation agencies involved in natural resources management In Southeast Asia.

“The Centre is planning to implement a programmatic approach to capacity development by developing and piloting course programmes based on competence standards to promote biodiversity conservation and management. “We also want to identify partners for the development and conduct of such course programmes and training sessions,” ACB Executive Director Rodrigo U. Fuentes said.

The brainstorming group underscored the importance of creating partnerships and organizing a pool of resource persons for the programmes to be developed. Attendees who signified their interest to partner with ACB in developing and implementing the courses include Dr. Florentino Tesoro, Consultant; Ms. Donna Reyes, Miriam College; Ms. Shiela Vergara, Conservation International; Dr. Perry Ong, University of the Philippines Diliman; Ms. Corazon Calimag, TREES; Dr. Diomedes Racelis, UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources; Director Marcial Amaro, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau; Ms. Meriden Maranan, Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau; Director Gregorio Texon, former director of the ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation; and Dr. Ma. Celeste Cadiz, SEARCA.

A number of participants highlighted the need for the active involvement of local government units and civil society groups in the programme; training the trainors; and the importance of ensuring that the courses will be adaptive and evolving.

On course program content, the experts recommended training needs assessment both at the policy and community levels to ensure that courses are tailored to address the specific needs of target trainees such as executives, middle level managers, and field personnel. They also suggested short courses for those who are not in the environment sector.

“By developing these course programmes, we will bridge the information gap by tapping existing knowledge and directing toward areas where it will make the most impact. We can do this by partnering with various organizations and complementing their efforts on knowledge creation,” Director Fuentes said.

He further noted the immediate follow-up actions that ACB will pursue: creating a course program committee, developing a meta-database or a referral system, identifying course programme / content, exploring online courses, regional brainstorming with the ASEAN member countries, and curriculum development and pre-testing.

The Centre plans to pilot the courses in the ASEAN Region by March 2009.