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Crafting Baguio’s Green Future: A Focus Group Discussion on Biodiversity and Urban Sustainability

The Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) of UP CIDS and the Cordillera Studies Center, UP Baguio are organizing a focus group discussion, “Crafting Baguio’s Green Future: A Focus Group Discussion on Biodiversity and Urban Sustainability,” on 30 October 2024, 1:00 pm–7:00 pm*, Audio Visual Room (AVR), College of Social Sciences (CSS), University of the Philippines Baguio. The forum is free and open to the public, but seating is first-come, first-served. Participants are encouraged to register.

*Initially scheduled on 25 Oct 2024, 8 am, but moved because of the imminent typhoon)

Concept Note

The initial forum on Baguio City’s biodiversity revealed that rapid urbanization and population growth have deeply challenged the area’s ecological sustainability. Baguio is home to several key biodiversity areas (KBAs) that serve as crucial ecological hotspots. Despite this, biodiversity studies in the region are limited, leaving significant gaps in conservation efforts and policy interventions.

To fill in this gap in knowledge and in policymaking efforts, the focus group discussion (FGD), “Crafting Baguio’s Green Future: A Focus Group Discussion on Biodiversity and Urban Sustainability,” will gather various stakeholders and provide a platform for critical discourse on the impacts of urbanization on Baguio City’s biodiversity. It hopes to explore and formulate actionable policy recommendations that will guide the sustainable urban development and biodiversity conservation efforts in Baguio City.

The FGD is also a part of UP Baguio’s contribution to the 115th Charter Anniversary celebrations of the city.

Objectives of the Focus Group Discussion

  • Introduction to the Project: Present the goals, scope, and intended outcomes of the Baguio’s Biodiversity Greenprint Project.
  • Impact Analysis: Explore the specific effects of rapid urbanization on Baguio’s biodiversity and urban ecosystems.
  • Stakeholder Input: Solicit in-depth feedback from participants to identify policy gaps, challenges, and opportunities for conservation.
  • Collaborative Solution: Facilitate discussions to propose collaborative, actionable policy recommendations that align urban development with biodiversity preservation.

Key Participants

Resource Speakers/Facilitators

    • Prof. Celia M. Austria
    • Dr. Maileenita A. Peñalba
    • Prof. Arellano Colongon Jr.

Stakeholders

    • Department of Environment and Natural Resources – CAR (DENR-CAR)
    • Local Government Unit (LGU) Baguio
    • City Planning, Development, and Sustainability Office
    • City Environment and Parks Management Office
    • Baguio Civil Development Council (CDC)
    • John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC)
    • Academic Representatives from SLU, UC, UB, and BSU
    • Indigenous People Organizations
    • Non-governmental Organizations

Organizers and Queries

For queries, please email [email protected].

This forum is organized by the Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) of the Center for Integrative and Development Studies (CIDS), the policy research unit of the University of the Philippines (UP). It is co-sponsored by the Cordillera Studies Center, UP Baguio.

LRSN is one of the Research Programs of UP CIDS, and it currently involves, among others, faculty and staff of UP Baguio. Learn more about UP CIDS and download 1000+ policy papers for free.