From Vision to Action: Urban Biodiversity and the Pathways to a Greener City | A Public Forum

26 November 2024
Local-Regional Studies Network, News and Events

The Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) of UP CIDS and the Cordillera Studies Center, UP Baguio are organizing a public forum, “From Vision to Action: Urban Biodiversity and the Pathways to a Greener City,” on 29 November 2024, 1:00 pm–5:30 pm, Chancellor’s Board Room, 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.

Concept Note

The initial forums on Baguio City’s biodiversity discussed how rapid urbanization and overpopulation impacted the ecological sustainability of the city, which has long been the home to key biodiversity areas (KBAs). Despite this, biodiversity studies in the region are limited. As such, The “Baguio’s Biodiversity Greenprint” project seeks to address these ecological issues through a comprehensive policy review and stakeholder engagement to develop a blueprint for sustainable urban ecological governance.

The upcoming Policy Recommendations Presentation and Stakeholder Engagement Forum is a critical event in this initiative. It aims to present the proposed policies to local stakeholders for feedback and validation, ensuring these recommendations align with the community’s needs and effectively support Baguio’s sustainable future. Additionally, the forum seeks to address knowledge gaps among stakeholders by providing insights into biodiversity and ecosystem services, fostering a deeper understanding critical for informed decision-making and policy implementation.

Objectives of the Forum

- Presentation of Policy Recommendations: Share the proposed policies developed under the Baguio’s Biodiversity Greenprint project, providing stakeholders with a clear and comprehensive understanding of the recommendations intended to support Baguio’s ecological resilience.
- Stakeholder Feedback and Validation: Engage stakeholders—including government officials, community leaders, environmental experts, and academic representatives—in discussions to validate the recommendations and incorporate diverse perspectives for improved policy alignment.
- Fill Knowledge on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Enrich stakeholders’ understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem services through a specialized presentation by one of the project members, addressing critical knowledge deficits that are essential for informed policy discussions and decisions.
- Discussion on Implementation Strategies: Explore practical implementation approaches for translating validated policies into actionable frameworks, fostering collective commitment and determining roles for various stakeholders in advancing Baguio’s sustainable urban ecological governance.

Key Participants

Resource Speakers/Facilitators

Asst. Prof. Deign Frolley C. Soriano MSc.

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 St. Louis University (SLU), University of the Cordilleras (UC), and University of Baguio (UB)

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.