The MAFI Scholars Association (MSA) concluded the series of webinars under the FPE-Y4B-supported project entitled, “Empowering the Youth for Biodiversity Conservation in Mount Apo Natural Park”, with a knowledge sharing activity focusing on the importance of native trees species to biodiversity conservation. This was originally an educational visit to the arboretum of native tree species located at Mt. Apo Geothermal Production Field under the BINHI Project of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the in-person visit was cancelled and in lieu of this, an online learning session was held on August 19, 2021. With the unrelenting support of its assisting organization, MAFI, and some members of the MAFI Graduates Society (MGS), a total of 47 youth participants attended the webinar from the Province of North Cotabato.
Mr. Armando Pacudan, Executive Director of MAFI, gave some data on the situation of our forests in the Philippines to set the tone of the webinar. He also welcomed the resource persons as well as the youth participants. Resource persons from EDC’s Mt. Apo Geothermal Project (MAGP) graced the event. Ms. Marisol Pedregosa, Wildlife Biologist and Watershed Management Officer of EDC-MAGP, shared a presentation about biodiversity in MAGP focusing on Fauna. On the other hand, Mr. Rich Paul Cosio, Forester and Watershed Management Officer of EDC-MAGP, gave a presentation on the BINHI Project of EDC and the different native tree species.
The topics presented during the webinar were as follows: Biodiversity Conservation and Monitoring Program (BCMP); The Philippine Eagle Project, in coordination with the Philippine Eagle Foundation; Mt. Apo Geothermal Project (MAGP) Flagship Species Initiative; BINHI Greening Legacy; and, BINHI Arboretum.
This final online learning session is a prelude to the tree planting activity in Barangays Bongolanon and Kinarum, both in Magpet, North Cotabato, which will happen on 3 September 2021 and 7 September 2021, respectively.
