The Marine Science Institute CS of the University of the Philippines & the Department of Environmental Science of Ateneo de Manila University are holding the above conference. With funds from the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), the Department of Science & Technology, other projects, & support from the National Research Council of the Philippines, the conference has the following objectives:

1. To consolidate local & current data & information on the efficacy of seagrass & mangroves in mitigating impacts of climate variability & biodiversity loss; &

2. To provide a stage for the formulation of a national blue carbon strategy focused on conserving the ‘bioshield’ functions of these ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems.

Theme: “Reconnecting people

with ecosystems to achieve nature-based

solutions to coastal issues.”

5th Circular

19 May 2016

Reminders & new information in

red

The charismatic sea cow, Dugong dugon, is an

endangered species all along its range of distribution.

Seagrass comprises 90% of its diet.

2

Twenty-five abstracts (for oral &/or poster presentations) which give significant contributions toward a greater understanding & application of the 4 topics below (Conference Topics/Sessions) have been selected. Abstract submission is closed. Posters should be 60 x 90 cm, portrait orientation.

Conference Topics, Plenary Speakers & Panel Discussions The following renowned experts will make presentations to introduce the Conference Topics/Sessions:

Rene N. Rollon (Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, CS, UP Diliman, QC): Session 1: Seagrass & mangrove ecological dynamics;

Severino G. Salmo III (Department of Environmental Science, Ateneo de Manila University, Diliman, QC): Session 2: Seagrass & mangroves as ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems;

Ariel C. Blanco (Department of Geodetic Engineering, CE, UP Diliman, QC): Session 3: Ecosystem services & improved coastal conservation;

Miguel D. Fortes (Marine Science Institute CS, UP Diliman, QC): Session 4: Seagrass & mangrove factor in community resilience.

Conference Topics, Plenary

Speakers & Panel Discussions

What remains of the Sonneratia trees after

being directly hit by Typhoon Pablo in Banganga, Davao

Oriental

3

Panel Discussions Two Panel Discussions will cap the sessions. To be held in the afternoon, they will be introduced by 15-min presentations by experts, whose focus will be on innovative, pragmatic nature-based solutions to coastal issues, but along their specific lines of expertise. The discussion topics & their respective discussants are:

PD 1: “Sustaining the services of seagrasses & mangroves” (26 May) Vicente Hilomen, Director, Biodiversity Management Bureau, DENR Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone, Professor, Marine Science Institute CSUP Carmelita R. Villamor, Supervisor, Ecosystem Research & Dev’t Bureau, DENR Aletta Yñiguez, Associate Professor, Marine Science Institute CSUP PD 2: “Developing the framework of a National Blue Carbon Strategy” (27 May) Porfirio M. Aliño, Professor, Marine Science Institute CSUP Annadel S. Cabanban, Executive Secretary, SIMSEA- Philippines Rebecca Guieb, Development Specialist, US Agency for International Development Jocel Pangilinan, Program Manager, Conservation International

Tentative Program Day 1, Thursday, 26 May 2016

Opening, Plenaries, Presentations & Panel Discussion, Poster Session Time Activities

0800-0930 Registration & Ingress of Posters (With running video as guests are seated)

0930-0940 Inspirational Welcome Address by Dr. Laura T. David, Professor, Marine Science Institute CSUP

0940-0950 Opening Address by Dr. Miguel D. Fortes, Project Coordinator & Principal Organizer, Marine Science Institute CSUP

0950-1010 BREAK & PHOTO-OP 1010-1200 SESSION 1

Seagrass & Mangrove Ecological Dynamics 1010-1030 Plenary Paper: “Marginalizing mangroves and seagrasses amidst space-

use conflict in the marine intertidal zone” (Rene N. Rollon, IESM, UP) 1030-1045 “An Agent-Based Model of Post-Disaster Mangrove Forest Regrowth”

(Vena Pearl Bongolan, Franklin David Ang, J. Stephen D.V. Mariano) 1045-1100 “The overlap of small-scale fishing activities and dugong (Dugong dugon)

critical habitats in selected communities of Busuanga, Palawan” (Danica D. Lopez)

1100-1115 “Transplantation Seagrass Method by Using Crowbar: Simple, Easy, and Cheap” (Wawan Kiswara)

1115-1130 “Fate of existing Rhizophora plantations against Super-Typhoons: mass mortality beyond age-thresholds” (Villamayor, Betty May R., Rollon, Rene N., Samson, Maricar S., Albano, Giannina Marie A., Primavera, Jurgennne

H.)

Tentative Program of Activities

4 1130-1200 Poster Session

1200-1330 LUNCH BREAK 1330-1430 SESSION 2

Seagrass & Mangroves as ‘Blue Carbon’ Ecosystems 1330-1350 Plenary Paper: “Prospects and uncertainties in carbon sequestration

potential of mangroves and seagrass in the Philippines” (Severino Salmo III, DES-SSE, AdMU)

1350-1405 “Status and prospects of seagrass blue carbon studies in the Philippines” (Miguel D. Fortes, Marine Science Institute, CSUP)

1405-1430 Poster Session 1430-1630 Panel Discussion (PD) 1: “Sustaining the Services

of Seagrasses & Mangroves” Day 2, Friday, 27 May 2016

Plenaries, Presentations, Panel Discussion, Summation & Closing Time Activities

0830-0930 Registration (With running video as guests are seated) 0930-0940 “Highlights of Day 1” (Severino Salmo III) 0940-1200 SESSION 3

Ecosystem Services & Improved Coastal Conservation 0940-1000 Plenary Paper: “Conserving mangroves and seagrass and enhancing their

ecological services through community, science, and technology partnership” (Ariel C. Blanco, DGE-CE, UPD)

1000-1015 “A Study on the Utilization of LiDAR data in Monitoring the Extent of Mangrove Reforestation and its Impact on Selected Coastal Barangays of Zamboanga City” (Ahmed J. Baldomero, Dominic Rey E. Acuña, Chrazel

Dice M. Magpayo, Felix M. Jusay III, and Geoffrey M. Fabian) 1015-1030 “Mangrove Forest Extent Mapping in Southwestern Luzon Using 2015

Landsat Imagery” (Al Jayson G. Songcuan, Alvin B. Baloloy, Ariel C. Blanco)

1030-1045 “ICM Mechanisms Promote Multi-Stakeholder Critical Habitat Conservation in Guimaras Island, Philippines” (Neil Catalan)

1045-1100 “Drawbacks of Successful Mangrove Rehabilitation Schemes: Lessons Learned from the Renowned Mangrove Plantations”

(Abner Barnuevo, Takashi Asaeda, Kelum Sanjay, Yoshikazu Kanesaka, Miguel D. Fortes)

1100-1115 “Community Based Mangrove Resource Management and Aquasilviculture: A Coastal Conservation and Livelihood Project in Davao

del Sur” (Irvin C. Generalao, Augie E. Fuentes, Marlyn B. Llameg, Michelle M. Elemino, Pedro M. Avenido, Godofredo F. Lubat Jr., John

Paul R. Pacyao, Regie D. Patagoc) 1115-1200 Poster Session 1200-1330 LUNCH BREAK 1330-1415 SESSION 4

Seagrass & Mangrove Factor in Community Resilience

1330-1345 Plenary Speaker: “Seagrass & Mangrove Factor in Community Resilience” (Miguel D. Fortes, MSI, CSUP)

1345-1400 “Rehabilitation of Mangrove Forest Impacted by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Busuanga and Culion, Palawan by Communities” (Archie F.

Espinosa, Reynante V. Ramilo, Danica Amanda D. Lopez)

5 1400-1415 “Strengthening Disaster Preparedness through Critical Habitat

Conservation in Guimaras Province Philippines” (Rose Jane N. Sablon)

1415-1430 “Seagrass Bioshield Project: The Malita Experience” (Ruth S. Lucero, Miguel D. Fortes and Monica Sarceda)

1430-1615 Panel Discussion (PD) 2: “Developing the Framework of a National Blue Carbon Strategy”

1615-1630 Summation 1630-1700 Closing & Egress of Posters

EMCEES: Gay Amabelle G. Go & Brian Hernandez

Reminders & New Information 1. We are cutting short presentation time from 20 -15 minutes, the Q & A included.

Plenary papers are still given 20 min each; 2. For the Conference Proceedings, an extended abstract is required of all those

making presentations. In not more than 1000 words, it should include an introduction, methodology, results and discussion, conclusion, references, & keywords. Use single space, Times New Roman, size12. Submission deadline: Monday, 6 June 2016

3. Please send in your presentations in either PowerPoint or PDF format NOW! 4. Any special requirements (e.g. food, against allergies, PWD)? 5. For funded participants, reimbursement of expenses can be made only when you

send or give us OFFICIAL RECEIPTS and complete itineraries; 6. Size of T-shirts, please, NOW! (Philippine standards, S, M, L, XL, etc.); 7. Two vans will pick up the participants on 25th May, one stationed in Terminal 2,

the other, in Terminal 3. A few who will arrive earlier will have to wait for about an hour for the others flying in later. The same vans will take the participants back to the airport from the hotel. If you have other arrangements, please inform us NOW.

Registration and Contact Addresses Conference registration is FREE & is still open. For more information, please contact any of the following:

For registration, visit: http://tinyurl.com/NSMBC2016-RegisterHere

For updates, visit: https://mangroveecology.com/activities/events/the-national-seagrass-mangrove-bioshield-conference/" or ‘like’/follow the conference Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/nsmbc2016/

Registration

&

Contact Addresses

Reminders

&

New Information

6 If you haven't submitted your abstract, please do not forget to upload it via this link: http://tinyurl.com/NSMBC2016-UploadAbstract For any questions, please email our secretariat at seagrass.mangroves.lab.upmsi@gmail.com or mangroveecologyph@gmail.com You may also reach our secretariat via these contact numbers Monica Sarceda 0920 214 9039; Kayla Castro 0917 779 2493

(Mail sent via the Google Form Notifications add-on from ctrlq.org.)

Venue, Accommodations and Logistics Here you can find information on the Marine Science Institute of the College of Science, University of the Philippines: www.msi.upd.edu.ph/. Our conference will be held at the Audio Visual Room, which is at the Ground Floor of the Institute. Mailing Address:

No. 1 Velasquez St., Marine Science Institute CS, University of the Philippines, Diliman, QC 1101; email: admin@upmsi.ph; Tel: +632 922 3959; Fax: +632 9247678

For project-funded participants, single & double rooms have been reserved at the University Hotel in the campus (see address and numbers below). For the other participants, please contact the secretariat right away if you need help in looking for accommodations. We might be able to help you.

The University Hotel Guerrero cor. Aglipay St., U.P.Campus, Diliman, QC Tel. Nos.: 926-1953/924-6743/927-2160 435-1316/435-1317/426-0674; Fax: 435-1319 Email: updilimanhotel@gmail.com Website: universityhotel.ph

A van will be picking up the participants from the hotel for the venue at exactly 0730 on the 26th & 27th of May only. In case you miss the van, ask the help at the reception or walk (5 min) in the direction of the main road in front of the Sanggumay Residence Hall where you can take the “Ikot” jeepneys (available after every 5 min). Tell the driver to take you to the Marine Science Institute.

Venue, Accommodations,

Logistics

& Principal

Organizers

7

Organizers & Secretariat University of the Philippine, Diliman, QC Marine Science Institute, CS

Miguel D. Fortes (Professor, ret) Monica B. Sarceda Mary Rose Lopez

Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, QC Department of Environmental Science, School of Science & Engineering

Severino Salmo III, Assistant Professor & Chair Kayla Castro Eunice Gianan Carmela Garcia Jumel Nicha