The 1st International Conference on Forestry, Environment and Climate Change was held in the University on January 12-13, 2017 at the Gladiola Hall. The two-day conference, spearheaded by the College of Forestry in collaboration with Kongju National University and Kyungpook National University of Korea, is one of BSU’s efforts in promoting sustainable development amidst climate change. It also aimed to create a venue for researchers, discussant, academicians and research partners to share their research findings that can help address some of the most pressing concerns of forest, environment and climate change.

As targeted, the conference brought together 65 participants and presenters coming from Timor Leste, Kyrgyz Republic, Cambodia, and South Korea. From the Philippines, there were participants from the Institute of Agroforestry-CFNR-UPLB, Laguna Lake Development Authority, DENR-CAR, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Saint Louis University, Benguet Federation of Farmers and National Power Corporation.

“This activity is an expanded activity primarily because it was an ordinary visit from the two Universities (Kongju National University and Kyungpook National University) but since there were also graduate students from both Universities, it became a conference on forestry, environment and climate change,” shared BSU President, Dr. Feliciano G. Calora Jr. He added that on the part of BSU, the conference is also a dry run, a pilot for a series of international conferences to be hosted. BSU will also host the 1st International Conference on Food, Culture and Environment on May 15-18, 2017.

The papers presented in January 12 includes: “Growth prediction models using Korean NFI data” by Prof. Young Jin Lee of the Kongju National University in South Korea; “Undertaken measures to mitigate the impact of climate change in Kyrgyzstan” by Bakyt Bekzhanov of the SAEPF, Kyrgyz Republic; “The Impact of forest resources declines: Analyzing forest-related income supplements to reduce the cause of income inequality and poverty of Kouy indigenous people, Kampong Thom province, Cambodia” by Sareth Nhem of Cambodia; Forest Policy Sector of Timor Leste by Julito Fatima Dos Santos De Araujo of Timor Leste, a BSU forestry student; The Philippine Forests: Cordillera Administrative Region by BSU President, Dr. Feliciano G. Calora Jr.; Edible ECM Mushrooms at Pine-based areas in Benguet and Mt. Province by Dr. Bernard S. Tad-awan of the BSU-College of Agriculture; and Thrusts of DENR on Promoting Climate Resilience on Forestry by For. Julius K. Cawilan, CDD Chief of the DENR-CAR.

Most of the papers presented on the first day focused on forest inventories, the social factors behind forest resources decline, the relationship of the forest sector to climate change and climate change mitigation measures within the locale of the presenters. Through videos, Prof. Lee shared a detailed methodology employed in the National Forest Inventories done in Korea. Bekzhanov who described his country as the Switzerland of Central Asia emphasized the importance of the Kyrgyz Republic forests in preventing negative climate change. Nhem dwelled on the how the reduction of forest resources would affect poor indigenous people. De Araujo shared the struggles and challenges of a young country regarding forest policies. The presentations triggered discussions among the participants.