SCPW participates in the 2nd EAAF R&D Congress

The Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands presented two papers at the 2nd R&D Congress on East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) for Wetlands and Migratory Waterbirds in the Course of Climate Change.

The papers were entitled:

• Rapid Wetland Characterisation to Support Management Planning
• Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) in Wetland Offsetting for Urban Developments: An Example from Valenzuela City, Philippines

The Congress was held at L’Fisher Hotel, Bacolod City from October 7-11, 2019. The themes of the congress were:

1. Effects / Impacts of Climate Change to Wetlands and Migratory Waterbirds
2. Appropriate Management Strategies on Wetland Habitat of Waterbirds
3. Adaptable Enabling Instruments to Protect Wetland Habitats along Flyway
4. Frontline Innovation and Breakthroughs for Sustainable Urban Future for People, Wetlands, and Waterbirds

The SCPW paper presentations were included in Themes 3 and 4 and were delivered by Executive Director Amy Lecciones (Rapid Wetland Characterisation to Support Management Planning) and Assistant Professor Aaron Lecciones (Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) in Wetland Offsetting for Urban Developments: An Example from Valenzuela City, Philippines).

The Congress brought together experts from around the world to discuss wetlands and migratory waterbirds. Among them were world-renown Dr Lu Cai of the EAAF Science Unit and Dr Judit Szabo of the University of Bahia, Brazil.

There were lots of opportunities for networking and for gathering of old friends. Executive Director Amy Lecciones was able to connect with EAAFP colleagues Ms Shufen and Dr Judit, among many other friends and close collaborators.

The field trip for the Congress was a visit to the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetland Conservation Area (NOCWCA), the newest addition to the Ramsar Sites in the Philippines and a river lunch tour along Ilog.

The Congress was a huge success and the delegates were keen to expand their collaboration with participants to the congress in research and projects dealing with wetlands and waterbirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The Overall Coordinator for the International R&D Congress and is the ERDB Ecosystems Research Chief Dr Simplicia A. Pasicolan who is also a Trustee of the SCPW.