๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ Future environmental stewards are being trained in Taytay, Palawan, through a four-day coastal and marine research program. Launched on September 3, 2025, by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) in partnership with Sulubaaรฏ Environmental Foundation , the training at the Sulubaaรฏ Marine Research Center embraces a citizen science approach. This strategy empowers local senior high school students and Bantay Dagat volunteers to actively participate in data collection and environmental monitoring, fostering a sense of ownership over marine conservation efforts.
The program also emphasizes community preparedness and resilience, empowering diverse participantsโincluding youth, women, and marginalized communitiesโwith the knowledge to tackle climate change threats and address the unique challenges they face.
๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ท๐ฆ ๐๐ฏ๐ต๐ฐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ฐ๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ต๐ฉ
During the initial two days, participants used a citizen science approach to get hands-on experience assessing the health of local mangroves and coastal ecosystems. Through ‘coast walk’ and ‘beach profiling’ exercises, they gained practical skills in evaluating coastal integrity.
The trainees discovered the unique mangrove species in their area, including the rare ๐๐ค๐บ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข ๐ฉ๐บ๐ฅ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐บ๐ญ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ๐ข, and the near threatened species ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ช๐ต๐ป๐ฆ๐ณ๐ข ๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข, and learned about the critical role of blue carbon ecosystems โlike mangrovesโin absorbing carbon dioxide and combating climate change. The sessions also included an introduction to Social Behavioral Change and the mandates of the PCSD, equipping students with knowledge of existing policies that protect mangroves and beach forests.
