DENR to host forum on biodiversity Feb 11

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is hosting an investment forum on opportunities in the sustainable use of marine and forest-based resources in key biodiversity areas (KBA).

The forum slated on Feb. 11 would be attended by Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Senators Loren Legarda and Bam Aquino, United Nations Development Program Country Director Maurice Dewulf, as well as key officials of the Agriculture and Trade departments.

Chief executives of local government units and representatives of non-government organizations would also be present during the investment forum.

With the theme “Conserving Biodiversity to Promote Inclusive Economic Growth,” the forum will showcase available business opportunities identified by the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) in KBAs.

Business opportunities in KBAs have been identified by the BMB in collaboration with the departments of Trade, Agriculture and Tourism through its Biodiversity Partnership Project (BPP), which was launched in November 2012 with a $17-million funding from the World Bank’s Global Environment Facility.

These investments opportunities include the following: An ecotourism project as well as furniture and handicraft production within the 200,155-hectare Malampaya Sound Protected Land and Seascape Area in Taytay, Palawan; community-based coffee enterprises and processed food at the Quirino Protected Landscape in Quirino province; handicraft production and handloom weaving using the bakong plant and a wine, vinegar, jam factory using a local fruit called Lubeg inside the Northeastern Cagayan KBA in Cagayan Valley; an eco park project integrating a lemongrass and citronella plantation and essential oils extraction facility and gifts and houseware production using tiger grass, nito, bamboo and abaca in Northern Negros Natural Park in Negros Occidental; manufacture of houseware products from abaca, bamboo and nito in Central Panay Mountains in the island of Panay; Almaciga resin production in Mt. Hamiguitan Wildlife Reserve Sanctuary in Davao Oriental; community-based coffee enterprises and handicraft production in Mt. Kalatungan, a New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (NewCAPP) site in Bukidnon province.