DAVAO CITY—The BARMM Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy’s (MENRE) Forest Management Services (FMS) participated in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) National Forest Management Bureau’s Trainers’ Training on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Ex-Ante Carbon-balance Tool (Ex-ACT).

The training, which was held in Davao City from October 2 to 4, 2024, was part of the DENR-UNDP-GEF Project 2024, “Integrated Approach in Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines” or the BD Corridor Project.

The Ex-ACT training aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to accurately estimate and track the impact of agricultural, forestry, and other land-use (AFOLU) investments and policies on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The tool is an Excel-based model with detailed free online training that is available in multiple languages.

FMS representatives joined delegates from DENR National FMB and Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 in the training. The program covered topics such as AFOLU and Climate Change, which provided an overview of the sector and its role in climate change. Ex-ACT Tool was also highlighted, with hands-on training on using the tool for carbon accounting. Furthermore, the existing policies on carbon, international agreements, and REDD+ were also tackled.

By participating in this training, the BARMM MENRE FMS demonstrates its commitment to sustainable forest management and climate change mitigation. The Ministry is grateful for the support of the DENR Central Office and the Forest Management Bureau.