QUEZON CITY — Bolstering its commitment to protecting the natural resources in the Bangsamoro region, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) through its Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Research and Development Services (BERDS) partnered with Wildlife Conservation Society in a planning meeting on March 13-15 at Luxent Hotel, Quezon City.

This activity allows the MENRE-BERDS to exchange learnings and cross-plan about the coral reef health monitoring and data entry with partners from academe and the region. The said planning meeting is in preparation for a new Wildlife Conservation Society regional grant titled “Securing a Sustainable Future for the Coral Reefs of the Sulu-Sulawesi Sea.”

Participants from MENRE and academe include: Chief of Protected Area Management Division, Joeeffry L. Kamid; Ecosystem Management Specialist and Assistant Protected Area Superintendent (APASu-TIWS) Japrin L. Hadji-Amin; and Dr. Richard N. Muallil, Vice Chancellor for Research of Mindanao State University, Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO)

Furthermore, a 3-day “Train the Trainers” training on the Marine Ecological Research Management Aid (MERMAID) is currently being conducted at Grand Luxe Resort in North Sulawesi, Indonesia following the planning meeting. Representatives from MENRE-BERDS are attending the training to enhance their technical skills, which will help ensure that the coral reefs of Southeast Asia’s Sulu-Sulawesi region, like the Turtle Island Wildlife Sanctuary (TIWS), are equipped with the necessary capacity to withstand the effects of climate change.

The MENRE, together with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), is committed to protecting the natural resources in the region. This includes the Turtle Island Wildlife Sanctuary, where MENRE aims to safeguard the coral reef. Coral reefs are essential hotbeds of biodiversity. They serve as sites for shelter, reproduction, feeding, and nursery areas for a wide variety of marine species.