By Mikee Natinga Norico
Dr. Stella G. Fernandez, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (3rd from R); Ma. Nancy Ibuna, BCSP President (4th from L); together with key representatives from partner agencies and institutions, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the opening of the 32nd Philippine Biodiversity Symposium on August 12, 2025.
More than 400 participants from across the country gathered at Central Philippine University (CPU) for the 32nd Philippine Biodiversity Symposium, held on August 12–15, 2025, marking the first time the prestigious gathering has been hosted on Panay Island since its inception in 1992. The four-day national event was co-hosted by CPU and the Haribon Foundation, with the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (BCSP) as the main organizer, supported by partner agencies and institutions nationwide.
With the theme “One Future: Biodiversity, Climate, and Health,” the symposium served as a vital platform for conservation practitioners, scientists, policymakers, and nature advocates to exchange knowledge, present research, and strengthen collaboration for biodiversity protection in the Philippines.
In her welcome message on behalf of CPU President Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy, Dr. Esther Rose A. Romarate, Vice President for Student Affairs, emphasized CPU’s long-standing commitment to environmental advocacy, highlighting the University’s partnership with the Haribon Foundation through the Community Engagement and Service Learning Center, and its educational initiatives promoting the preservation of endangered species, particularly the “Big 5.”
Dr. Esther Rose A. Romarate, Vice President for Student Affairs, delivers her welcome remarks during the opening program of the 32nd Philippine Biodiversity Symposium on August 12, 2025 at the Rose Memorial Auditorium.
“The CPU family, its staff and students, have been engaged in many programs that support biodiversity conservation even before the pandemic. The Community Engagement and Service Learning Center has been an active partner of the Haribon Foundation in implementing biodiversity conservation programs,” she said. “That is why it was not difficult for CPU to say ‘yes’ to BCSP and the Haribon Foundation when we were asked to consider hosting this event.”
She also acknowledged the efforts of the CPU Organizing Committee, headed by Dr. Stella Fernandez, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Ms. Lenny Rose P. Mucho, Director of the Review, Continuing Education, and Consultancy Center, for their leadership in coordinating with BCSP.
The opening program, held at the Rose Memorial Auditorium, featured messages from Arlie Jo B. Endonila, Chief Operating Officer of the Haribon Foundation, and Maria Nancy P. Ibuna, BCSP President. A plenary talk by Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim followed, setting the tone for the sessions ahead.
Over the course of four days, the symposium featured plenary talks, concurrent sessions, workshops, and exhibits covering topics such as biodiversity research, climate action, ecosystem restoration, policy innovations, and community engagement. Key presentations included updates on the Philippine Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Map, the launch of the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and discussions on the intersections of biodiversity, climate, and public health.
Aside from academic sessions, the event also featured exhibits showcasing nature conservation efforts, which were open to the public outside the Rose Memorial Auditorium throughout the event.
According to BCSP President Maria Nancy Ibuna, the symposium fostered collaboration and shared learning among conservation practitioners.
“This gathering strengthens our collective commitment to protect biodiversity, sustain ecosystems, and safeguard the health of both people and nature,” she noted.
The event will conclude with a closing ceremony and fellowship dinner, celebrating the strengthened network of conservation advocates and reinforcing the shared commitment to safeguarding the Philippines’ rich biodiversity for future generations.
By hosting this year’s symposium, CPU further solidified its role as a hub for environmental education, research, and advocacy, affirming its dedication to initiatives that align with both local and global sustainability goals.