The Soil and Water Conservation Foundation, Inc. (SWCFI), in coordination with the Biodiversity, Environment, and Natural Resources Research Center (BENRC) of Cebu Technological University-Argao Campus, empowered a new batch of ten high schools from Naga, Cebu through a biodiversity conservation training held from January 28 to 31, 2026, in Nug-as, Alcoy, Cebu.
This is line with the ongoing Youth Hands-On Biodiversity Conservation and Management Project of the International Climate Initiative (IKI), designed to train young people in biodiversity management and empower them as advocates for environmental protection.
The training brought together both learners and educators, marking the project’s second consecutive year of implementation. The first batch of participants had previously come from Argao-based high schools and the Carcar City Division.
Facilitated by the BENRC under Center Director Hemres M. Alburo, the four-day training featured key phases such as nursery establishment and management, as well as biodiversity monitoring systems, particularly birding.
Prior to fieldwork, participants attended lecture sessions that introduced the fundamentals of birding. Topics included bird species identification, habitat locations, physical characteristics, and flight patterns.
Moreover, SWCFI provided essential birding tools such as binoculars and bird guidebooks, which were later donated to the participating schools for use in their respective re-echoing activities.
“We are very grateful for the journey and new challenges we experienced,” said Apple Canlum, one of the participating learners. She shared that the forest in Nug-as is vastly different from her home environment, noting its rich biodiversity and the community’s discipline in strictly following policies to protect and preserve the forest.
In keeping with BENRC’s tradition when it comes to forest-related activities, each participating school took part in a tree-planting activity before heading to their respective homes.
Remarkably, for decades now, BENRC and SWCFI have maintained a strong partnership in advancing biodiversity conservation efforts./Melvin T. Benemerito
