SU-GForest Project marks first year with convention, stakeholder recognition
The Silliman University GForest Project in South Negros Occidental gathered local government units, people’s organizations, environmental partners, and community stakeholders for its First Annual Convention on June 8, 2026 at the Nauhang Mangrove Eco-Park and Protected Area, celebrating a year of achievements in mangrove and beach forest restoration while charting the next phase of implementation.
Organized by the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS), the convention served as a venue to present project accomplishments, address implementation challenges through collaborative planning, and recognize outstanding contributions from partner organizations and local governments. The event also reinforced commitments to long-term mangrove conservation and ecosystem restoration in southern Negros Occidental.
Participants included the SU-GForest Project team led by Project Coordinator Dr. Hilconida P. Calumpong, together with Logistics Coordinator Clint G. Alvior, Field Operations Coordinator Floramae J. Neri, Blue Carbon Specialist Dr. Pablina L. Cadiz, Project Staff Joaquin Lorenzo I. Hernandez and Julia B. Javier, and Researcher Dianne Mira A. Yap. They were joined by five BS Marine Biology students from the Silliman University Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (SU-IEMS), representatives from the Environment and Natural Resources Offices (ENROs) of Hinoba-an, Sipalay City, and Cauayan, personnel from the Provincial Environment Management Office of Negros Occidental, members of ten partner people’s organizations from the three localities, and representatives from Manami Resort in Sipalay City.
The program opened with welcome remarks from Sipalay City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Leo Chua, followed by an inspirational message from Sipalay City Mayor Maria Gina Lizares. In her address, Lizares underscored the value of the knowledge and skills gained by project beneficiaries, emphasizing that these benefits extend beyond financial incentives and contribute to sustainable environmental stewardship.
A highlight of the convention was the project status report delivered by Neri. She reported that, as of May 2026, the project had achieved 69.7 percent of its target of planting 500,000 mangrove and beach forest seedlings across 52.78 hectares in the municipalities of Hinoba-an, Sipalay, and Cauayan. Sixteen species, comprising 11 true mangrove species and five beach forest species, have been planted, with an overall survival rate of 82.75 percent. The project aims to increase this figure to 90 percent within five years.
Neri also acknowledged challenges encountered during implementation, including the impacts of Typhoons Tino (Kalmaegi) and Uwan (Fung-Wong), as well as human-related disturbances such as kaingin, grazing activities, and animal intrusion.
Meanwhile, Cadiz shared updates on blue carbon monitoring efforts, highlighting data gathered from restoration sites and their potential contribution to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration.
The convention featured breakout workshops where representatives from local government units and partner organizations identified site-specific threats, discussed operational challenges, and developed action plans to improve restoration outcomes. The resulting recommendations were later presented by the respective municipal and city environment officers.
In recognition of stakeholder contributions, certificates of tree planting were awarded to all ten partner people’s organizations. Special awards were also presented to organizations and local government units that demonstrated exemplary performance in project implementation. The Canturay Small Fishermen Association received the Heritiera (Dungon) Award for achieving a 98.7 percent seedling survival rate, while the Nauhang Upland Farmers Association earned the Millettia (Balok-balok) Award for maintaining the project’s best nursery. The Camptostemon (Gapas-gapas) Award was conferred on both the Caliling Marginal Farmers and Fisherfolk Association and the Linaon Barla Small Fishermen Association for innovative use of recycled materials. Sipalay City received the Avicennia (Piapi) Award in recognition of its strong local government support for the project.
The convention also highlighted private-sector engagement in conservation efforts. Manami Resort, represented by Giro Solatorio, signed a certificate of commitment to establish a mangrove nursery and support the Cayhagan Small Fishermen Association, further strengthening partnerships for environmental protection and restoration.
The gathering concluded with closing remarks from Hinoba-an Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Jimmy Camarijan, who encouraged stakeholders to sustain their collaborative efforts toward restoring and protecting the region’s coastal ecosystems.
