US-backed UPLB graduate program focused on marine biodiversity

The University of the Philippines and the United States government on Friday launched a new graduate program aiming to help protect the Philippines’ rich marine biodiversity.

 

UP President Alfredo Pascual and US Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Mission Director Reed Aeschliman launched the Professional Masters in Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management. 

 

In a news release, the US Embassy in Manila said this is the first UP graduate program to be offered in Diliman, Los Baños and Visayas.

 

This stemmed from a grant the USAID awarded to the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation based at the UP Marine Science Institute.

 

Pascual said this master’s degree program is strategic, as it gives international recognition to UP’s expertise in marine science and the active role of its constituent units in realizing the goals of the Coral Triangle Initiative.

 

"The participation of international lecturers and NGOs in the program likewise provides UP the opportunity to pursue more collaborative research with American experts,” he said.

 

Aeschliman added that while the Philippines relies on marine resources for food, livelihood and tourism, such marine resources face significant threats.

 

Because of this, it is "crucial to promote conservation and develop local expertise to enhance natural resource management.”

 

“Strengthened natural resources and environmental management contributes to our shared goal of broad-based and resilient growth in the Philippines,” Aeschliman said.

 

Coral triangle initiative

 

The US Embassy said the program aligns with the goals of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) on conservation and food security.

 

"It will also provide opportunities to middle-management professionals in government, NGOs, and the private sector to enhance their management skills with a solid marine science foundation," it said.

 

CTI is an agreement among Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.

 

It aims to protect the marine and coastal resources of the area which are threatened by unsustainable fishing practices and the effects of climate change. 

 

P2 billion

 

Through USAID, the US government has invested more than P2 billion over the last decade for supporting marine biodiversity conservation in the Philippines.

 

"Successfully completed programs such as the Fisheries Improved for Sustainable Harvest and the Coral Triangle Support Partnership worked with the Philippines to promote appropriate management, good governance and community engagement in the coastal and marine sector," the embassy said.

 

It added the new graduate program "builds on the successes and lessons of these programs."

 

Also, the program aligns with the 2012 U.S.-Philippines Science and Technology (S&T) Agreement.

 

At a joint committee meeting under the S&T Agreement in October 2014, Philippine and US representatives identified joint initiatives related to marine ecosystem and biodiversity research.

 

The joint committee also agreed to cooperate in climate change and disaster resilience, health research, and science education. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News