The School of Environmental Science and Management-University of the Philippines Los Baños (SESAM-UPLB) held the 1st SESAM ExChanges Seminar for 2024 with the topic “Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG): The Asian Perspective” last February 23, 2023 via Zoom and Facebook Live. SESAM ExChanges is an environmental challenges and solutions seminar series organized by the Continuing Education and Training Division (CETD) of SESAM UPLB.

Dr. Chien-Wen Shen, Professor of Business Administration and a Division Director of the Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility Office at the National Central University (NCU), Taiwan tackled ESG with his presentation entitled “Impact Management and SDGs 2030: Operationalizing Sustainability Through Social Return on Investment (SROI)”.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Rico C. Ancog, Dean of SESAM-UPLB said that this webinar is important, focusing on ESG- Environmental Social Governance in relation to sustainability development goals. “For the longest time, we pursue environmental management in the Philippines and it follows a narrative when we talk about the private sector and the way to operate business activities requires trade-off in the social and environmental aspects. We now look at the private sector as an important partner in sustainability aspirations and achievement of sustainability”

Dr. Shen, served as the Director several institutions, namely, the Asian Institute for Impact Measurement and Management, the Yunus Social Business Center, and the Center for Media and Social Impact at NCU. “Impact is a change in an outcome caused by an organization. Impacts can be positive or negative, intended or unintended, and direct or indirect. It can vary on how much they contribute to the SDGs”, he said. 

A graduate of PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from Northwestern University, Dr. Shen established the “Yunus Prize: Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition” in 2016 and the “Hope Media Award” in 2018 to advocate social value initiatives in Taiwan.

For. Sofia A. Alaira, Head of CETD, discussed SESAM ExChanges seminar series, which started in 2021. Resource speakers from different institutions around the world were already invited to speak in this webinar series. In this 10th installment, more than 300 attended via Zoom and Facebook Live.

Former SESAM Dean Ben Malayang to visit SESAM on February 29, 2024 as resource speaker on the upcoming SESAM ExChanges Series 11. He will discuss “Environmental Security and Sustainability: Positioning Science as the Basis of Environmental Diplomacy and Negotiations”. Please scan the QR code to register.

The UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM), through its DOST-PCAARRD funded project Laguna Lake Ecotourism Advocacy or Project LEAD, will be holding a Policy Forum with the theme “Mismo sa Ekoturismo: Ushering towards a Sustainable Laguna de Bay Through Lake-based Ecotourism Management.” The forum will take place on February 16, 2024 at Acacia Hotel Manila, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. 

This policy forum aims to refine policy advocacy strategies and facilitate the adoption of a science and technology-based model for lake-based ecotourism management in Laguna de Bay. Members of the Laguna de Bay Ecotourism Working Group will also be identified and nominated.

Key stakeholders from the provinces of Laguna and Rizal, Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of Tourism (DOT) are expected to grace this collaborative endeavor. 

To gain perspectives from the academe, representatives from academic institutions including UPLB and Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) will be in attendance. Representatives from environmental organization Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands (SCWP) will also be present in the event.

Project LEAD is a DOST-PCAARRD funded project that aims to facilitate the adoption of ecotourism as a local sustainable development solution and framework for Laguna de Bay’s resource use and management. To know more about Project LEAD, you may visit their Facebook page. (Jewel S. Cabrera)

SESAM ExChanges Series 10 to feature Environmental, Social and Governance: The Asian Perspective. Join us on February 23, 2024 at 9 am. Please scan the QR code to register.

Left to right: Asst. Prof. Dr. Surat Bualert, Former Dean of the Kasetsart University (KU) Faculty of Environment; Dr. Rico C. Ancog, Current Dean and Professor of UP Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management; Assoc. Prof. Sasivimol Meeampol, DBA, Current Dean of KU Faculty of Business Administration; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bordin Rassameethes, Former Dean of KU Faculty of Business Administration

Academic and research institutions are key players in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as “they”, according to the United Nations, “serve as incubators of new ideas, inventions and solutions to the many global challenges we face”. The 17 SDGs are reflected in the 2023 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which all United Nations Member States, including the Philippines, committed to adopt. 

As the country’s national university, the University of the Philippines is committed to work and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. In its Sustainability Report for AY 2021-2022, the UP Systems’ accomplishments in six of the 17 SDGs were presented: SDG3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG4: Quality Education; SDG5: Gender Equality; SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG13: Climate Action; and SDG17: Partnership for the Goals.

At the University of the Philippines Los Baños, seven SDGs are aligned with its thrusts through its research and extension agenda- the AGORA or Accelerating Growth through One Research and Extension in Action. These seven SDGs are: SDG2: Zero Hunger; SDG4: Quality Education; SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG13: Climate Action; and SDG15: Life on Land.

On environmental concerns, the UP Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) leads the University in advancing environmental education, research, and public service at the core of sustainability. It operates with the strategic framework, Sustainability and Accelerated Innovation in Learning and Solutions (SAILS), to contribute in the achievement of a more sustainable future. 

In 11-15 December of last year, SESAM joined several countries from Asia in a series of lectures and discussions on impact measurement and management, sustainable leadership, best practices, among other topics that relate to the attainment of the SDGs. The event was the first SDG Impact Week of the National Central University (NCU) in Taoyuan, Taiwan organized by the Asian Institute of Impact Measurement and Management. This 5-day event also allowed considerable opportunity for networking and initial discussions of potential partnerships. 

As a spin-off of this successful assembly, SESAM, through the Dean, Dr. Rico C. Ancog, is reconnecting with the universities that participated in the event. Among which is the Kasetsart University, a public research university and the largest in Thailand. Sharing the same commitment to provide excellent academic programs and to advance high quality research, creative works, and innovation, several potential areas for collaboration relevant and beneficial to both parties have been initially discussed. Focus is on the SDGs, environmental management and business in Asia. 

Moreover, the Philippine delegation to the NCU’s 2023 SDG Impact Week who are from SESAM are now actively participating in the three committees organized during the event. The committees have already embarked this month for initial discussions on potential teaching, research, and training activities to be implemented across the region. Dean Rico C. Ancog was selected as Coordinator for the Research Committee, Assistant Professor Eduardo F. Roquiño for the Teaching Committee, and For. Sofia A. Alaira for the Training Committee. Dr. Jessica Villanueva-Peyraube is the Secretary of the Research Committee and a member of the Teaching Committee while Cherry S. Padilla is a member of the Training Committee.   

These initiatives are part of the action plan of SESAM to position the School and the University in international efforts concerning impact management and as a way to contribute to the country’s success in meeting the UN SDG targets. (Cherry S. Padilla)

SESAM Graduate Students,

Please be guided by the list of courses offered by SESAM this second semester, A.Y. 2023-2024. Visit the SESAM website (https://sesam.uplb.edu.ph/) for the contact details of the assigned coordinators of the subject you wish to enroll in if you have some concerns or queries on the subject.

NOTE: You can now process your COI through AMIS

Last November 28-29, 2023, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) hosted a meeting of more than 160 project leaders in Brisbane. The meeting served as a platform for the exchange of ideas, strategies, and innovations aimed at advancing agricultural development in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

SESAM dean, Dr. Rico C. Ancog attended this two-day gathering which took place at the heart of Brisbane. SESAM is currently implementing two ACIAR-funded Projects on OneHealth/EcoHealth. Focused in the Philippines, the first project aims to analyze integrated policy options on African swine fever, avian influenza and antimicrobial resistance with SESAM REPS, Dr. Yusuf A. Sucol as the project leader. On the other hand, the second project also utilized the OneHealth approach for the identification of livestock management interventions for selected countries in the Southeast Asian region with Dr. Ancog as the project leader. 

The event brought together project leaders from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. Through collaborative discussions and knowledge sharing, participants explored ways to address critical challenges facing agriculture, food security, and rural livelihoods in the region. This two-day gathering featured a series of engaging sessions, discussions and presentations focusing on a wide array of topics, including delivering impact from research: theory of change and some case studies on translating knowledge into practice. 

The meeting also provided a platform for networking and forging new partnerships among project leaders, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across diverse agricultural landscapes. The ACIAR project leaders meeting in Brisbane served as a testament to the pivotal role of collaborative research and innovation in shaping the future of agriculture. As the discussions and initiatives from the event continue to unfold, the collective efforts of project leaders are poised to make a lasting impact on agricultural development, productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems and food system resilience in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

The School of Environmental Science and Management of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (SESAM-UPLB) joined the 1^st Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Impact Week of the National Central University in Taoyuan, Taiwan on 11 to 15 December 2023 with 9 participating Asian countries. 

Comprised of two major events- the 2023 Impact Measurement and Management Workshop and the 2023 Asian Forum on Sustainability Leadership and Impact Management- the SDG Impact Week convened delegates from Taiwan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines for discussions and collaborations on activities and projects with meaningful impacts significant to achieving the 17 SDGs. 

Experts and practitioners from Asian countries discussed the theoretical foundations and practical applications of frameworks, tools, and methods in the assessment, measurement, and management of the impacts of social enterprises implemented in various sectors, such as private, public, academe, and non-profit organizations. With lectures, dialogues, roundtables, panel discussions, and other discussion sessions, the event not only served as a learning avenue but also paved the way for networking and initiating collaborations among the international delegates, organizers, and resource persons. 

The Philippine delegation from SESAM led by the Dean, Dr. Rico C. Ancog, composed of Dr. Jessica Villanueva-Peyraube, Associate Professor; Mr. Eduardo F. Roquiño, Assistant Professor; For. Sofia A. Alaira, University Researcher II; and Cherry S. Padilla, University Researcher I.  Commencing this January 2024, they will co-develop teaching, research, and training designs to be implemented by the different committees constituted during the workshop aimed to forward sustainability agenda and equitable future. Assistant Professor Roquiño was then elected as the Coordinator for the Teaching Committee and Dr. Rico C. Ancog for the Research Committee. 

The SDG Impact Week was organized by the Asian Institute for Impact Measurement and Management (AIIMM) and the National Central University’s School of Management and Business Administration with sponsorship from the National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan. Aligned with the mandates of SESAM, AIIMM is a civic and social organization pioneering in impact measurement and management that benefit the industry, government, and academia with thrusts relevant to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and sustainable development. (Cherry S. Padilla and Sofia A. Alaira)

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The Journal of Environmental Science and Management (JESAM), an international refereed scientific journal indexed by Web of Science and Scopus recently released its 2nd Issue for 2023 under Volume 26. Composed of eight papers on pressing environmental topics, it covers the West Philippines Sea, plastic pollution and waste management, and tools for natural assessment and management.

Highlight of this issue is a study tackling possible policy options for the West Philippines Sea (WPS). It argues that there is a need for collaborative efforts from various states that benefit from the disputed waters towards conservation and its sustenance as “living waters” of common value to many. 

Three papers present views on understanding the socio-environmental aspects to offer alternatives on how to better address complex environmental problems such as solid and wastewater pollution. One studied the gendered decision-making in terms of reusable bag use in Indonesia, a country where plastic pollution also remains a problem due to the rampant utilization of single-use plastic bags. The author pointed out that “the study extends beyond academia, offering practical guidance to marketers, retailers, and policymakers seeking to promote environmentally conscious consumer behavior and reduce plastic bag consumption”. On the other hand, a study on waste management of dairy buffalo farmers in Nueva Ecija, Philippines as influenced by their socio-economic status and farm profile was also focused. This study proposes the Local Government Units to promote and establish a centralized market for composts to encourage dairy farmers to adopt rapid composting and to boost the business of vermi-compost practitioners. Another article presented how fishing management practices of fisherfolks in San Miguel Bay in the Philippines affect the fish catch of Otolithes ruber, an economically important fish species in the area. Authors emphasized that “unsustainable fishing practices will eventually contribute to further environmental problems that will significantly result in negative outcomes and if not abated, employment and livelihood opportunities generated from O. ruber processing would diminish and vanish anytime”. 

Articles on tools for the management of natural resources were also included in the issue. A paper presents a mathematical model for forecasting water levels in Angat Dam, Philippines. This study employed time-series analysis to understand historical behavioral pattern and provide a short-term forecast for the water level at Angat Dam. Based on the paper, “series decomposition revealed the absence of over-all trend component but presence of seasonality in the dataset.” In addition, a study using life cycle assessment to identify cost-effective low-carbon production systems for swine farms was presented in one paper. This research revealed that the low-carbon swine farm production system entailed 31.93 % decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to the conventional swine farm production system. Also, the low-carbon swine farm production system showed higher profitability and a quicker return on investment, indicating that it is “a cost-effective alternative to the conventional production system”. These two papers offer case studies on how emerging tools may be used as decision-support system for managing natural resources.

Another two articles evaluated the efficacy of scientific interventions in addressing ecological problems and how they affect overall ecosystem health. A paper assessed the implications of coral fragment implantation on the diversity of reef fishes in four recipient municipalities of the government’s initiative on reef rehabilitation. This study showed that coral reef restoration through the transplantation of coral fragments can enhance reef fish community diversity in at least two recipient municipalities. The other study evaluated the use of Trichoderma Microbial Inoculant (TMI) and salt on the recovery of coconut trees infested with scale insects. Findings show that coconuts grown in relatively fertile soil recovered from scale insect infestation fast with the use of TMI and salt as measured by the significant increase in the number of green leaves. Both papers gave insights into the successes and challenges of ecological restoration.

JESAM is among the five Philippine-based journals included in the 2021 Clarivate Analytics Journal Citation Report with a current Impact Factor of 0.400.  It is produced semi-annually by the University of the Philippines Los Baños – School of Environmental Science and Management (UPLB-SESAM). JESAM accepts submissions of research articles on environmental science and management covering environmental planning and management, environmental restoration, and similar topics. Full articles in this issue may be accessed at Journal of Environmental Science and Management (uplb.edu.ph).### (CBGigantone, RDAreglado, CSPadilla)

The UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (UPLB-SESAM), alongside Future Earth Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus Knowledge-Action Network (KAN) & Asia Hub, co-organized the 2023 Monsoon Asia Integrated Research for Sustainability – Future Earth (MAIRS-FE) Scientific Steering Committee Meeting and Side Events on November 16 to 17, 2023 at Century Park Hotel, Manila. This gathering brought together sustainability leaders and experts with the aim of collectively addressing critical sustainability challenges prevalent across the Asian region.

The primary focus of the meeting was to foster cross-disciplinary exchanges and collaborative efforts among various institutions across Asia. Distinguished experts from prominent universities and organizations gathered to deliberate on pressing issues and emphasize the intricate relationships between water, energy, and food systems that are integral to ensuring sustainability in the region.

Attending the meeting were representatives from the Center of Excellence for Soil Research in Asia, Indian Institute of Science, Institut Pertanian Bogor University, Michigan State University, National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Philippines, Peking University, PIAREA Institute, University of Information and Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and UPLB.

Esteemed guests such as UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. and Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), also graced the meeting and contributed their insights.

Throughout the sessions, the presenters highlighted regional climate challenges and ecological imbalances while stressing the urgency of proactive measures. The discussions centered on devising actionable strategies to manage resources more effectively, strengthen climate resilience, and promote inclusive development.

A recurring theme emerged during discussions–the call for collaborative action. Participants emphasized the need for precise data, innovative solutions, and impactful policy interventions to effectively address sustainability challenges. They underscored the critical role of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration in this pursuit.

As the conference concluded, the participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to influencing future initiatives, guiding policy-making endeavors, and facilitating partnerships to steer the Asian region toward a more sustainable and resilient future. (Laurenz B. Cruz and Jewel S. Cabrera)