BRP to hold conference on biodiversity research-for-development

The SEARCA - Biodiversity Research Programme (BRP) for Development in Mindanao will hold the Conference-Workshop Towards a Regional Cooperation on Biodiversity Research-for-Development on 28-29 November 2005 at Discovery Suites, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

In 1997, SEARCA and the Netherlands Development Assistance Research Council (RAWOO) brought together researchers and policymakers from the country in a workshop to determine the national research agenda and priorities for biodiversity conservation in the Philippines. From this research agenda, the BRP was developed and provided funding by the Netherlands Ministry for Development Cooperation (DGIS).

Now on its fifth and final year of implementation, SEARCA-BRP is organizing and sponsoring this conference-workshop to assess the results of the BRP vis-à-vis the 1997 research agenda and situate its research results in the context of other biodiversity conservation efforts in the country and in the Southeast Asian region.

The conference will feature a Keynote Paper that will present local and international initiatives on biodiversity research-for-development and the linkage between biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction, and five Country Papers that will present the status of biodiversity conservation in each country, highlighting the experiences and results of biodiversity projects implemented.

A workshop will follow to conceptualize a regional research-for-development programme focused on biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction in SE Asia.

For more information, please contact Dr. Mariliza V. Ticsay, Coordinator, BRP National Support Secretariat (NSS) at SEARCA, through telephone (63-49) 536-2290 loc. 132, fax (63-49) 536-4105, or e-mail brp@agri.searca.org.