The UPLB Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (UPLB-INREM) will hold the Fourth International Conference on Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (INREM 2023) on November 21-23.
Expected to grace the 3-day conference, themed “Future-Proofing Sustainable Ridge-to-Reef Transformations through INREM, are Environment Secretary Ma. Antonio “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga and Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” Salceda of the 2nd District of Albay. Yulo-Lozaga and Salceda will give the keynote messages on the first and second days, respectively.
Around 200 researchers, academics and practitioners will be attending the conference. They will come from the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Japan, India, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
There will be plenary and parallel session talks, poster presentations featuring innovative practices, as well as research and development programs on INREM.
Among the topics that will be tackled at the conference are innovative ideas and actual experiences in resilience-building, sustainable development and integrated management of agriculture, environment, aquatic and natural resources in the Asia-Pacific region, landscapes, seascapes, small islands, lakes and river basins, rural-urban linkages, natural resources and environment management as the backbone of resilience, transformative education for INREM, oil spill disasters, spatial decision-support systems, and environment and economics research.
The conference will also feature the official launching of UPLB-INREM as an affiliate hub of the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI).
The INREM 2023 co-organizers are UPRI and the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR) in partnership with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research of the Development of the Department of Science and Technology and the Forest Foundation Philippines.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Oceana Philippines, and the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research are among the parallel session co-organisers.
The conference also received support and assistance from the UP Office of International Linkages, Tan Yan Kee Foundation Inc., CFNR Alumni Association, D.M. Consunji Inc., Marubeni, Nickel Asia Corp., San Roque Power Corporation, Manila Water Corporation, Klima 1.5 Corp, and Energy Development Corporation.
The UPLB-INREM, an affiliated hub of the UPRI, envisions becoming a world-class center of excellence in integrated natural resources management and environmental protection through research, development, and public service.
UPLB-INREM is chaired by Professor Juan M. Pulhin of the CFNR, a UP Scientist and an Academician at the National Academy of Science and Technology. His co-chair is Professor Michelle Grace V. Paraso of the College of Veterinary Medicine, also a UP Scientist.
The International Conference on INREM is held every two years. (Farah Sevilla and Catherine S. Anders)