Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Central Mindanao University (CMU) continues to sustain and strengthen its partnership with the Philippine Network of Educators on Environment (PNEE), formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement, by participating in the 2024 International Conference on Environmental Education in Southeast Asia (iCEESEA).
The conference was organized in collaboration with Kasetsart University, SESAM-UPLB, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). This marked the second international convention of PNEE, themed “Ecological Literacy: Contributions of Environmental Educators, Practitioners, and Partners in Shaping a Sustainable Future.”
The conference brought together 144 participants from Southeast Asia and featured esteemed speakers from prominent institutions, including SESAM-UPLB, Kasetsart University, UPLB, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN), the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thai Nguyen University in Vietnam, the Regional Community Forestry Training Center (RECOFTC), the American University of Sovereign Nations in Malaysia, Miriam College, Palawan State University, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in Thailand, Royal University of Agriculture in Cambodia, and ASEAN FAO. The conference was also honored by the presence of the Philippine Ambassador to Thailand, Hon. Millicent Cruz Paredes.
Presenters from various colleges, universities, and organizations shared their research findings across four key themes: Enhancing Environmental Education in Effectively Achieving Climate Action and Disaster Resilience; Digitalization in Environmental Education; Environmental Sustainability Across SDGs; and Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Natural Resources Conservation in Environmental Education.
Moreover, CMU showcased its academic contributions by presenting two research papers:
- “Biodiversity Assemblages of Lichen Flora: Their Microclimatic Environmental Conditions and Ecological Roles in the Montane Forest of Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, Philippines,” authored by Prof. Ehlrich Ray J. Magday and CMU Professor Emeritus Dr. Andrea G. Azuelo.
- “Moss Diversity, Composition, and Gradient Distribution in a Changing Environment in Mt. Balatukan Range Natural Park, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines,” authored by Gio Vincent A. Balansag and Dr. Maria Melanie M. Guiang.
Other presenters from Bukidnon included representatives from Kitaotao National High School, San Isidro College, Bukidnon State University, and Bukidnon National High School.
CMU’s involvement in PNEE is significant, with Dr. Angela Grace Toledo-Bruno serving as Vice-President of the PNEE Board of Directors. CMU’s participation aligned with its internationalization initiatives, highlighted by the launch of the ASEAN Network of Educators on Environment (ANEE) during the conference. The ANEE launch was accompanied by a panel discussion on “Articulating SDGs” and the presentation of a white paper resolution affirming PNEE’s commitment to promoting ecological literacy programs and projects across Southeast Asia. The 2024 International Conference on Environmental Education in Southeast Asia (iCEESEA) was held last year in November, at the Maruay Garden Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
Meanwhile, another activity initiated by CMU through Dr. Toledo-Bruno was the visit to the IUCN headquarters in Thailand to explore partnerships in its diverse programs on biodiversity and nature. Through collaborative efforts and meaningful contributions, CMU continues to position itself as a leading institution committed to fostering partnerships and addressing environmental challenges in Southeast Asia and beyond. (Information from Dr. Angela Grace Toledo-Bruno, faculty, CFES)
