Mindanaotoday.com | DENR-10 underscores environmental challenges in Mindanao-wide forum
By: Jan Albert Araña
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) held its Mindanao-wide two-day multi-stakeholder forum as part of its advocacy for nationwide consultation to better address the environmental challenges in the country, February 2.
The Mindanao leg is the third forum conducted by the agency, which aims to open dialogue among various stakeholders and gather information on their priorities for possible inclusion in the agency’s policy agenda and multi-year roadmap for programs, activities, and projects.
“Today’s DENR Multi-stakeholder Forum in Mindanao is an opportunity for all of us to gather both evidence and expertise to support this administration’s priorities for economic recovery, climate-resilient and inclusive development, and a just transition towards the green and blue economy,” DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga shared.
With the country’s existing issues and concerns about the environment, Loyzaga underscored the need to unify stakeholders to bolster understanding and cooperation and overcome the challenges of coherence and implementation.
The forum also wants to bring attention to environmental governance and important issues like ecotourism, agriculture and food security, forest and land management, climate and disaster resilience, and mining.
A Resiliency Framework for Environment and Natural Resources is expected to be produced from the forum and will serve as the foundation for science-based, data-driven, and culturally-sensitive environment and natural resources policies and activities that will be co-implemented by both government and non-government sectors. (JAKA | PIA-10)
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