The Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, Inc. (PNPCSI) held its 6th International Symposium virtually from November 15 to 19 with the theme ”Saving the Plants that Save Us: Conservation of Native Flora Amidst Calamities”. The program includes plenary talks, oral and poster presentations, botanical art exhibit and workshop.
De La Salle Lipa-Center for Batangas Studies (DLSL-CSB) is the official IT partner while Geiser Maclang Marketing Communications Inc. served as the advocacy partner. Program partners included Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines, Philippine Botanical Art Society, Philippine Taxonomic Initiative, and Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment. Media partners are the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau, Philippine Parks and Biodiversity, the National Museum of the Philippines, Forest Foundation Philippines, the Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative, Visayas State University, Far Eastern University, University of the Philippines Los Baños, and Ateneo de Manila University.
Virtual Poster and Botanical Art Show
The virtual scientific poster exhibit, the symposium’s first academic event, commenced on the first day. Aside from the poster exhibition, a botanical art show was opened by Bing Famoso Tac-an, founder of the Philippine Botanical Art Society. The said art show was dubbed as “Native Flora: Immortalizing our Natural Heritage Through Art”.
The final activity for the day was the commemoration of the death anniversary of Filipino botanist Leonardo Co, founder of PNPCSI. Anthony Arbias, former president of PNPCSI, shared about the legacy of Sir Leonard, as told and retold by his family, friends, and colleagues.
Plenary and Parallel Sessions
The symposium’s second day began with a plenary presentation themed “Native Flora Support/Regulate our Ecosystems and Safeguard us Against Calamities” speaker, Alexandre Antonelli, PhD (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew). He talked about “The Benefits of Native Flora for Ecosystem and Human Health”. This was followed by two parallel sessions.
The same format was also adopted during the third day with “Native Flora Sustain our Health” featuring Ramon A. Razal, PhD (University of the Philippines Los Baños) as plenary speaker. His topic is “Beyond Timber Trees, Non-Timber Forest Plants Sustain People and their Ways of Living”.
On the fourth day, the plenary session was themed “Native flora are our Unique Natural Heritage” with speaker Michael Agbayani Calaramo, MSC (Northwestern University Ecological Park & Botanic Gardens). He focused on “Documenting and Conserving the Plant Diversity of Northwestern Luzon, Philippines Amidst a Changing Climate and a Global Pandemic”.
Moreover, to amp up the delegates’, presenters’, and Facebook live audience’s learning experiences, a live Q & A with the Academic Panel, Meet the Presenters and Chikahan Sessions were also held. The live audience and select academic panel had the chance to throw in questions for the plenary and parallel session presenters.
Botanical Art Workshop and Awarding Ceremonies
On the last day, a Botanical Art workshop was held in coordination with the Philippine Botanical Art Society (PhilBAS) and the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative. This was followed by the awarding ceremonies for Best Oral/Poster Presentations State of the Nation’s Plants Pieter B. Pelser, PhD Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines (CDFP) Albert Balbutin, Jr. PNPCSI, and Leon Dulce Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment.
Advocacy Organization
PNPCSI is a non-profit, non-governmental advocacy professional organization founded in 2008 by the late Leonardo L. Co. It aims to contribute to Philippine native plant research and conservation by conducting scientific research; providing technical assistance, training and student mentorship; promoting the use of native plants in landscaping and reforestation; and increasing public awareness for the conservation of botanic resources in the country.
