The Governing Board partners with the USAID's B-LEADERS Project
In coordination with the Zamboanga City Airshed Governing Board (ZCAGB) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the Tumaga River WQMA Governing Board forged a partnership with the USAID’s Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability (B-LEADERS) Project to initiate the groundwork of introducing and mainstreaming Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory and Forest Carbon Accounting in Zamboanga City.
To set off this collaboration, a two-day capability building for the Governing Board members and other stakeholders was conducted on April 19-20, 2016 in Zamboanga City. Consultants from the B-LEADERS Project were present to orient the participants on GHG and carbon sequestration inventory.
In her welcome message, EMB 9 Regional Director Jacqueline A. Caancan, who is the chair of the Tumaga River WQMA Governing Board and deputy chair of ZCAGB, emphasized on the need to be one with the environment given the challenges we now face and lauded the goals and objectives of the activity, which is aligned with the celebration of Earth Day this month of April with the theme “Trees for the Earth.” She concluded her message by underlining DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje’s ongoing initiative: the DENR’s greening program to reforest a large portion of the Region to restore the integrity of the environment and enhance efforts against the negative impacts of climate change.
The discussion on Carbon Sequestration Potential of Selected Treevolution Sites in Zamboanga City with the introduction to Carbon Sequestration in the Forestry Sector was given by Dr. Ernesto Guiang, B-LEADERS consultant. Dr. Guiang introduced the Ridge-to-Rift (R2R) perspective for carrying out the carbon accounting in Zamboanga City. Emphasis was given on how the forestry sector plays an important role in contributing to maintaining global carbon balance and addressing climate change related issues through mitigation efforts. It was also emphasized that accounting for the carbon within forest ecosystems and changes in carbon stocks resulting from human activities is a necessary first step towards better representation of forests in climate change policy at the landscape and landscape levels.
Dr. Guiang stressed that the major contribution of forest in the watershed is improving water quality. He also said that land use is regulated by the LGU as it issues locational clearance, hence, dictates changes in land use. Dr. Guiang said that there will always be tradeoffs in making decisions that will affect landscapes and seascapes. He stated that “either you sacrifice ecosystem social services or you optimize socioeconomic benefits.”
The Sampling Methodology and Approaches in the conduct of Carbon Sequestration Inventory was provided by Dr. Jupiter Casas, also a B-LEADERS Consultant. His discussion focused on how to conduct sampling methodology for the forestry sector and how it can be applied in mangrove forests. As part of the introduction, key concepts and terminologies were presented to provide the participants better understanding of the sampling techniques and methodologies in carbon stock assessment, which will be used during the process of planning, designing, and collecting of samples and analysis.
Ms. Jeanette Laurente, B-LEADERS Consultant, provided the rationale and objectives of the GHG inventory. Ms. Laurente said that GHG inventory is conducted to account the anthropogenic GHG emissions by sources and removals by sinks to be able to manage these emissions. Ms. Marina Mallare, also a B-LEADERS Consultant, presented an overview on climate change realities and potential risks for the Philippines. Setting the context of the discussion provided the participants a deeper understanding on the rationale behind pursuing a GHG Inventory in Zamboanga City and how climate variability, extreme weather events and other signs and effects of climate change bears impact in their community. A discussion on the Philippine Policy Framework on Climate Change was also included in the agenda. As part of the general overview and introduction to GHG Inventory, a discussion on the key GHG accounting concepts and processes, frameworks and principles, levels of inventory, sources of GHG emissions and options for actions (i.e. mitigation and adaptation), as well as purpose and benefits of conducting a GHG accounting and inventory were presented. She emphasized that the first step in reducing our emissions is to understand our carbon footprint.
After the presentation of key concepts and basic principles, case studies and LGU best practices were also discussed. Finally, the development of a GHG Management Plan and the creation of a GHG inventory team was presented to the participants. To conclude the orientation, the participants were given a task to be accomplished in groups, which consists of a sample exercise in GHG accounting. The participants were given sample activity data and emission factor data, which they used to compute for the GHG emission.
