PAFERN and UPLB-IAF Conduct Regional Training on Promoting Sustainable Upland Development in Southeast Asia (SUDSEA)

Sixteen (16) teaching staff and development workers from the six member-countries of the Southeast Asian Network for Agroforestry Education (SEANAFE), namely:  Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam were convened in a Regional Training on SUDSEA.  Held on September 28 to October 8, 2009 at the SEARCA Residence Hotel, UPLB, College, Laguna, the said regional training primarily aimed at enhancing the capacities of the trainers engaged in promoting sustainable upland development in Southeast Asia.  Specifically, the 10-day training program enabled the participants to:

a.      Share the national initiatives in promoting sustainable upland development via country report;

b.      Explain the concepts and principles of sustainable upland development

c.       Share the recent issues, challenges and prospects of sustainable upland development in their respective countries and, in the process, acquire a more regional perspective of the subject matter

d.      Acquire skills in applying the appropriate tools and approaches, including the strategies in mobilizing communities and other institutions towards sustainable upland development

e.       Prepare regional and country action plans towards sustainable upland development  in their respective countries

The regional training on SUDSEA is composed of four modules, namely:  Overview of Sustainable Upland Development in Southeast Asia; Tools, Techniques and Approaches in Promoting Sustainable Upland Development; Managing Organizations and Mobilizing Communities and Institutions in Sustainable Upland Development; and, Developing Responsive Action Plans Towards Promoting Sustainable Upland Development in Southeast Asia. 

The Regional Training on SUDSEA is an offshoot of the “Consultative Workshop Towards Developing Curricular Programs on Sustainable Upland Development” that was organized by the Institute of Agroforestry in April 2009, and funded by the University of the Philippines Los Banos.   The said workshop identified the need to offer a non-formal program on sustainable upland development.

SEANAFE provided the funding support in the implementation of this regional training.  Meanwhile, three representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Forest Management Bureau (DENR-FMB) and one representative from the Municipality of Ligao, Albay, attended the said training on a fee-basis. 

The UPLB-Institute of Agroforestry and the Philippine Agroforestry Education and Research Network (PAFERN) co-organized the 10-day regional training.