CatSU makes waves on the global stage
Faculty๐๐ซ. ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ, ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐, ๐๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ง
From the island-province of Catanduanes to the coastal city of Barcelona, Spain, Dr. Jimmy T. Masagca, a renowned climate change expert from the Catanduanes State University (CatSU), joined his fellow climate experts and scientists across the world at the three-day UN Ocean Decade Conference from April 10-12, and talked about mangrove restoration.
Hosted by the Government of Spain and co-organized with UNESCOโs Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), the conference celebrated the three-year achievements of the 10-year framework initiative of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) and set joint priorities to overcome the various challenges being confronted by our oceans including climate change, natural hazards, and pollution among others.
As among the three invited Filipinos at the UN Ocean Decade, Dr. Masagca presented and spoke with his fellow climate experts about his paper entitled โA nature-based solution for climate adaptation and mangrove biodiversity rehabilitation as a conservation evidence initiative in the Philippinesโ, anchored with the 2nd of 10 Ocean Decade Challenges โ protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity.
Aligned with the vision and mission of the UN Ocean Decade, the said paper, co-authored by the university president Dr. Patrick Alain T. Azanza, and Dr. Jennifer A. Berces, stood out among over 5,000 submitted entries across the globe and made it to the conference, according to Dr. Masagca.
โI presented each project from coastal oceanography, coastal biology, coastal livelihood, marine ecosystem-based management, marine social science, policy formulation, establishment and rehabilitation of mangrove centers in Catanduanes,โ Dr. Masagca shared.
This 10-million project is under the Academe for Community Empowerment - Holistic and Ecosystem-based Approach for Mangrove Sustainability or ACE-HEMS program, funded by the Commission on Higher Education - National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System (CHED-NAFES).
โAlthough this is a local project,
Catanduanes becomes a model of the Philippines and the World,โ he proudly
added.
๐ถ๐๐๐น๐ธ๐
๐ธ๐๐ถ๐ธ ๐๐ด๐พ๐ธ๐ด๐๐ด๐๐
Sharing some takeaways from the conference, the CatSU professor cited the significance of community engagement, technology integration, and collaboration in addressing the environmental challenges.
โUniversity should not stand at the top of the pedestal, we should go down to the local communities, work with them, study with them,โ he uttered.
Looking ahead, Dr. Masagca's journey continues to unfold on the international stage. Following the success of the Barcelona conference, he is poised to attend future summits in Abu Dhabi and France in 2025.
With his ceaseless dedication and commitment to environmental advocacy, the university professor has been selected to be part of the national panel of technical experts of the Climate Change Commission in 2021 and a member of the International Union and Conservation of Nature (UNCC) since 2009.
Asked about his advice to the younger generations, Dr. Masagca's message resounds with clarity: "Study, do research, communicate, and never let financial difficulties hinder your dreams."
He also believes that the success of one person is not about what school you graduated from, but rather on a person's ability to rely, connect, study, collaborate, and communicate.
Dr. Masagcaโs journey, from his
humble beginnings as an islander and on becoming a renowned climate expert at
the global arena, serves as a testament to the transformative power of
education and passion for the environment.
๐โ๐๐ก๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐ก: ๐ท๐. ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ก๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐
