SCPW Conducts Training on Wetlands Ecosystem Restoration and Circular Economy!

The Training is under the Living Lakes, Biodiversity and Climate Project (LLBCP). This is also in line with the theme of World Environment Day 2023 and Philippine Environment Month this June which is “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”. Circular economy is a model of production and consumption that involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible.

It was attended by representatives (mostly Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officers) from local government units and people’s organizations from the provinces of Rizal and Laguna. This learning event aimed to increase the awareness of local government units and other entities on the circular economy approach particularly as it applies to wetland restoration. The first day was composed of lectures and discussions about the basics of wetlands conservation, circular economy, and nature-based solutions (NBS) and provided concrete examples from successful and practical initiatives focusing on constructed wetlands, plastic wastes, and sewage management.

There was also field exposure trips to the Materials Recovery Facility of Kalayaan, Laguna (to showcase one of the models in solid waste management), to Panguil River Eco-Park in Pangil, Laguna (the site of the Frontrunner Initiative 2 of the LLBCP), and to the Green Village, in Calauan, Laguna (to showcase the Green Filters Project/Constructed Wetlands established by SCPW in partnership with the Life Project 4 Youth). Lastly, the third day included a workshop on Community Level Waste Management Planning wherein the participants were able to craft sample wetland ecosystem restoration projects and plan in relation to circular economy for their municipality.

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The LLBCP is a 5-year project funded by the Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection under the International Climate Initiative (IKI) with the Global Nature Fund, an NGO based in Germany as the Lead Organization. The main objective of the project is to ensure that the conservation and restoration of wetlands and the protection of related biodiversity are improved in the long term.