Youth hands-on biodiversity conservation and management

Cebu province faces severe deforestation, with only five percent forest cover. Agricultural expansion and resource overuse are key factors driving biodiversity loss. The project improved local biodiversity awareness in Cebu by creating biodiversity reserves in schools. The project involved students, headmasters, and teachers in practical conservation activities. Cebu University of Technology offered training in identifying flora and fauna. The project also included extensive tree planting and the use of simple greenhouses in selected schools. Its impact was expanded by working with the Ministry of Education to replicate the initiative on the provincial, regional, or national level. Integrating the project into the formal school system ensures its long-term sustainability.