History of INREM
Consistent with the UP’s vision to be a public service university, graduate university, research university and the national university, and in line with the traditional strengths of its faculty and REPS, UPLB must take on the mission to promote the science and practice of INREM. Given its 11 academic units invariably engaged in instruction, research, development and extension programs on natural resources and environmental management led by the SESAM, CFNR, CA, CAS, CEAT, CEM, CPAf and CHE, UPLB has the essential assets and intellectual capital to fill in the gaps in knowledge, information, technology and competence required to make INREM a truly viable modality to achieve natural resources sustainability and a healthy environment without impeding economic development.
As a modality for environment and natural resources (ENR) management and development, INREM espouses integrative, holistic, systemic, participatory and transdisciplinary approaches and tools in promoting the twin goal of sustainable economic development and environmental stability. The INREM subscribes to the comprehensive analysis of problems and formulation of solutions in the ENR sector and how these interact with the drivers of change within and outside of the physical and socio-political boundaries of the sector.
Our Vision
The INREM Center is envisioned to become a world-class Center of Excellence in integrated natural resources management and environmental protection through research and development, and public service.
Our Missions
- Develop science-based technologies and solutions to complex and interconnected problems in natural resources management and environmental protection;
- Facilitate the mainstreaming of INREM in academic, RDE and other relevant institutions;
- Lead in the transformation of sector-oriented to ecosystem/landscape-oriented mindsets and skills in natural resources management and environmental protection
- Influence policy and institutional reforms in natural resources management and environmental protection; and
- Educate and engage the general public on INREM-related issues and concerns.
It also recognizes the interconnectivity of forests with agroecosystems, coastal and marine ecosystems and other terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems mainly through the fluxes of water, nutrients, energy and pollutants. It recognizes further the multiplicity of function and purpose of forests and other natural resources and the essentiality of balancing between the protection and production functions and purposes in order to achieve sustainability. Lastly, the successful practice of INREM is anchored on the participation and involvement of the various stakeholders in the full cycle of project development and management and by the concerted efforts of experts from various disciplines to provide ample informational, technological and professional resources.
In response to the challenges posed environment and natural resources degradation, the UPLB Interdisciplinary Program on Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management (UPLB IdPINREM) was established by virtue of the UPLB Office of the Chancellor Administrative Order No. 69, Series of 2007. To further institutionalize the interdisciplinary centers, the Office of the Chancellor promulgated Administrative Order No. 140, Series of 2013, which renamed the UPLB IdPINREM to now the UPLB Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (UPLB-INREM). The center was institutionalized as an affiliate hub of the UP Resilience Institute in the 1379th Meeting of the UP Board of Regents last 03 April 2023.
Our Objectives
The objectives of the UPLB Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management are:
- Engage in interdisciplinary RDE projects on natural resources management and environmental protection;
- Demonstrate INREM from theory to practice;
- Engage the different institutions to practice INREM;
- Recommend INREM-based policy and institutional reforms;
- Conduct public education and communication on INREM issues and concerns;
- Develop INREM-based monitoring and evaluation systems.
Where we Work
The Interdisciplinary Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (UPLB-INREM) is housed in the College of Forestry and Natural Resources with research sites in multiple provinces across the country