SUSTAIN Lab - INREM

Upgrading of the Supporting Stakeholders in Advancing Integrated Natural Resources Management through Capacity Development (SUSTAIN) Laboratory of UPLB-INREM

SUSTAIN Lab

Renovation of the Supporting Stakeholders in Advancing Integrated Natural Resources Management through Capacity Development (SUSTAIN) Laboratory of UPLB-INREM

Project Overview


Project Title	Upgrading of the Supporting Stakeholders in Advancing Integrated Natural Resources Management through Capacity Development (SUSTAIN) Laboratory of UPLB-INREM
Project Leader	Marlo D. Mendoza, MM
Implementing Agency	Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (UPLB-INREM), University of the Philippines Los Baños

Funding Agency	Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD)
Project Location	College of Forestry and Natural Resources, UPLB
Project Duration	12 months (February 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025)
Budget	PhP 5,000,000.00

Rationale

The Philippines is signatory to various sustainability commitments, including the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, UN Framework Conventions on Climate Change, and UN Convention on Biodiversity, and so on. These commitments are rather challenging to attain as it requires a shift from business-as-usual to a new paradigm of analyzing an area of concern to proposing and implementing sustainable solutions. UPLB-INREM was institutionalized as an affiliate hub of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute that serves as a “proactive hub of benchmark innovative information vital to the nation’s efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation. UPLB-CFNR granted INREM a space in the 2nd floor of Tamesis Hall, estimated 250sqm for the SUSTAIN Lab but the space needs to be renovated.

Through the upgrading SUSTAIN Lab Project, INREM will be able to:

House the INREM staff, majority of which are part of four (4) DOST-PCAARRD–supported projects
Expand its research and development and extension services, encompassing public education and capacity development towards policy and institutional reforms, and
Set its mark as a training center for advancing and mainstreaming integrated natural resources management

The SUSTAIN Lab will also be a venue to package UPLB-INREM knowledge products for wider dissemination among many stakeholders, as well as collaborate and/or provide support to other DOST-PCAARRD-supported.

Objectives

This project seeks to enhance INREM’s capability in conducting research, development, and public service initiatives aimed at contributing to ecosystem-based resilience and sustainable development.

Specifically to:

Upgrade the SUSTAIN Laboratory to serve as a collaborative space where INREM can facilitate research, development and extension activities for ecosystem-based resilience and demonstrate the integrated approach to natural resources and environment management from theory to practice; and
Facilitate the utilization of knowledge products generated from UPLB-INREM projects, including those supported by DOST-PCAARRD, to strengthen the capabilities and empower researchers, technical staff of provincial and local government units, as well as other relevant stakeholders.