topics | Aseanenviconference

Research Agenda with Key Topical Discussion Areas

Climate Change and Variability and Air Quality

Characterize the extent of climate change and variability in the Philippine context, including temporal and spatial scales that are relevant to risk hazards and natural catastrophes
Improve the regional weather and climate research for forecasting and warning system
Assess the efficiency in the monitoring and mitigation techniques of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particulate matter (PM 2.5) and aerosols

Environmental Impact Assessment

Streamlining of integrated EIA methodologies especially to enhance programmatic EIA (e.g. cumulative effects, threshold or carrying capacity assessment
Development of key parameters (rubric matrices) to make effective decisions on issuance of ECC
Adaptation of precautionary `measures (e.g. Go or No-Go zones and irreplaceability indices)
Establishment and public access to EIA database (digital form)
Creation of technical review panel (academic and DENR)
Economic valuation of ecosystems and cost-benefit analysis

Biodiversity and Conservation

Provide evidence via research showing effectiveness or ineffectiveness of conservation/protection and management measures
Acquire high-resolution images to develop detailed forest classification maps
Establish database on genes-to-ecosystems for monitoring
Formulate Index of Irreplaceability (beyond diversity indices)

Integrated Information Database and Network

Establish IT infrastructure that would keep, maintain and archive baseline and historical data (raw and processed) and maps for relevant environmental science research and development initiatives
Generate integrated and comprehensive layers in water resources, land cover and use, biogeographic zones, priority conservation sites, climate change vulnerability areas and hazard maps
Collaborate and improve data access among key institutions and agencies (academe, government and private institutions)

Land Use, Land Cover and Land Degradation

Update scientific information critical to comprehensive land-use planning
Conduct evaluation research comparing comprehensive land-use practices on the environment
Assess impacts of land-use and changes to water and air quality

Human Health and Environmental Hazards

Environment, Resources and Population

Assessment and calculations of tipping thresholds of environmental systems vis-à-vis current rate of resource utilization
Impact evaluation of key industries like mining, agriculture (crops, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture) and energy on ecosystem structure and functions
Adaptive production systems (crops, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture) in a changing environment

Best Practices and Development of Green Technology

Standardize environmental techniques (e.g. laboratory and field sampling)
Explore technology-based solutions to develop practices for efficient and environmentally sound mining, metal recoveries and remediation
Develop alternative methods in agriculture to address soil degradation and pollution issues
Study alternative energy resources (solar, geothermal, and wind energy) making it more cost-effective to operate
Build research capacity to conduct environmental science studies

Degradation of Water Resources

Analysis of historical flows, sediment and toxicity loads and current states of rivers
Development of topographic/hydrologic maps and models
Monitoring and characterization of groundwater resources
Assessment of coastal resources and developments
Watershed delineation and characterization
Development of hydro-meteorological database
Ridge to reef researches