Press Release No. 7
Sustaining Life: Continuous Efforts in Propagation and Conservation of Priority Species
November 05, 2025
Written by John Ryan Navidad
The CONserve-KAIGANGAN team conducted fieldwork activities during the first and second quarters within the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) in Paranas, Samar. For the third quarter, the team organized a one-day training on October 23, 2025, as the third phase of the project’s activities. The event entitled “Conserving Samar’s Natural Ecosystems: Research Highlights on the Ulot Riparian Ecosystem and Orientation on the Propagation of Local Priority Plants for Conservation” was held at the BOSIS Headquarters in San Isidro, Paranas, Samar.
The training was led by the CONserve-KAIGANGAN team in partnership with Samar State University (SSU) and Eastern Samar State University (ESSU). It was attended by People’s Organizations (POs) such as Basaranan nga Organisasyon han San Isidro Samar (BOSIS) and Tour guide and Boat Operators for River Protection and Environmental Development Organization (TORPEDO), along with representatives from the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP). The session featured the presentation of Phase 3 project outputs covering the two-year project, delivered by For. Anne Frances V. Buhay. As Phase 3 is set to conclude by December 2025, the activity also served as its closing program. This was followed by an overview of the ongoing Phase 4 activities and an introduction to plant propagation presented by For. Stephanie D. Dimalanta. The training concluded with an engaging discussion, where participants actively shared insights and received CEPA materials (such as brochures and project fans) and tokens of appreciation (including umbrellas and field clothing) in recognition of their continued support for the project’s current and previous phases.
The following day, the project team, together with representatives from Samar State University (SSU) and Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), visited San Isidro Elementary School to distribute CEPA materials (such as “Si Ann sa Kaigangan,” “Biyaya ng Kaigangan,” and “The Green Notebook”), along with school supplies and activity sheets for the students. This outreach activity aimed to foster environmental awareness and promote appreciation of local biodiversity, propagation, and conservation among young learners. For. Anne Frances V. Buhay and Project Staff Lailani A. Masungsong provided a brief introduction to the Grade 3 pupils, followed by Asst. Prof. Diane Shane A. Balindo of SSU, who read one of the CEPA materials in the local dialect, to engage the students more effectively.
Meanwhile, simultaneous with the training and school visit, another fieldwork team under Phase 4 was deployed, led by For. John Ryan L. Navidad (CIP Graduate Fellow), together with Prof. Jiro Adorador (Plant Taxonomy Expert) and Ms. Clarissa Escalona (Teaching Assistant). Their activities focused on species verification, as well as the collection of plant cuttings and herbarium specimens within the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP). The collected propagules (seeds, cuttings, and wildlings) were subsequently processed and studied at the CONserve-KAIGANGAN nursery located at BOSIS Farm, Brgy. San Isidro, Paranas. The primary objective of this phase is to develop effective sexual and asexual propagation strategies to enhance seed and seedling production for the conservation of top-priority plant species found in the limestone forests of Samar Island, Philippines.
