The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB) hosted a back-to-back forum and training-workshop on the applications of carbon flux monitoring for forest and ecosystem management. The activity was conducted on May 11-14, 2026 at the Rural Development Education Center (RDEC), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in Diliman, Quezon City.
The forum on FluxTech Philippines: Applications of Carbon Flux Monitoring for Research and Development was held on May 11, 2026 and livestreamed on the DOST-PCAARRD Facebook page. The objective of the forum is to introduce the Eddy Covariance (EC) System, a state-of-the-art carbon flux monitoring technology, to a larger audience in the hope of expanding in other areas of the country towards a more robust carbon monitoring. This is anchored on the establishment of the country’s first forest-based EC flux tower in Mindanao under the DOST-PCAARRD-funded and DENR-ERDB implemented project, “Real-Time Carbon Flux Monitoring in Natural, Plantation, and Mangrove Forests in Mindanao, Philippines: An Eddy Covariance Approach.”
In his welcome remarks, DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo Ebora emphasized, "With the Eddy Covariance technology, we are looking at ecosystem monitoring like we’ve never seen before – real-time carbon flux data for long-term tracking can provide baseline information, generate ecosystem models, and ultimately link scientific evidence into policy instruments and local governance frameworks that empower communities."
Dr. Leah Buendia, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development, also graced the event and delivered a message of support. ERDB Assistant Director Conrado Marquez represented ERDB Director Lormelyn Claudio also with a message of support.
Resource speakers include Dr. Bai Yang of Campbell Scientific, Dr. Maricar Aguilos of North Carolina State University (NCSU), and project leader, For. Rustum Aguilos of DENR-ERDB. PT Cerna Corporation also supported the event as an exhibitor with Campbell Scientific. PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director Juanito Batalon thanked all attendees and participants working towards strengthening the national research capacity.
The forum was attended by DOST and DENR bureaus, regional offices, and units, DOST-PCAARRD consortia members, and representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines, Climate Change Commission (CCC), and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).
The forum also marked the first day of the “Training on the Fundamentals of Carbon Flux Monitoring and In-depth Analysis of Forests using the Eddy Covariance System for Ecosystem Management Applications,” which provided the participants with deeper technical understanding and hands-on experience in flux measurement, data processing, and ecological interpretation.
By engaging experts from NCSU, DENR-ERDB, and the PhilFLUX Project, the program provides an opportunity for early-career and experienced researchers alike to develop competencies in advanced flux analytics and ecosystem modeling. The training strengthened the capacity of R&D practitioners and leveraged the EC system to support forest conservation, climate action, and science-based governance.
Dr. Dalisay Cabral, Director of the Forestry and Environment Research Division (FERD) of DOST-PCAARRD, delivered the closing remarks at the end of the training-workshop.
The in-depth training was participated by researchers from Agusan del Sur State University (ADSSU), Bukidnon State University (BukSU), Caraga State University (CarSU), Cavite State University (CavSU), DENR-ERDB technical divisions and research centers, DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB), DENR-Forest Management Bureau (DENR-FMB), DOST-PCAARRD technical research divisions, UPLB Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (INREM), UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM), and Southern Leyte State University (SLSU).