August 26–28, 2025 | Brgy. Tangke Barangay Hall, Talisay City, Cebu
The Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF), in collaboration with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Talisay and with funding support from Peace Corps Philippines, conducted a three-day Citizen Science for Coastal Resources Management Workshop. The activity trained 33 fisherfolk and LGU personnel in standardized coastal habitat assessment protocols, reinforcing local capacity for science-based resource management.
Participants engaged in practical exercises covering mangrove structure surveys, fish visual census (FVC), and point intercept transect (PIT) methods. These tools are widely used in reef and benthic monitoring and are essential for generating baseline data to inform coastal management plans. The workshop also included lectures on the ecological functions of mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and reef-associated fish, emphasizing their role in fisheries productivity and shoreline protection.
Anchored in the principles of citizen science, the initiative promoted inclusive data collection, community participation in ecological monitoring, and collaborative learning between local stakeholders and technical facilitators. By integrating local knowledge with scientific methods, the workshop fostered ecological literacy and empowered participants to contribute to long-term monitoring and adaptive management of Talisay’s coastal habitats.
CENRO Talisay’s Coastal Resource Management Coordinator, Ms. Sharmaine Joy Diez, noted that the workshop sets the foundation for developing site-specific monitoring and action plans. With CCEF as a technical partner, the initiative will support future assessments and strengthen community-led conservation efforts.
This collaboration demonstrates the value of participatory science in advancing ecosystem-based management. By equipping coastal communities with monitoring skills and decision-support tools, citizen science becomes a mechanism not only for data generation but for building stewardship and resilience in marine resource governance.
