VSU is a comprehensive university with strong curricular, research and outreach programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, forestry, marine biology, engineering and natural resources management. It hosts various research centers focused on major Philippine commodities such as root crops, coconut and abaca, and other important concerns like organic agriculture, renewable energy, marine resource conservation, climate change and land use. The foregoing are undertaken by various dedicated research centers. The Institute for Tropical Ecology and Environmental Management offers an undergraduate program in Environmental Management and a graduate program in Tropical Ecology. It leads the implementation of research and outreach programs on the rehabilitation of degraded uplands specifically using rainforestation technology–the use of native rainforest species. The Renewable Energy Research Center, in cooperation with the College of Engineering, is concerned with developing renewable energy resources and technologies. The Regional Center for Climate Change Research and Development leads a multidisciplinary program on Climate Change research and outreach. Its faculty is based in various departments of the university The university campus has been adjudged as one of the greenest in the country. The university has partnered with a German NGO on carbon sequestration. It has maintained more than 600 hectares of forests on its campus both for instruction, research and training. It hosts researchers from all over the world including thesis and dissertation students mostly from European universities.

Institute for Tropical Ecology and Environmental Management

The Institute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Management (ITEEM) is one of the academic units under the College of Forestry and Environmental Science (CFES) of VSU. It was approved by the University Board of Regents in May 1998 to promote environmental protection and natural resource management through education, research and community engagement. It is tasked to sustain and continue the ecological and environmental research and development activities of the University. The Institute is composed of two divisions, namely: Terrestrial Ecosystems Division and Aquatic Ecosystems Division. In addition, there are two curricular programs offered by the Institute, the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Master of Science in Tropical Ecology with specialized faculty on Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems. It conducts research on various topics related to environmental management and has an extensive collection of Philippine native tree species specially dipterocarps. It provides tree seedlings to interested individuals and groups, trains them on the upkeep of these trees and monitors their performance. Researchers also monitor the effects of watershed rehabilitation on the soil, water, air and biodiversity. They also examine the performance of selected tree species under various biophysical conditions. It trains local leaders in the rehabilitation of degraded uplands and watersheds using native Philippine species and works with local governments and civil society groups in the promotion of local actions to rehabilitate degraded watersheds. The Aquatic Ecology specialists conduct various research and outreach programs in marine biology and marine biodiversity conservation and work with local governments and civil society groups in the protection and conservation of coastal resources. The Institute has partnered with various local and international institutions and groups to implement its programs. One of its faculty is a Professor of a Yale University Master’s program on Environmental Management and works with the Yale-based Environmental Leadership Training Initiative (ELTI) to broaden the scope of its program impact specifically on rainforestation. The Philippine Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) has made rainforestation a part of its strategy to reforest the whole country. The Institute has generally young faculty and continues to sharpen its academic strength to produce competent professionals in environmental management.

Research Projects in Natural Resources Management

• Rainforestation as a Climate Resilient Intervention for Local Government Units In Climate Hazard and Vulnerable Areas in the Visayas
• Development of a Rainforestation Research and Training Site to Scale-up Forest Restoration Initiatives In Climate Change Vulnerable Marginal Uplands in Inopacan, Leyte
• Natural Resource Management-Based Extension Program
• Coastal Resource Management in the Camotes Sea

BSc, MSc, and Doctoral Programs relevant to CNRD

• Land Administration and Management (MSc)
• Environmental Science (BSc)
• Tropical Ecology (MSc)
• Forestry (BSc, MSc)
• Biology (BSc, MSc)
• Soil Science (BSc, MSc)

Activities in capacity development relevant to CNRD

• Environmental Leadership
• Climate Change Adaptation (embedded in many trainings)
• Land Use Planning (per request basis)
• Student thesis advisory services for foreign students (per MOA with partner university)

Pool of Experts