Conservation and Rehabilitation of Nature in Biliran Island (CARE-BILIRAN)

About CARE-Biliran

The Center for Conservation and Rehabilitation of Nature in Biliran Island (CARE-Biliran), initiated and founded in 2024 by Prof. Dr. Ruffy Rodrigo, is a long-term research initiative lodged under the Department of Forest Science, Biliran Province State University (BiPSU), Philippines.

The Center is committed to studying, conserving, and restoring the diverse forest ecosystems of Biliran Island, Philippines. From coastal mangrove forests to upland tropical watersheds, CARE-Biliran serves as a living laboratory for forest dynamics and sustainability science in small island contexts.

Our mission is to generate scientific knowledge, support local conservation action, and build long-term ecological data series to inform carbon management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation.

Team

Program Leader & Founder

Prof. Ruffy M. Rodrigo. PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Forest Science, Biliran Province State University (BiPSU)
PhD Forest Sciences (Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic)
Research focus: forest dynamics, disturbances, carbon management, and conservation policy
📧 ruffy.rodrigo@bipsu.edu.ph or rodrigoruffy@gmail.com 

Prof. Melanie P. Moncada, PhD (cand.)
Associate Professor, Department of Forest Science, Biliran Province State University (BiPSU)
Research focus: forest management, agroforestry, mangrove restoration
📧 melaniemoncada1981@gmail.com 

Researchers and Students

• Undergraduate Thesis Researchers (BS in Forestry Students)

• Faculty Members of  Department of Forest Science (BIPSU-Biliran Campus)
  
  

Potential Collaborators

• Local Government Units (LGUs) of Biliran Province

• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – PENRO Biliran

• Community-Based Forest Management People’s Organizations (CBFM-POs)

• Partner Universities and Research Institutions

Research Focus

CARE-Biliran integrates forest ecology, conservation biology, community empowerment, and policy science.

Key research themes include:

• Forest Structure, Dynamics, and Disturbances
  Long-term monitoring of permanent plots across altitudinal gradients and disturbance regimes.

• Carbon Management and Climate Change
  Biomass and carbon assessments for climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.

• Mangrove Ecology and Governance
  Research on disturbance impacts, restoration, and policy implementation.

• Community-Based Forest Management
  Capacity assessment and empowerment of people’s organizations for sustainable livelihoods.

• Landscape and Land-Use Change
  GIS- and remote sensing–based monitoring of watershed-scale forest cover and reforestation programs (NGP, CBFMA).
  
  

Ongoing Research Projects

1. Assessing Aboveground Carbon Dynamics and Disturbance Responses Across Altitudinal Gradients in Individual Plus Trees (IPT) of Villa Consuelo

2. Capabilities and Challenges of Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) People’s Organizations in Biliran Island

3. Foundations for Policy Implementation: Basic Research on Mangrove Forest Management in Biliran Island

4. Impacts of Natural Disturbances on the Structure and Composition of Mangrove Forests in Biliran Island, Philippines

5. Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Land Cover Change in the Amambahag River Watershed: Impacts of NGP and CBFMA Interventions

6. Disturbance, Elevational Gradient, Forest Structure, and Conservation Status in the Biliran River Watershed, Philippines
   
   

Our Vision

CARE-Biliran envisions Biliran Island as a model site for tropical forest sustainability and rehabilitation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Through scientific research, community partnerships, and international collaboration, we aim to:

• Protect and restore forest ecosystems across Biliran Island

• Provide long-term data on forest structure, biodiversity, and carbon dynamics

• Strengthen local communities in forest governance and sustainable livelihoods

• Contribute to national and global strategies on climate change and biodiversity conservation

How to Get Involved?

The Center for Conservation and Rehabilitation of Nature in Biliran Island (CARE-Biliran) is still in its developing stage, having been initiated in 2024. To sustain our mission of long-term forest research, conservation, and community empowerment, we rely on research grants, sponsorships, and generous support from individuals and institutions.

Here are ways you can be part of CARE-Biliran:

• Provide Funding and Sponsorships Help us grow by supporting our research programs. Grants and sponsorships will allow us to establish permanent study plots, publish scientific findings, and expand our conservation projects.

• Support Student Researchers
  Many of our undergraduate students are completing their theses. By providing financial support for field expenses, equipment, or data analysis, you directly contribute to their academic success and capacity building in forest science.

• Join Field Research
  Participate in hands-on learning through fieldwork. Experience what we do in the forest—measuring trees, assessing forest structure, and monitoring biodiversity—and gain practical knowledge of conservation science.

• Collaborate on Projects
  Institutions and organizations can partner with us on ongoing work in carbon monitoring, mangrove rehabilitation, agroforestry, and forest policy research. Together, we can develop stronger science-based solutions for Biliran’s forests.

• Community Engagement and Advocacy
  You can also help us raise awareness and support our outreach activities that empower local communities to conserve and restore their ecosystems.