VSU holds international conference on forest landscape restorations

The Philippine Forestry Education Network (PFEN), in collaboration with Visayas State University (VSU), through its Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Science (FFES), successfully hosted the 2nd PFEN International Conference and General Assembly Meeting on October 22-23, 2025, at the VSU RDE Hall.

With the theme “Building Bridges Towards Responsive, Responsible, and Sustainable Forest Landscape Restoration”, the conference gathered around 100 participants, including forestry educators, researchers, practitioners, and partner organizations across the country to discuss sustainable forest landscape restoration (FLR)

Out of the 37-member institution of PFEN, 19 were represented in this year’s hybrid conference to exchange knowledge and collaborate on the latest research, innovations, and best practices in FLRs.

This year, national and international experts led the nine plenary sessions which focused on sustainable forestry, climate resilience, and community-based restoration initiatives on the first day.

The second day featured the joint parallel sessions showcasing the participants’ research papers and poster presentations. The General Assembly Meeting, election of a new set of officers of PFEN, and closing ceremony were conducted in the afternoon of the second day.

To end the academic gathering, participants went on a field tour around the City of Baybay, Ormoc City, and the Cuatro Islas on the final day before going home.

The conference is built upon the successful conduct of PFEN’s first international conference held in the University of Mindanao in 2023. It is also the tenth overall conference of the network conducted in collaboration with public and private partner institutions and organizations.

VSU President Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes emphasized the importance of hosting this kind of conference in nurturing environmental stewardship and future forestry leaders, as the university aspires to become a global green university. 

“I thanked PFEN and our FFES for having this year’s conference at VSU. Through collaboration, research, and innovation, our university aims to shape professionals who will lead our goal toward a global green university”, Pres. Yepes said.

For licensed foresters, the conference also served as a professional development opportunity, earning 26 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units, where participants could renew their PRC licenses on-site.

PFEN President Associate Professor Marlo D. Mendoza expressed gratitude to VSU for hosting the said conference.

“We are here today to help build a bridge, understand how solutions work and transcend borders of apathy and isolation. PFEN is very grateful to VSU for bringing this conference to this beautiful campus”, he gratefully expressed.

PFEN, established in 2004, is a non-stock and non-profit organization of forestry schools in the country accredited by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which aims to advance forestry education, research, and community engagement in the Philippines. 

This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education, SD 13: Climate Action, and SDG 15: Life on Land. 

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