The VSU Department of Forest Science (VSU-DFS) officially launched a promising research project that will evaluate ecological status and the climate resilience of forest ecosystems in Mt. Nacolod, Silago, Southern Leyte.

Spearheaded by Dr. Renezita S. Come, the project titled “Assessing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning of Permanent Forest Dynamics Plots in Mt. Nacolod, Southern Leyte for Climate Resilience and Vulnerability,” This research is funded under the National Research Council of the Philippines Grants-in-Aid Program (NRCP-GIA).

The project formally started following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between VSU and DOST-NCRP followed by an inception meeting held on November 13, 2025, at the VSU-FFES Conference Room. In attendance were Dr. Come, VSU Accounting Head Mr. Nick Freddy R. Bello, and representatives from the University Cash Division. They were joined by DOST-NRCP staff members Mr. Jeremiah Vincent Gepaya and Mr. Nhikerr Morota to finalize the grant’s administrative and financial protocols.

The study runs from November 2025 to October 2027. According to the project brief, the research directly contributes to the National Integrated Basic Research Agenda on Sustainable Communities (SAKLAW), which aims to fill a gap in local ecological data by providing a scientific basis for future conservation planning and climate adaptation strategies in the province.

By the end of the project, the team expects to generate comprehensive data that will assist local government units and environmental agencies in implementing sustainable forest management practices for Southern Leyte’s most vulnerable forest remnants.