The Ateneo Biodiversity Action Plan (Memo U2425-033)

Our campus nature spaces and the wildlife they support offer a variety of services. They are not only ornamental but also crucial to the University’s infrastructure and operations. The Biodiversity Action Plan aims to codify the guiding principles, activities, targets, and metrics that will maximize the potential and impact of campus biodiversity and nature spaces for sustainable operations, teaching & learning, research, conservation, and outreach & service. It is aligned with the Magis Aspiration of becoming a Laudato si’ university and our response to Laudato si’ Goal #1: Cry of the Earth. 

I am pleased to inform the community of the creation of the Core Working Group that will craft the Biodiversity Action Plan:

1. Dr Emmanuel D Delocado (Assistant Professor, Department of Biology and Director, Ateneo Institute of Sustainability)
2. Ms Maria Katrina C Constantino (Instructor, Department of Biology)
3. Ms Abigail Marie T Favis (Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science)
4. Arch Ghimvern S Villegas (Grounds, Trees, and Waste Management Section Head, Campus Facilities and Management Office)
5. Ms Louise Marie C Tulayba (Science Subject Area Coordinator, Grade School)
6. Ms Jovelyn V Bactad (Science Subject Area Coordinator, Junior High School)
7. Mr Ricardo M Crisostomo (Science Subject Area Coordinator, Senior High School)
8. Mr Voltaire Rafael H Banzon Jr (MS Biology student/Higher Education student body representative)
9. Dr Leland Joseph R Dela Cruz (AVP-Social and Environmental Engagement for Development and Sustainability, ex-officio)

The Ateneo Institute of Sustainability will serve as the secretariat/convenor.

The Core Working Group (CWG) will be responsible for:

1. Defining scope & contents: outlining the breadth and depth of the BAP, encompassing thematic areas such as biodiversity conservation, nature education, and partnerships.
2. Determining specific goals, milestones, & implementation strategies: collaboratively establishing clear and measurable targets, setting achievable milestones, and proposing implementation strategies to achieve these targets.
3. Establishing mechanisms for monitoring and documenting University efforts: consolidating and monitoring initiatives on urban biodiversity conservation and management to ensure accountability, track progress, and enable timely adjustments to our strategies to meet our sustainability targets.

I thank the members of the Core Working Group for their commitment and invite the University Community to actively engage and contribute perspectives and expertise to this vital initiative.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam.