With a growing focus on local conservation and community learning, the Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) brought together educators, students, and environmental partners in Green Talks 2025: Where Learning Takes Root and Conservation Grows, held July 31 at the QAM Function Hall.

Organized as part of the extension program of ASSCAT’s College of Arts and Sciences, the event gathered science teachers and students from secondary schools in Bunawan, who joined the daylong learning sessions alongside ASSCAT faculty, staff and student leaders.

The forum tackled Arboretum Conservation and Management, anchored on ASSCAT’s own arboretum initiative. What began in 2023 as a modest botanical garden is now evolving into a full-scale arboretum and Edu-tourism site, led by Ms. Debbie Gail G. Mangadlao. The project aims to serve as a living laboratory, part classroom and part conservation site, for biodiversity education and applied research.

To support this direction, For. Romel B. Arbolonio of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Bislig opened the discussion with insights on the role of arboreta in protecting native flora and promoting environmental awareness. Drawing from the CENRO’s own experience in managing an arboretum, he underscored how such spaces support both conservation and local resilience.

Adding to the conversation, ENP Rachel Mae P. Sitcharon of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Agusan del Sur emphasized that sustaining arboreta goes beyond planting trees. It requires long-term partnerships between institutions, government agencies, and communities. She highlighted the importance of shared stewardship and how environmental and educational efforts are deeply interconnected.

Dr. Carmelo S. Llanto, ASSCAT Vice President for Academic Affairs and Quality Assurance, also addressed the participants and emphasized the role of schools in fostering environmental literacy. He described the arboretum project as both an academic resource and a platform for community engagement.

In the afternoon, participants engaged in hands-on workshops covering tree identification, biodiversity mapping, and field data recording. These activities complemented the lectures, grounding the discussions in practical skills and real-world application.

A ceremonial Pledge of Commitment capped the program, with participants formally expressing their support for ASSCAT’s arboretum development and broader environmental goals.

Tied to global themes of sustainability, the initiative supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those on education, climate action, and life on land. More locally, it reflects ASSCAT’s push to integrate environmental thinking into its academic and extension programs, quietly but steadily growing something bigger than trees.
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