YAMANG Bukid had the rare opportunity to share to the world the richness of nature during the 2019 International Conference on Biosphere and Sustainability which was conducted in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan just recently.
The conference gathered scientists, educators, government policymakers, and other stakeholders coming from all over the world.
The event is actually a platform for exchanging vital researches, and at the same time underscored the implications of scientific findings for the attainment of the United Nationsā Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Among the presenters in the coveted conference was Yamang Bukid, a farm tourism destination located in Barangay Bacungan, Puerto Princesa City, which was represented by Bro. George Maria, a seminarian and a farm consultant.
During the gathering, Bacungan presented to the participants the humble beginnings of Yamang Bukid, a farm which was painstakingly carved out from the terrains of an unproductive mountainous area in Barangay Bacungan to become what is now known to be among the emerging tourism destinations in the Philippines, and a model for integrative and diversified farming.
Bacungan also shared that the Yamang Bukid Farm (YBF) is a place of a happy farming community where āgenuine happiness is not for sale.ā
The farm advocates agroforestry and applies an integrated production system which is based on organic farming approach, and the YBF has become one of the fastest-growing farm tourism destinations in Puerto Princess City and in the province of Palawan.
On the other hand, Dr. Rodolfo āJunā Abalus Jr., a tree scientist and also a Yamang Bukid consultant, likewise made a presentation on biomass and carbon stocks found at a sub-watershed of the majestic Mount Makiling which is located in the province of Laguna.
The summit, which also highlighted the various researches and studies conducted in biosphere reserves, was organized by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and the Palawan Knowledge Platform for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development.
It is co-organized by international partners from South Korea, University of Montreal in Canada, University of Kansas in the United States, with the participation of the Nagoya University, City University of Hong Kong, and the UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The conference underscored the learning laboratories for sustainable development under the UNESCOās Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
Meanwhile, the management of Yamang Bukid Farm vowed to continue its sincere efforts to value the importance and potentials of the local farmers, including Persons With Disability who really need a helping hand to become productive members of society.
This became possible after Yamang Bukid tapped the services of qualified and technical personnel who can provide the necessary training and guidance to its employees, particularly to those with special needs, where getting a job at the farm can become an uplifting experience.
Yamang Bukid Farm was originally conceptualized as a turmeric plantation which later on evolved and now recognized by the Agricultural Training Institute as a model farm tourism destination which can provide training for those gearing to enter the agri-tourism industry sector./PN
