CBNRM Learning Center embarks on a new online learning project

The CBCRM Resource Center, under its new legal identity as the CBNRM Learning Center, recently joined a collaborative program on adaptive learning and participatory development approaches. Called the Adaptive Learning and Linkages (ALL) in CBNRM, the new project aims to improve practitioners' capacities and knowledge in CBNRM by promoting sharing of experiences and synergy among learning groups and institutional partners. CBNRM LC Center Coordinator Prof. Elmer Ferrer and Project Coordinator Randee Cabaces attended the second Institutional Partners' Meeting last 19-20 June 2006 at the Training Center for Tropical Resources on Ecosystem Sustainability (TREES), College of Forestry, Los Baños in the Philippines.

A main activity under the ALL in CBNRM program is the e-forum around ten (10) discussion themes on adaptive learning and CBNRM. Eight (8) organizations and networks in Southeast Asia have been identified to participate as learning groups in the forum: 2 from Indonesia, 2 from the Philippines, 1 from Laos, 1 from Vietnam, 1 from Thailand, and 1 from Cambodia. Each discussion theme will run for about six weeks. Lessons from the online discussions will be synthesized by facilitating institutions and additional inputs will be provided by identified resource persons. Mentoring and backstopping activities directed at helping each learning group apply the insights from the discussions or address particular issues will also be done under the program.

Apart from the online learning activities, small grants facilities for researches and development of learning resources will also be made available to the participating learning groups. The CBCRM Resource Center/CBNRM Learning Center will be conducting and supporting backstopping activities for the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME) in Los Baños and the Yayasan Cinta Alam (YASCITA) in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Learning Center conducted an introductory workshop with the latter last 31 July - 1 August. This was followed on 2-3 August by an initial site visit to Alaaha village, one of YASCITA's CBNRM project sites. The MCME attended the first introductory workshop conducted jointly by the institutional partners last 21-23 July in Los Baños.

Apart from the CBNRM Learning Center, the other collaborating institutions for the ALL in CBNRM program include the International Potato Center-Users' Perspectives with Agricultural Research and Development (CIP-UPWARD), the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), the Regional Community Forestry Training Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC), and the University of the Philippines College of Development Communication (UPCDC). The program is being supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). For more information, visit the ALL in CBNRM website at www.allincbnrm.org, or email the ALL in CBNRM Secretariat at allincbnrm@ibsea.org You can also call the UPCDC at +63 49 5363356, ask for Wini Dagli. go back to CBCRM RC homepage