UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management

𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗬: 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗬𝗮 🌻

This graduation season, 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗬 wants to be part of your story.

The UPLB Commencement Exercises mark the hopeful culmination of dreams realized through honor, excellence, and service. More than a season of recognition and achievement, graduation is a testament to the countless hours of hard work, patience, sacrifice, and conviction that have shaped every Iskolar ng Bayan’s journey.

As you prepare to celebrate this milestone, we hope to make your graduation experience more sustainable, accessible, and meaningful. We invite graduating students who need academic regalia to reserve a sablay and graduation attire through this initiative.

To ensure that limited resources reach those who need them most, we kindly encourage everyone to reserve only if access to graduation attire would otherwise be a barrier to participating in the commencement exercises. Priority will be given to graduating students who may not be able to join the ceremonies without this support.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗬! 🌻🎓
𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://uplbosa.org/project-sablay
May every sablay and piece of academic regalia shared through this initiative remind us that honor, excellence, and service live not only in individual success, but also in our commitment to lift others as we move forward.

Padayon, mga Iskolar ng Bayan Para sa Bayan! 🌻

𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗬: 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗬𝗮 🌻

This graduation season, 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗬 wants to be part of your story.

The UPLB Commencement Exercises mark the hopeful culmination of dreams realized through honor, excellence, and service. More than a season of recognition and achievement, graduation is a testament to the countless hours of hard work, patience, sacrifice, and conviction that have shaped every Iskolar ng Bayan’s journey.

As you prepare to celebrate this milestone, we hope to make your graduation experience more sustainable, accessible, and meaningful. We invite graduating students who need academic regalia to reserve a sablay and graduation attire through this initiative.

To ensure that limited resources reach those who need them most, we kindly encourage everyone to reserve only if access to graduation attire would otherwise be a barrier to participating in the commencement exercises. Priority will be given to graduating students who may not be able to join the ceremonies without this support.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗬! 🌻🎓

𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://uplbosa.org/project-sablay

May every sablay and piece of academic regalia shared through this initiative remind us that honor, excellence, and service live not only in individual success, but also in our commitment to lift others as we move forward.

Padayon, mga Iskolar ng Bayan Para sa Bayan! 🌻

…
UN Good Health and Well-being 💓, Quality Education 📚, Reduced Inequalities ☮️, Sustainable Cities and Communities 🏙, Responsible Consumption and Production ♻️, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions 🕊️, Partnerships for the Goals 🤝 - 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 16, & 17 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘎𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦: https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Ang bawat pagwagayway ng ating watawat ay patunay ng ating kasarinlan at ang makulay na kasaysayan sa likod nito—ang p**a ng dugo ng ating mga magigiting, ang bughaw ng kalangitang payapa, ang liwanag sa gitna ng dilim, at ang ginintuang sinag ng araw at mga bituin na pinagkakaisa ang ating mga kapuluan.

Sa pagdiriwang natin ng ika-128 anibersaryo ng Araw ng Kalayaan, nawa'y magsilbing paalala ang mga ito sa patuloy nating pakikibaka para sa tunay na kalayaan sa gitna ng kinakaharap na mga krisis ng ating bayan.

Join us and learn how researchers and policymakers use wildlife trade data to drive evidence-based conservation and development decisions.

🌍 𝗔𝗜 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲
𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘬 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 will be held on:
🗓️ 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 (𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆) | 𝟭:𝟬𝟬–𝟯:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠
On-site at the 𝘌𝘈𝘈 𝘓𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭 or online via 𝘡𝘰𝘰𝘮
📌 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
bit.ly/AIforBiodiversity
bit.ly/AIforBiodiversity
bit.ly/AIforBiodiversity

By joining, participants will be introduced to the CITES Trade Database—the world's largest repository of international wildlife trade records—and learn how modern analytical tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), can be used to explore trends, detect patterns, generate research questions, and support evidence-based decision-making.

The workshop will provide a practical introduction to accessing, cleaning, analyzing, and visualizing wildlife trade data, while showcasing how these methods can be applied across disciplines. Whether you are preparing a thesis, developing a research proposal, writing a journal article, or simply interested in data-driven approaches to environmental challenges, this session will offer valuable tools and insights for your academic and professional work.

🗣️ 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿
𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘆. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗢𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼 is a lawyer, applied economist, and PhD researcher at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, and Adjunct Assistant Professor for the University of the Philippines Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM). He currently serves as a DOST-PCAARRD Balik Scientist under the UPLB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE) and is the first lawyer in the history of the Balik Scientist Program to receive the award. Atty. Osorio’s research focuses on wildlife trade, biodiversity governance, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. Drawing from interdisciplinary experience spanning psychology, business, law, and economics, he works on developing innovative approaches to understanding and addressing complex social and environmental challenges through evidence-based research.

⚠️ 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲—𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵-𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵-𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘴.

Join us and learn how researchers and policymakers use wildlife trade data to drive evidence-based conservation and development decisions.

🌍 𝗔𝗜 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲

𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘬 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 will be held on:
🗓️ 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 (𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆) | 𝟭:𝟬𝟬–𝟯:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠
On-site at the 𝘌𝘈𝘈 𝘓𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭 or online via 𝘡𝘰𝘰𝘮

📌 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
https://up-edu.zoom.us/j/93135938466

By joining, participants will be introduced to the CITES Trade Database—the world's largest repository of international wildlife trade records—and learn how modern analytical tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), can be used to explore trends, detect patterns, generate research questions, and support evidence-based decision-making.

The workshop will provide a practical introduction to accessing, cleaning, analyzing, and visualizing wildlife trade data, while showcasing how these methods can be applied across disciplines. Whether you are preparing a thesis, developing a research proposal, writing a journal article, or simply interested in data-driven approaches to environmental challenges, this session will offer valuable tools and insights for your academic and professional work.

🗣️ 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘆. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗢𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼 is a lawyer, applied economist, and PhD researcher at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, and Adjunct Assistant Professor for the University of the Philippines Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM). He currently serves as a DOST-PCAARRD Balik Scientist under the UPLB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE) and is the first lawyer in the history of the Balik Scientist Program to receive the award. Atty. Osorio’s research focuses on wildlife trade, biodiversity governance, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. Drawing from interdisciplinary experience spanning psychology, business, law, and economics, he works on developing innovative approaches to understanding and addressing complex social and environmental challenges through evidence-based research.

⚠️ 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲—𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵-𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵-𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘴.

📢 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐤 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐎𝐒𝐓-𝐏𝐂𝐀𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

The UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) proudly celebrates the formal recognition of its hosted Balik Scientists, Dr. Charles John C. Gunay and Atty. Chad Patrick Osorio!

The two returning experts were honored this morning during a Courtesy Visit and Ceremonial Pinning ceremony organized by the DOST-PCAARRD (Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development).

Bringing home world-class global expertise, they are set to drive impactful, science-based solutions for the country:

🌊 Dr. Charles John C. Gunay (Returning from Japan)
An expert in environmental systems design, interdisciplinary environmental science, and water resources management. Through the Balik Scientist Program, he is strengthening research initiatives that address complex environmental challenges across land, air, water, and human systems, fostering collaborative and transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability and resilience.

🤖 ⚖️ Atty. Chad Patrick Osorio (Returning from the Netherlands)
A legal and environmental expert whose work bridges environmental governance, law, and emerging technologies. His engagements will focus on advancing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for biodiversity conservation—particularly in analyzing wildlife trade data, environmental compliance, and empowering evidence-based decision-making.

The recognition of Dr. Gunay and Atty. Osorio highlights the vital role of the DOST Balik Scientist Program in reversing the brain drain, strengthening the country’s research and innovation ecosystem, and building meaningful partnerships between academia, government, and society.

We look forward to the incredible contributions they will bring to the SESAM community and the nation!

The UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) stands in solidarity with the global community for World Environment Day 2026. Hosted this year by the Republic of Azerbaijan, the global observance carries the urgent rallying cry under the theme “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”

This global campaign serves as a critical reminder that the window of opportunity to change our trajectory is still open. The Earth is sending us undeniable signals; the defining question is, what signal will we send back?

For us at SESAM, this global movement reflects our core mission. Our dedication to advancing environmental science and management is rooted in a commitment to human development that strictly honors the boundaries of nature. Through our interdisciplinary graduate programs, rigorous Ridge-to-Reef research framework, and public service, we work to convert advanced scientific knowledge into tangible, real-world climate solutions.

The time to safeguard our future is running out. Let us stand together with the UN Environment Programme’s global campaign and act —because when we protect our planet, we protect our health, our societies, and the generations to come.

In line with the OVPAA-OVPA Joint Memorandum No. 2026-02, UPLB shall revert to regular five-day ONSITE workweek effective immediately.

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭-𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞!

As global biodiversity faces steep declines, calls to use criminal law against environmental destruction have surged worldwide. But is locking people up always the best way to save nature?

In this newly published article, "𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞," the author explores when punitive measures actually help conservation—and when they backfire.

Author: Chad Patrick Osorio

Highlights of the Study

• The Global Trend Toward Criminalization: There is skyrocketing global momentum from legal bodies (like the EU and International Criminal Court) and academic researchers to treat environmental degradation as a serious criminal offense. Data shows a vast majority of UN member-states have now criminalized forest, fishing, and wildlife harms.
• Why Criminal Law is Necessary: Traditional civil fines are often treated by major corporations merely as a "cost of doing business". Criminal law targets moral culpability, addresses irreversible public harms (like biodiversity collapse) that money cannot fix, and alters incentives for high-reward, profit-driven illegal resource extraction.
• The Hidden Risks of Punitive Excess: If applied blindly, strict criminalization often disproportionately targets low-level workers and vulnerable or Indigenous communities while the wealthy, systemic drivers of destruction escape. It can also destroy local community trust and undermine the legitimacy of conservation efforts.
• A "Conditional" Framework for Justice: The study argues that criminal law should not be a general catch-all panacea. Instead, it proposes a strict ex ante decision framework. Criminal justice should only be deployed if a specific harm threshold is met, local norms are respected, compliance costs are fair, and due process is protected. Where these fail, community-led, preventive, and restorative justice approaches must take priority

Read the full paper here: https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/con4.70062

𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 ‘𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐒𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐒’

Faculty members from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) have taken center stage in a major advancement for Filipino social thought, political theory, and postcolonial scholarship. The book “PAGSASAAYOS: Kaayusan, Komunidad at Identidad” was officially unveiled last May 21, 2026, during the De La Salle University Social Development Research Center’s 47th anniversary celebration, highlighting a powerful academic contribution from SESAM’s leading educators and researchers.

The book is edited by Dr. Antonio P. Contreras, a Professor at UPLB SESAM, and features deeply analytical chapters from fellow SESAM faculty members and other social and political scientists from other academic institutions. Together, their contributions pivot away from traditional, state-centric Western political frameworks that often dominate Philippine political discourse. Instead, the book articulates a distinctly Filipino way of understanding political and communal life, grounded in indigenous notions of relationality, community, and social order.

Read more at SESAM Website:

SESAM Faculty Lead Breakthrough in Filipino Social Thought with Launch of Landmark Book ‘PAGSASAAYOS’ Faculty members from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) have taken center stage in a major advancement for Filipino social thought, political theory, and postcolonial scholarship. The book “PAGSASAAYOS: Kaayusan, Komunidad at ...

On this day in 1898, the Philippine flag was first unfurled in Imus, Cavite, after our victory at the Battle at Alapan. 🇵🇭

As we celebrate , UPLB encourages everyone to reflect on and uphold what our flag truly symbolizes—freedom, justice, and valor.

On this day in 1898, the Philippine flag was first unfurled in Cavite, after our victory at the Battle at Alapan. 🇵🇭

As we celebrate , UPLB encourages everyone to reflect on and uphold what our flag truly symbolizes—freedom, justice, and valor.