Grant blog published 13 May 2026

International Day of Education Grants

To celebrate International Day of Education in Botanic Gardens, and the recently launched Declaration of Intent on Climate Action Education, BGCI and the Korea National Arboretum provided a number of grants to BGCI members undertaking education activities aligned with the climate declaration.

This blog provides an overview of one of the projects funded – Capacity-Building of Community Leaders to Engage the Youth for Climate Action with Siit Arboretum Botanical Garden (SABGI)

The project

The project seeks to strengthen SABGI’s role as a local climate education hub by bringing together community leaders, educators, youth organizers, and other local stakeholders for a series of participatory workshops on climate awareness, ecosystems, and community-based action.

This May (2026), we began conducting field visits and consultations to better understand the needs, concerns, and existing knowledge of surrounding communities. These conversations have helped shape the development of the climate education module that will guide the workshops. We are currently finalizing the list of participants who will commit to the workshop series. Most participants are youth in their early collegiate years taking courses in the arts, engineering, and education, alongside other young community members interested in environmental work and public engagement. The project hopes to support them not only in developing climate awareness, but also in strengthening their confidence in facilitating learning activities within their own communities.

The module remains a work in progress while consultations continue and is expected to be completed by the end of May in preparation for activities scheduled throughout June and July. It begins by situating climate change as a lived and interconnected planetary condition that shapes everyday life, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Participants are encouraged to think critically about how systems of development, economic structures, and patterns of resource use contribute to ecological imbalance, while also recognizing the importance of grassroots action, local knowledge, and collective action in response to biodiversity and climate change.

Participants will also be introduced to the vision of Siit Arboretum Botanical Garden Inc. (SABGI) as a community-based learning hub for environmental education and climate action. The module centers on nearby forest, marine, and mangrove ecosystems and their relationship to local life and future sustainable livelihoods. Each chapter corresponds to one whole-day workshop combining presentations, discussions, field visits, and participatory activities.

The first chapter introduces forests as vital ecosystems for biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable resource management. Participants will learn about the lowland Molave-type forest surrounding SABGI, including its native tree species, limestone terrain, and relationship to wider environmental systems in Negros Oriental. Discussions will also introduce the history of global climate action and contemporary environmental challenges, linking local ecological realities to international climate issues and policies. The workshop includes a guided tour of SABGI’s botanical collections, conservation areas, renewable energy systems, and agroecological practices, alongside discussions on alternative and community-based economic models that support ecological sustainability and local livelihoods.

The second chapter moves from land to sea to explore marine ecosystems and their relationship with coastal communities. In collaboration with Marine Conservation Philippines (MCP), participants will learn about Coastal Resource Management (CRM), Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), scientific research, and the role of marine conservation in sustaining biodiversity and livelihoods. Discussions will explore coral bleaching, warming seas, overfishing, destructive coastal development, and carbon sequestration, while also presenting community-based approaches such as sustainable fisheries and seaweed farming. Participants will tour MCP’s facilities and visit nearby fisherfolk communities to better understand the relationship between marine ecosystems and local stewardship.

The third chapter focuses on mangrove ecosystems and their importance in climate resilience and coastal livelihoods. Participants will learn about mangroves as “blue carbon” ecosystems that absorb and store significant amounts of carbon while protecting coastlines and supporting marine biodiversity. The workshop also reflects on the history of mangrove degradation and reforestation efforts in the Philippines, including why many past planting initiatives struggled due to poor site selection and short-term volunteerism disconnected from local realities. Rather than treating mangrove conservation as a one-time activity, the session emphasizes long-term community stewardship and capacity-building, particularly through engagement with local women-led conservation efforts in Siit.

The fourth chapter focuses on facilitation, community organizing, and participatory approaches to climate education. Participants will be introduced to methods in event organizing, program design, participatory action learning and research, and creative facilitation techniques that can help engage youth and local communities. The workshop also emphasizes the role of the arts in communicating environmental issues through accessible formats such as zine-making, storytelling, mapping, and community activities. Alongside these discussions, participants will encounter demonstrations of sustainable livelihood practices and alternative technologies—including renewable energy systems, agroecological methods, and community-based conservation initiatives—to explore how climate action can be grounded in practical and locally adaptable solutions.

From June to July, the project will implement the four workshops while supporting participants in documenting reflections, producing zines, and co-creating learning materials. Participants will also organize workshop demonstrations in their own communities and collaborate on an advocacy video for the International Day of Education in Botanic Gardens. In August and September, workshop outputs and documentation will be synthesized into a finalized learning module to be shared with partner organizations, institutions and expand our reach in the communities surrounding SABGI.