Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU) has been recognized as the best implementing team under the 2024 Climate Resilience Challenge (CRC):
Upturn LABS, bagging an additional P200,000 grant to further strengthen its community-based mangrove initiative in Camarines Sur.
Open to individual researchers, departments, centers or groups representing higher educational institutions, civil society organizations and local government units in the Philippines, CRC is a competition for innovative, interdisciplinary and solution-oriented ideas to build and enhance resilience against climate risk.
The 2024 challenge focused on promoting innovative solutions by providing grants to communities or organizations with potential to demonstrate and generate knowledge based on the solutions vetted in the Upturn Tool, a platform developed by Oscar M. Lopez (OML) Center.
It is a comprehensive and easy-to-use planning tool that aims to help identify, assess and prioritize climate change solutions based on local context.
The team received an additional grant worth P200,000 to scale up their project
In July 2025, three teams were awarded P300,000 each to model, assess and implement their selected Upturn solutions over a six-month period: ADNU, Green Thumb Movers 4H Young Farmers Association and National University Manila-NSTP community extension department.
ADNU stood out for their project, “Enhancing the Adaptive Capacity of Fisher Households through Participatory Mangrove Management,” which seeks to pilot-test a science-based, community-driven approach to mangrove management that strengthens local adaptive capacity.
The project began with comprehensive environmental and community assessments and participatory planning sessions with fisherfolk, barangay leaders and municipal authorities.
Building on this, the project focused on strengthening local capacity.
A total of 49 fisherfolk received hands-on training on nursery establishment, seed collection and seedling care. The project also established a community-managed mangrove nursery.
The initiative has established a functional governance system where fisherfolk, local government and technical partners collaborate in managing mangrove resources.
While increases in mangrove cover will take time to materialize, the project has already laid a strong foundation for long-term ecological success through science-based practices such as species-site matching and nursery-based propagation.
With the additional P200,000 grant, ADNU is expected to scale the initiative further, including exploring livelihood opportunities such as mangrove ecotourism and seedling production, and expanding the model to other coastal communities.
For more information about the project and other 2024 CRC: Upturn LABS grantees, visit https://www.omlopezcenter.org/climate-resilience-challenge-page-2024/.
Story By (Mae Anne Mangubos)
