Investigating the role of bird perches in reforestation

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Reforesting damaged forests is crucial for fighting climate change and protecting wildlife. One common way to do this is by planting trees, but this can be expensive and labor-intensive. A cheaper and more effective approach is Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), which can involve the use of bird perches to attract fruit-eating birds that can help spread tree seeds and speed up the natural regeneration of the forest.

A Philippine green pigeon (Treron axillaris) is seen eating a fig, the seeds of which will be dispersed the next time the bird defecates. Researchers are looking at the potential role of artificial and natural bird perches in this dispersal process towards restoring degraded forests.(Photo credit: Jelaine Lim Gan)

Researchers from the University of the Philippines - Diliman College of Science Institute of Biology (UPD-CS IB), the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, and the UK’s Newcastle University aim to embark on a systematic review and meta analysis of previous studies and observations to figure out how well artificial and natural perches work in increasing seed dispersal and seedling growth on degraded areas.

“The results will synthesize available evidence on the topic, identify knowledge gaps we need filling to upscale the strategy, and inform their use in concert with other ANR strategies,” the researchers said in their paper. “The search strategy was informed through a literature scan and discussions with stakeholders and experts,” they added.

The meta study aims to see if perches help bring in more seeds and seedlings in terms of numbers and types. The researchers hope to learn how to use perches better and combine them with other strategies to bring damaged forests back to life.

The results of the meta study are expected to be available in 2024.



References:

Gan, J. L., Grainger, M. J., Shirley, M. D. F., & Pfeifer, M. (03 August 2023). How effective are perches in promoting bird-mediated seed dispersal for natural forest regeneration? A systematic review protocol. Environmental Evidence, 12(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-023-00308-z

Marcos Jr's Energy Plan Remains Silent on Electricity Rate Cuts

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Kuryente.Org commended the Department of Energy (DoE) for publicizing its proposed road map for the country’s energy and electricity plan under the Marcos administration, but also scolded the agency for failing to present plans for electricity price reduction.

The DoE launched its Luzon-wide public consultation on its proposed Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) for 2023 – 2050 last August 30, 2023. The roadmap provides the guide and framework for the current government’s policies and programs to achieve its goal of energy sufficiency, reliability and affordability to boost its economic goals.

“The presentation provides a robust and vibrant economic projection and assumptions to ensure the country’s energy and power security for the next decades. True to the marching orders of the President during its second State of the Nation Address, the PEP also include its projection for renewable energy and nuclear energy development from which DOE projected by the end of current administration’s term the country will be enjoying 96MW of energy,” said Roland Vibal, national coordinator for Kuryente.org

However, the group is not satisfied with the proposed PEP as it failed to present a clear projection of how the current and projected efforts in energy supply will lead to lower electricity rates which ironically remains at the second highest after Singapore in the ASEAN region.

“We welcome the current DoE’s effort to ensure energy sufficiency and clean energy source, but this is not enough if such efforts do not redound to lower electricity prices,” Vibal added

“The roadmap is incomplete as it fails to provide electricity consumers, particularly household electricity consumers, with electricity price reduction in coming years. The PEP failed to lay down policies and programs to make the country’s electricity affordable to all. Assuring the public of energy and electricity security is not enough. It must also assure the public of lower electricity price,” Vibal said.

The group ended by reminding the DOE that its Electricity Power Roadmap must be aligned with the goals of Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to lower the country's electricity rate which two decades after remains just an aspiration.

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