THREE faculty members of the University of Santo Tomas will start a two-year program to assess the comprehensive floral composition of the vulnerable coastal vegetation in San Fernando City, La Union.

Entitled “Integrated Floristic Assessment,” the program will be conducted by Dr. Nikki Heherson Dagamac, Dr. Cecilia Banag-Moran and Dr. Reuel Bennett of the school’s Biological Sciences department.

“The partnership between UST and the San Fernando City government was formalized on May 18, 2021, in an online event that also signified the adoption of the Memorandum of Agreement,” the university said.

“The project will officially commence in January 2022 and end in December 2023 and is funded by the National Research Council of the Philippines. Technical support was provided by the CENRO-San Fernando City, La Union,” it added.

The team said the program aims to produce an objective and comprehensive assessment of true mangroves, invasive plants, native trees and protists (myxomycetes and oomycetes).

Dagamac, who leads the team, said the plant-based assessments that they will perform “would help build policy recommendations for sustainable resource development for mangroves and its associates, native trees, and protists.”

“The project may also lead to the crafting of conservation and risk communication plans and the implementation of related strategies by the local government units. Among the communication tools targeted for creation are educational info materials and local seminars,” she added.