The Society for the Conservation of Coastal and Mountain Ecosystems

The Society for the Conservation of Coastal and Mountain Ecosystems (SCCME) is a university-based student organization that pioneered in 1997 informal as well as formal education about the ecological and economic values of coastal and mountain ecosystems in Lobo-San Juan continuum, southeastern Batangas, Luzon Island, Republic of the Philippines. The organization's core values include but not limited to "in depth concern to the environment", "teamwork and harmony", "local people empowerment", and "appreciation and recognition of local knowledge as valuable tool in scientific research and sustainable-pleasant living of coastal and mountain inhabitants". The organization in recent years has joined and launched micro-restoration of marginal mountain slopes that connect marine environment utilizing indigenous materials with well-informed local people participation. It also assisted regular coastal clean-up activity and solid waste management in partnership with local government unit. As student organization being supervised by resident university faculty Prof. Anacleto M. Caringal, an individual member of Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN) and free-lance university researcher Forester Romel U. Briones, the organization joined actively from 1998-2000 the Lobo Snorkeling Club sponsored by then U.S.Peace Corps Volunteer Ms. Barbara Petershack that instilled among its members joyful appreciation of unique marine ecosystem and its importance to the well-being of local inhabitants. The organization receives technical assistance from the Tropical Forestry Program of Batangas State University as to the conduct of field studies allied to mountain biodiversity, mountain people, beach and mangrove forests, and socio-cultural and economic affairs of the local community as these spheres are all intertwined in a circle of life that should never end. Just recently, the society supported photographic exposition of the potential on-site and off-site effects of occurring mining exploration in Lobo Batangas to instill greater awareness and research education model of transparent fearless local policy advocacy against destructive exploitation of mountain and marine environment in this part of the Philippine archipelago.