Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology joins Action Against Hunger Philippines in advancing Nature-Based Solutions

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Action Against Hunger and the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) formalized their partnership on January 15, 2026 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the EARTH Project funded by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO). The collaboration aims to strengthen applied research, academic engagement, and community-based initiatives focused on sustainable coastal resource management and nature-based solutions.

ZSCMST serves as a nature-based solutions (NbS) test laboratory, piloting innovations such as mangrove phytoremediation, floating wetlands, and bamboo filter embankments for coastal and water ecosystem restoration. The site contributes to applied research and field-based learning aligned with the principles of the ECHO Greening Humanitarian Action, promoting environmentally responsible programming, ecosystem restoration, and climate-resilient approaches in humanitarian and development interventions.

The laboratory setting is intended to support evidence generation, community-based experimentation, and interdisciplinary learning, while also informing the development of future academic curricula and course offerings for students in environmental science, coastal resource management, and climate resilience programs. Through this initiative, ZSCMST aims to strengthen local capacities in nature-based solutions while contributing to sustainable environmental stewardship and climate-responsive humanitarian action.

Action Against Hunger Philippines and Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) officially signed a partnership to advance research and initiatives on Nature-based Solutions (NbS). This collaboration under the ECHO-funded EARTH Project will support studies on water quality, phytoremediation, and sustainable ecosystem management.
In photo: Dr. Roy Valesco, ZSCMST College President; Dr. Maila Pan, Officer in-Charge Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension of ZSCMST; Philipp Danao, Deputy Country Director for Action Against Hunger, and EARTH Project team members: Roberto Saballero, Jr., Head of Project; Engel Merl De Villa, Project Engineer, and Vanessa Matuguina, Field Officer.

Following the agreement, ZSCMST students and faculty actively participated in the first field activities under the EARTH Project. On February 14 and 21, 2026, participants from the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, and the NSTP-ROTC programs conducted a Clean-up Drive and Waste Quantification Activity in the mangrove area at Campus B, the proposed site for the Nature-based Solutions Laboratory.

In photo: The Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) students and faculty actively participated in the first field activities under the EARTH Project last February 14 and 21, 2026. (Photos by Roberto Saballero, Jr. and Engel Merl de Villa for Action Against Hunger)

Held in celebration of World Wetlands Day, the activity generated baseline data on solid waste in the mangrove ecosystem, supporting research on waste reduction, phytoremediation, and water quality improvement.

Faculty and students demonstrated environmental stewardship while strengthening collaboration between the academic and humanitarian sectors, underscoring the important role of ZSCMST in supporting Action Against Hunger’s initiatives in Zamboanga.

Through this partnership, Action Against Hunger and ZSCMST reaffirm their shared commitment to protecting coastal ecosystems, empowering communities, and promoting sustainable, nature-based approaches for the future.

About EARTH

The Environmental Actions for Resilience and Transformative Humanitarian Interventions (EARTH) project is a pilot initiative that integrates environmental safeguarding and restoration strategies into humanitarian action in the cities of Zamboanga and Malabon. Implemented by Action Against Hunger, CARE Philippines, and ACCORD, and funded by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, the two-year, community-led project strengthens urban resilience through people-centered, multisectoral, nature-based solutions.

EARTH promotes a nature-based solution model that integrates mangrove reforestation, solid waste management, water conservation, and sustainable livelihoods—reducing environmental risks while restoring vital ecosystems.

Written by: Joyce Sandajan
Contributors: Roberto Saballero Jr., Engel Merl De Villa, Philipp Danao Read more

From Research to Resilience: A New Partnership for Climate Action in Zamboanga City

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ZAMBOANGA CITY ─ Action Against Hunger and Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University (ZPPSU) have formalized a partnership under the Environmental Actions for Resilience and Transformative Humanitarian Interventions (EARTH) Project to advance science-driven, community-led climate solutions in Zamboanga City.

Led by Action Against Hunger and funded by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, EARTH is a pilot initiative that integrates environmental safeguarding and ecosystem restoration into humanitarian action.

Through this collaboration, academic expertise and humanitarian practice come together to design, test, and implement nature-based solutions, including rainwater harvesting systems, mangrove nurseries, floating wetlands, and improved waste management infrastructure.

The partnership strengthens research, capacity building, and shared learning to ensure that innovations are evidence-based, locally owned, and scalable. By linking people-centered approaches with environmental action, EARTH aims to reduce climate and environmental risks, restore critical ecosystems, and strengthen the resilience of coastal and urban communities.

Photo by Engel Merl De Villa

The project is co-implemented with CARE Philippines and ACCORD in Malabon City, contributing to shared learning and models that can be adapted and replicated in other urban contexts nationwide.

About EARTH

The Environmental Actions for Resilience and Transformative Humanitarian Interventions (EARTH) project is a pilot initiative that integrates environmental safeguarding and restoration strategies into humanitarian action in the cities of Zamboanga and Malabon. Implemented by Action Against Hunger, CARE Philippines, and ACCORD, and funded by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, the two-year, community-led project strengthens urban resilience through people-centered, multisectoral, nature-based solutions.

EARTH promotes a nature-based solution model that integrates mangrove reforestation, solid waste management, water conservation, and sustainable livelihoods—reducing environmental risks while restoring vital ecosystems.