April 22, 2021– Project NexCities joined the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc. (SCPW) in conducting a three-part learning event that revolves around the circular economy approach in wetland restoration. This is in line with the celebration of Earth Day 2021 with the theme “Restore Our Earth”, and in support of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration which starts this year. 

The learning event aims to increase the awareness of our target audience on the circular economy approach particularly as it applies to wetland restoration. The three-part sessions discussed the basics of circular economy and nature-based solutions (NBS) and provided concrete examples from successful and practical initiatives focusing on constructed wetlands, plastic waste and sewage management.

The first of the three series is about circular economy and constructed wetlands where the event’s resource person, Dr. Alexandros I. Stefanakis, Assistant Professor School of Environmental Engineering in Technical University of Crete, Greece, discussed how constructed wetlands can relate to circular economy. 

As panelists, we also had Dr. Antonio M. Dano, Director of DENR-RBCO; Engr. Francisco Arellano, Senior technical consultant of Maynilad Water who showed the waste treatment facility of their company; Engr. Antonio S. Aguilar Jr. from LGU of Bayawan, Negros Oriental who highlighted their LGU’s constructed wetland; Engr. Jocelyn G. Sta. Ana of Laguna Lake Development Authority who showcased the conservation and restoration efforts at Laguna Lake, as well as some constructed wetlands from a project. 

Through the presentations, we learned that constructed wetlands are important to the public and private sectors, providing not only the ecosystem services like water storage, filtration, and home to some fauna, but also pave the way for the circular economy approach to gain more momentum.