Project REHAB took part in the International Conference on Biodiversity and Sustainability, held in celebration of the 14th Anniversary of the Center for Biodiversity Research and Extension in Mindanao (CEBREM) on November 13–14, 2025 at Central Mindanao University in Bukidnon, Philippines. The conference carried the theme “Biodiversity in Harmony with Nature: Key to Sustainable Development.”
Project REHAB researchers presented poster studies during the conference, sharing results from ongoing work related to biodiversity, water quality, and environmental management. Several of these presentations received recognition from the conference evaluators.
In the Poster Presentation Category: Generating Knowledge on Biodiversity, Hans Diether Tolabing was awarded First Place for his poster titled “Shotgun Metagenomics Reveals the Spatiotemporal and Environmental Determinants of Aquatic Diversity and Community Structure in the Butuanon River, Philippines.”
Meanwhile, Edrine Durante received Third Place in the same category for his poster “Metagenomic Application of the Trophic Diatom Index for Water Quality Assessment of the Butuanon River, Cebu, Philippines.”
Project co-leader, Brisneve Edullantes, was recognized under the Poster Presentation Category: Harmonizing Biodiversity Utilization for the poster “EnviExplorer: A Web Application to Track Water Quality Toward Sustainable Management of Butuanon River, Cebu, Philippines.”
The conference brought together researchers and scientists working on biodiversity conservation and sustainability. For Project REHAB, the event provided an opportunity not only to present research outputs but also to receive external evaluation and recognition for work focused on river systems and biodiversity assessment.
The awards received by Project REHAB highlight the relevance of their work to current biodiversity and sustainability discussions, particularly in translating scientific data into tools and insights that support environmental management and conservation efforts.