The DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) joins the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the regional workshop on “Scaling Solutions for Decoupling Agricultural Production from Deforestation in Asia-Pacific,” held in Bangkok, Thailand on August 26-28, 2025. This event aimed to exchange knowledge among government agencies, development partners, and experts on strengthening synergies and reducing trade-offs between agriculture and forests and tackle possible solutions for decoupling agricultural production from deforestation. 

The first day was welcomed by Mr. Robert Simpson, Deputy Regional Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific followed by scene setting from Ms. Serena Fortuna, Senior Forestry Officer and Team Leader, Halting Deforestation, Degradation and Emissions Team from FAO.  Two panel discussions on the following topics followed: 1) Taking stock of priorities and progress to address agriculture-linked deforestation in the region with panelists from Indonesia, Thailand Timor-Leste, and Vietnam; and 2) Good practices for integrating halting agriculture-linked deforestation efforts into REDD+ strategies, NDCs and NBSAPs where Bhutan, Laos, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Philippines served as panelists. The afternoon session focused on rotational discussion on country scenarios on  national priorities, actions, successes, and challenges and this was concluded with reflections from Embassy Representatives of Japan,  EU Delegation, and Netherlands on their countries’ priorities.

The second day was a commodity discussion on palm oil, natural rubber, coffee ,and  cassava and deep-diving into lessons learned during sharing of cross-commodity good practices. Opening of the Solutions Market Place happened afterwards where development partners presented posters on available tools that can support governments, private sector, smallholders and other stakeholders in decoupling agriculture from deforestation. The day closed with a group discussion on future collaboration opportunities and ways to strengthen partnerships towards decoupling agriculture from deforestation in Asia-Pacific. 

A closed door meeting with FAO and other key partners happened on the third day to discuss key takeaways from the workshop, current and future plans on decoupling agriculture from deforestation in the country; and  government perspectives on potential areas of technical support and other possible opportunities for collaboration with FAO and other partners. 

Philippine contingents were Engr. Evangeline Dacumos of Soil Conservation and Management Division (SCMD) and  Ms. Cathlyn Joy Dela Torre of Planning and Monitoring Section of the DA-BSWM from the agricultural sector while For. Jinia Yaneza of the Forest Management Bureau attended from the environment sector. This workshop was organized by the FAO.

The DA-BSWM is the nationally-mandated agency on the sustainable management of soil and water resources for agriculture.