ASEAN biodiversity expert is 2009 outstanding Filipino professional

MANILA, Philippines – The executive director of the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB) was chosen 2009 Outstanding Professional in the field of Forestry by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Forester and biodiversity expert Rodrigo Fuentes received the Outstanding Professional of the Year Award last Friday during the PRC Awards Night. The award is the highest honor bestowed by PRC upon a professional as recommended by his or her peers and colleagues for having amply demonstrated professional competence of the highest degree. PRC also recognized Fuentes for contributing significantly to the advancement of the profession.

The ACB is the only ASEAN center of excellence based in the Philippines.

Fuentes has been working in the field of environment and natural resources for the past 28 years, notably as a consultant and technical advisor to various intergovernmental and multilateral organizations such as the ASEAN, the Asian Development Bank, United Nations agencies, and the World Bank. His work has brought him to China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Syria, Switzerland and Thailand.

A sustainable development and urban and regional planning expert, Fuentes also specializes in environmental program design and project development, policy and institutional assessment, environmental monitoring and assessment, and capacity development in environmental management and sustainable development.

His previous undertakings at the regional and sub-regional levels included assisting governments to comply with their commitments to global agreements such as the implementations of Agenda 21 and the three multilateral environmental agreements, i.e. UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC), and UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).

Prior to being appointed by the ASEAN Governing Board to head the European Union-assisted ACB, Fuentes was engaged by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the Philippines to undertake an independent and thorough assessment and review of the UNDP Country Program Action Plan on the Environment and Energy Portfolios, within the ambit of the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

Before his regional and international work, Fuentes was with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for 14 years, serving as National Director of the Environmental Management Bureau from 1991-94.

Fuentes holds a Forestry degree and a masteral degree in Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of the Philippines.