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In Memoriam: Expert Advisory Pool (EAP) member, Biologist Danny Balete

Posted on July 5, 2017

FPE joins the rest of the conservation community as we mourn the passing of Mr. Danilo “Danny” Balete, a member of FPE’s Experts’ Advisory Pool, last July 1, 2017.

Danny, as he is fondly called, is one of the primary contributors in developing the Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) adopted and used by the DENR for Protected Areas, and installed & trained FPE partners on Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation (BIOME) in 2000 to 2001. Both tools are used to determine physical and ecological changes on ecosystems, as well as socio-economic, cultural, and political threats that affect the biodiversity of a specific area/site, as an impact of a biodiversity conservation and sustainable development initiatives. From the BIOME results, appropriate mechanisms and relevant management interventions are formulated.

Among the partners trained were Luntiang Alyansa sa Bundok Banahaw (LABB) in Mts. Banahaw-San Cristobal, Quezon; Lingap para sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan (LIKAS) in Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, Sorsogon; New Lands Resource Development Cooperative (NELARDECO) in Sta. Margarita, Baggao, Cagayan; and Pederasyon sa Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma nga Nanalipod ug Nagpasig-uli sa Kinaiyahan, Inc. (PENAGMANNAKI) in Mt. Talinis-Twin Lakes, Negros Oriental.

Other contributions of Danny Balete include the review of FPE’s Resource and Socio-Economic Assessment (RSEA) results of selected sites for USAID-funded Upscaling Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas Project.  

“Danny is a dear friend, an inspiring mentor, a staunch advocate of biodiversity conservation, and one of the finest biologists the Philippines has ever seen” says Dr. Perry Ong, Former FPE Board member and Director of the Institute of Biology of the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

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As relayed by Dr Ong: For those who wish to visit, Danny’s remains lie in state at the Resurrection Room of the Santa Rita de Cascia Parish, South Lawin St., Philam Homes, Quezon City beginning late this afternoon until July 8. Cremation of Danny's remains will follow after the funeral service on July 9 at 8 am. 

There will be a program on Friday night, 7 July 2017, to be led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with whom Danny had a long history of close collaboration and partnership, to honor his contributions.

On Saturday night, 8 July 2017, a necrological service will be conducted by his close friends to remember Danny and share their fond memories of Danny.