The Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Network in collaboration with the Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) held a methodology workshop on climate change vulnerability mapping at the local level on August 22-24, 2011 at the College of St. Benilde Hotel, Manila, Philippines.

The CBMS research teams from Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam, as well as representatives from the local government units of Olongapo, Zambales and Carmona, Cavite and the Philippine Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) participated in the workshop.

Held in line with the “Support for Local Governments for Environmental Management in Southeast Asia Project” funded by the EEPSEA, the workshop focused on the development of the framework, methodology and indicators for climate change vulnerability mapping at the village level. Dr. Herminia Francisco, EEPSEA Director, Dr. Arief Yusuf and Mr. Megananda Suryana from the Center for Economics and Development Studies (CEDS) of the University of Pajadjaran, Indonesia served as resource persons during the workshop.

The project aims to develop and pilot test the methodology and indicators for mapping climate change vulnerability at the local level using CBMS data. Some of the expected outputs of the project include a policy paper and policy brief containing data analysis, vulnerability maps assessment, and recommendations. The results of the vulnerability mapping of the three participating countries will also be presented during the 9^th PEP Network Meeting to be held in Siem Reap, Cambodia in December 2011.

Established in May 1993, the EEPSEA supports training and research in environmental and resource economics.  Its goal is to strengthen local capacity for the economic analysis of environmental problems so that researchers can provide sound advice to policymakers. The program uses a networking approach to provide not only financial support but meetings, resource persons, access to literature, publication outlets, and opportunities for comparative research across its nine member countries.  These are Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, China and Papua New Guinea.