2024 Annual Report

Expanding Areas for Forest Conservation in Sierra Madre

The Foundation continued to expand and improve forest management in Quirino Province, home to critical forest blocks within the Sierra Madre landscape. A key priority is the legislation of the Quirino Protected Landscape (QPL) under the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018. Although declared under NIPAS in 2004 and 2005, QPL was excluded from the expanded law. In partnership with the Community Forest Foundation Quirino (CFFQI), a member of the QPL Protected Areas Management Board, the Foundation supported efforts to advance its legislation. This included the development of a Protected Area Suitability Assessment for 35,000 hectares of adjacent forested areas to validate and expand QPL’s coverage. This expansion will enhance legal protection, and promote the sustainable management of forests and biodiversity. Currently, QPL covers 67% of the province, sustaining water supply and supporting economic activity.

Expanding Areas for Terrestrial Biodiversity Conservation

As a Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Philippines aligns with its 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature, following the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The Foundation, alongside other CSOs, actively supports the review and updating of the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). In partnership with Haribon Foundation,  Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines, and Institute of Biology Alumni of UP Diliman, the Foundation is helping update the terrestrial KBA list using the latest global standards. This process builds on past assessments and incorporates new data to guide conservation investments. Additionally, it identifies areas for inclusion in the 30×30 target, which aims to protect 30% of terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas by 2030 under the KMGBF. This collaborative effort – engaging government, CSOs, academia, and the private sector – ensures a science-driven and inclusive approach to biodiversity conservation.

Enabling Multi-sector Participation in Mangrove Protection and Restoration

In 2022, the Foundation, in partnership with the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), local governments, and coastal communities, assessed mangrove ecosystems in Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos, and Quinapondan. This led to efforts protecting 623 hectares of mangroves, and restoring 20 hectares in Lawaan and Quinapondan. With a US$ 16,631 grant from Jollibee Group Foundation, the project expanded to restore five more hectares and provide patrol boats for coastal protection. It also supported forest law enforcement initiatives and helped the Alliance of 7 develop a unified Coastal Resource Management ordinance for long-term conservation.

Expanding Green-Recovery Areas

The Foundation is a co-implementor of the USAID-funded Philippines Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscapes (SIBOL) Project. With ecological damages brought by strong typhoons in the country, the Foundation supported the recovery of the forests which are the main source of livelihoods for the communities. For this year, 10 People’s Organizations (POs) were provided grant support to further strengthen their roles on sustainable management of forests, particularly on ensuring ecosystems recovery. This included the following POs: Cabanbanan-Estrella Farmers Association Inc. (CEFAI), T-Arlan Protected Fisherfolks Association (TAPFA), Tigasao Community Fishermen Cooperative (TICOFICO), San Salvador Biodiversity Friendly Association (SSBFA), Caruray Agriculture Marketing Association (CAMA), Samahan ng Katutubong Tagbanauang Tandulanen sa Itaytay Port Barton (SATAGTANIPBA), Magayen It Buenavista Multipurpose Cooperative (MIBMPC), Isla Filomina Ecotourism Association (IFEA), Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Marufinas (SMM), and Samahang Pangkabuhayan ng mga Kababaihan sa Marufinas (SPKM).

Forest Fest 2024: Widening Market Reach for Sustainable Forest-based Enterprises

Forest Fest created the synergy among community-based enterprises, CSOs for conservation, and the private sector to catalyze innovative solutions for sustainable forest management and addressing poverty.  The project included capacity development and mentorship for 10 community-based organizations that have start-up ideas for possible funding. The highlight of the Forest Fest project was a 3-day Exhibit and Fair held in Ayala Malls Centrio, Cagayan De Oro. This culminating event provided the venue for the mentored organizations to express their confidence and pitch their sustainable livelihoods proposals. Moreover, the event allowed for the promotion and trade of sustainable, forest-based products by 14 community-based enterprises. Based on the reports, the total revenue of US$ 4,604.25 was generated by the exhibitors during the event.

Scaling-up Nature-based Solutions for a Resilient Future

The Foundation partnered with the Government of Canada to implement the Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS). With approximately US$ 5.6 million in funding, the program seeks to enhance the climate resilience of communities, empower women, and ensure that the strategies implemented benefit natural resources and promote healthy ecosystems. This fund will be managed by the Foundation and will support local organizations in implementing holistic, community-based, and gender-responsive initiatives based on NbS principles. The program covers new project sites, as well as the existing focal landscapes of the Foundation.

Fostering Partnerships for Stronger Protected Area (PA) Management

The 3rd National Protected Area Conference (3NPAC), with the theme “Building Resilience of People and Ecosystems Through Innovations and Enhanced Collaboration in PA Management,” brought together over 700 participants, including Protected Area Superintendents, DENR personnel, NGOs, academic institutions, Indigenous Peoples (IP), POs, and local government units, to exchange best practices and collaborative strategies to address biodiversity conservation challenges within PAs. In the Philippines, PAs are described as “portions of land and water set aside by reason of their unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation.” Tanggol Kalikasan, grantee of the Foundation, played a key role in supporting the participation of civil society organizations, including leaders from IP communities and POs. The Foundation’s partners and grantees also contributed their expertise as resource persons in panel discussions, sharing valuable knowledge and insights from their projects with other conservationists and advocates.

Mobilizing Public, Private, and Community Support for Forest Protection and Conservation

The Foundation collaborated with development partners and government agencies to mobilize additional resources from private sector and the general public to support forest protection and conservation efforts:

• Save from Extinction campaign for the protection of six endangered species. This initiative is implemented with the support of DENR, private companies including SM Supermalls, BDO Unibank, Kultura, and the CSOs (Katala Foundation, Philippine Eagle Foundation, World Wide Fund for Nature – Philippines, D’Aboville Foundation, and Zoological Society of London – Philippines).
• Animal Town application, a simulation game and educational tool to learn about the challenges and solutions to protect Philippine biodiversity. In-app purchases are available in the game, and the proceeds will be used to support conservation initiatives in the country. This project is supported by the United Nations Development Program Biodiversity Finance Initiative (UNDP BIOFIN) and DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB).
• Strategic partnerships with the private sector resulting in approximately US$ 19,430.91 in additional funding for its grantees. Key partners included Generali Philippines, Jollibee Group Foundation, and Michelin Tires, whose support played a pivotal role in advancing the Foundation’s mission and furthering the impact of its conservation efforts.

Bridging the Gap Between Forest Conservation Research and the Various Publics

With the Probe Media Foundation, the Foundation organized a workshop, titled “Kuwentong Kagubatan (Forest Stories): Art of Effective, Impactful, and Strategic Communication.” The activity brought together 28 researcher grantees and staff to deepen their knowledge of science communication through interactive lectures and hands-on multimedia production. Participants included grantees from the Foundation’s partnerships with the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) and the Regional Community Forestry Training Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC).

Fostering Outdoor Reading and Environmental Stewardship

Ekomunikatib Multimedia Consultancy Services, supported by USAID SIBOL, launched Project FOREST (Fostering Outdoor Reading and Environmental Stewardship Together) to cultivate a deep awareness of forest conservation among elementary school students in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) through conservation storytelling. Project FOREST released four story and video books, which revolve around the overarching theme of forest conservation and the ongoing public and private collaborative initiatives within the park. Following the launch, reading caravans were organized in five elementary schools within the PPSRNP for over 400 elementary school students.

Enriching the Humanities and Social Sciences

For the second year of the Foundation’s partnership with the Association of Asian Studies (AAS), four research grants were supported. The partnership reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to support underrepresented and underfunded scholars and public intellectuals, including women and indigenous peoples, who are investigating the interplay between forests and humanities.

Planting Seeds of Knowledge, Cultivating Hope, and Enriching the Future on the International Day of the Forest

In celebration of the International Day of Forests 2024, the Foundation and Tropenbos International through the Sustainable and Inclusive Landscape Governance (SILG) Program launched a suite of capacity development tools and knowledge products designed to enhance forest conservation advocacy across various sectors. Developed in partnership with Habi Education Lab, these toolkits and learning materials are the product of extensive consultations with forest governance stakeholders and conservation practitioners.