Manila, Philippines — In strengthening the Philippines’ climate resilience, Forest Foundation Philippines, through the support of the Government of Canada, just awarded over PhP 25 million in grants for nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation in Negros Occidental, Maguindanao del Sur, and Palawan.
The Forest Foundation Philippines, with support from the Government of Canada, approved over PhP 25 million in grants for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across the Philippines. These projects will highlight various NbS approaches that target climate resilience, biodiversity co-benefits, and gender-responsiveness.
The approved grants, amounting to a total of PhP 25,281,707.06, comprise the first set of projects under the Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS). These projects will demonstrate the effectiveness of NbS in responding to climate change, and their impacts on vulnerable Filipino communities and ecosystems. This milestone marks a significant step in mainstreaming NbS as a climate adaptation approach, while empowering local communities and promoting gender-responsive approaches.
These grants will support NbS approaches, directly benefiting 600+ women and men and indirectly benefiting over 100,000 individuals to adapt to climate impacts across 119 hectares of forests and riverbanks, through participatory and community-based forest restoration, agroforestry, riverbank rehabilitation, supporting key pollinators, and restoration of indigenous food systems.
The following lists the approved Site-based Grants in Negros Occidental with the project titles and proponents:
- Nurturing Gawahon: A Community-Driven Model for Utilizing Nature-based Solutions, Fostering Gender Equality and Harnessing Ecotourism, BeeGlad (Gawahon Livelihood and Apiculture Development Association)
- Developing Nature-Based Regenerative Agroforestry and Organic Farming for Sustainable Agriculture and Ecosystem Restoration of Sicaba and Malogo River Watersheds, Negros Occidental, The Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation, Inc. (NISARD)
- Sustaining Sicaba Watershed through Agro-Forestry and Local Enterprise, The Negros Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (NEDF)
The following lists the approved Thematic Grants with the project titles and proponents:
- Negros Occidental: San Carlos City Collaborative Restoration of River Easements Utilizing Nature Based-Solutions, San Carlos Development Board, Inc. (SCDBI)
- Maguindanao del Sur: Strengthening Roles of the Women Tedurays Indigenous Peoples in Climate Change Adaptation, Resilience and Peacebuilding, Teduray Lambangian Women’s Organization, Inc. (TLWOI)
- Palawan: Supporting Tagbanwa Agroforestry through Adaptive Restoration of Indigenous Food Crop System, Aplaya Collaborative Center for Conservation, Inc.
NbS are cost-effective actions that protect, regenerate, and enhance ecosystems while responding to the needs of communities and safeguarding biodiversity.
The grants will support innovative, community-led NbS projects aimed at reducing vulnerability and enhancing resilience in biodiversity-rich areas most affected by climate change. With an emphasis on inclusivity and participation, the program highlights the critical role of gender-responsive approaches in fostering sustainable solutions that address the unique challenges faced by diverse communities.
The Government of Canada has committed PhP 332 million (CA$8 million) for program implementation from 2024 to 2028. This fund, managed by Forest Foundation Philippines, will support local organizations in implementing holistic, community-based, and gender-responsive initiatives based on NbS principles.
The Forest Foundation will soon release further requests for proposals for site-based and thematic grants that demonstrate the potential to scale up community-driven, gender-responsive NbS, creating long-term benefits for both people and the environment. Forest Foundation Philippines and the Government of Canada continue to invite stakeholders to join this movement, promoting the adoption of NbS for climate adaptation across the country.
Interested individuals and organizations can visit the PCP4NbS microsite (www.pcp4nbs.forestfoundation.ph) or social media channels (@forestfoundationph, @pcp4nbs) for more information about the program and its ongoing and upcoming grants.
