Forest Foundation Philippines, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Forest Management Bureau (DENR-FMB), supported the awarding of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) grants to five Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) People’s Organizations (POs) in the Mindoro Biodiversity Corridor (MBC) from July 20 to July 29, 2026.
The first batch of grant recipients includes:
- Sitio Little Baguio CBFMA (SLBCA);
- Balatbat Rural Workers CBFM Association, Inc. (BRWCAI);
- Cambunang CBFM Association, Inc. (CCBFMAI);
- Kahuyang Guinto CBFM Association, Inc. (KGCBFMAI); and
- Samahang Magsasaka ng Kabangkalan para sa Kaunlaran, Inc. (SMKKI).
The BD Corridor Project, also known as the Integrated Approach in Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines, is a national initiative led by the DENR, with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Through SFM-focused microgrants, Forest Foundation supports community-led efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, conserve high-conservation-value forests, and enhance ecosystem connectivity. Grant support is implemented in priority landscapes, including the Mindoro Biodiversity Corridor and the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor, contributing to long-term biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development in key forest areas.
For Forest Foundation, supporting these grants means creating opportunities for communities to participate in conservation in ways that respond to the realities of their own landscapes and livelihoods. By investing in local organizations, the SFM grants aim to strengthen community capacity, and support approaches that benefit both people and forest ecosystems.
The initiative also reflects the value of collaboration in conservation. Government agencies provide the policy and institutional framework, development partners help mobilize resources and technical support, while communities bring their knowledge and experiences in the sustainable management of the forests.
The first batch of awards is only the beginning. The second and third batches of SFM Grant Awarding activities are scheduled for August and September 2026, extending support to additional qualified communities within the Mindoro Biodiversity Corridor and Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor. As the program continues, Forest Foundation looks forward to working alongside government and community partners to help conservation investments reach the landscapes and people who need them most, strengthening the role of communities as partners in managing and conserving the country’s critical forest landscapes.
