Forests for the future: making a lasting impact for people and forests in Asia and the Pacific

The Philippines

The Philippines is considered a biodiversity hotspot due to the abundance of wildlife found in the country, including over 641 bird species. Their future hangs in the balance, however, as the country’s rate of tropical deforestation is one of the highest in the world due to logging, mining and land conversion driven by poverty.

Determined to turn things around, the Haribon Foundation (BirdLife in the Philippines) has transformed local people into proactive forest defenders, or ‘bantay gubat’, who now lead forest conservation efforts. These forest defenders received training on topics from reading and writing, financial management and environmental law to organic farming and reforestation techniques. The KaPatrol mobile app launched by Haribon in 2021 enables bantay gubat and other citizens to report threats to the forests, enhancing communication between local people and wildlife authorities.

“One of Haribon’s proudest achievements from this project is safely and successfully integrating modern conservation practices with the indigenous tribes’ knowledge and rituals, despite being limited by several factors such as difference in cultures, disparity in educational attainments, and the restrictions in all aspects brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mita Chabeli Pangan, on behalf of Haribon’s Forest Governance Project team.

“From being unable to read or write, the tribal communities Haribon has worked with now have active roles in forest governance initiatives with their respective local government units, are already using the latest technology for monitoring, protection and communication, and are managing biodiversity-friendly businesses – all while still retaining the sustainable traditions they inherited from their ancestors.”

Looking to the future

As the Forest Governance Project reaches its end, the results from the five years of hard work across these four countries is further proof that local people are the answer to effective, impactful forest conservation. The project may be over, but the work is far from finished – local communities are in it for the long haul, to protect their forests for generations to come.

To find out more, read our Project Impact Report here or the policy briefs for Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.

Click here to explore the extent of forest loss across each of the four countries, the drivers of change, and the value of good governance in addressing these challenges.