HOW WE WORK

In a country where 100% of the population lives within 100km of the ocean, changing attitudes about the environment often has more to do about culture, politics and economics than the oceans themselves. In this sense, it is never enough to just save the environment. People must be saved as well. In many cases, people must be saved first.

Our initiatives are therefore grounded in partnerships and collaboration with government, corporations, local government units, people's organizations and cooperatives, international agencies, research and academic institutions and other special interest groups. With our partners, we are presently spearheading research in and conservation of the humpback whales in the Babuyan Islands, the Irrawaddy Dolphins and dugongs in Palawan, the whale sharks of Donsol, sea turtles in the Turtle Islands, and through the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, various other species of dolphins and whales found in Philippine waters. We are also helping institutionalize community-based resource management approaches in our projects in the Northern Sierra Madre, Negros, Balayan Bay in Batangas, Tubbataha Reefs in Sulu Sea, and Mt. Guiting-guiting in Sibuyan Island. Partnerships, communications, environmental education, GIS, policy work and marine protection and law enforcement are integral components of our conservation efforts.