October, 07 2025
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are emerging as one of the Philippines’ most important strategies for restoring ecosystems while addressing climate, biodiversity, and social challenges. In September, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in partnership with the Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP) and the Canadian government, gathered government leaders, civil society groups, indigenous communities, academics, and development partners to chart a shared path for NBS.
The gathering sought to define priorities and build mechanisms that would sustain collaboration across sectors. Participants stressed that for NbS to take root, it must be embedded in national policies while remaining anchored in local realities. As one partner emphasized, strengthening resilience depends on scaling up community-driven efforts that blend science, culture, and governance.
Youth and Ocean Literacy
Among the most dynamic voices in the conversation were young environmental leaders. They are reimagining conservation by shifting from extractive relationships with nature to stewardship rooted in education and storytelling. Youth camps in Siargao, for instance, are equipping participants with skills in citizen science and leadership so they can sustain initiatives in mangrove conservation and biodiversity monitoring.
Creative communication has become a powerful tool. A children’s book, co-developed with young advocates, helped local communities understand that corals are living ecosystems and not just rocks. Such efforts illustrate how meaning and purpose are central to mobilizing people, making environmental protection tangible and inspiring.
Bridging Terms and Timelines
Discussions also turned to governance challenges. Farmers and local government representatives shared experiences on soil restoration, water regulation, and the long-term benefits of self-reliance. Yet they also acknowledged the structural difficulties: three-year political terms often clash with the longer timelines needed for ecological restoration.
Still, NBS can meet immediate community needs, from food security to disaster resilience. Evidence-based planning and capacity-building for local chief executives were highlighted as critical to bridging gaps. Stronger partnerships across government, academe, and communities are essential to ensure that NBS outlasts electoral cycles and becomes part of institutional practice.
Culture as Conservation
Indigenous and local communities reminded participants that NbS is not a new invention—it is rooted in cultural practices that have safeguarded ecosystems for generations. The Tagbanwa and Silipitin communities highlighted that protecting food systems and traditions is inseparable from protecting biodiversity.
Yet, many continue to face threats of land-grabbing and exclusion. Recognition must therefore go beyond consultation and extend to empowerment. Indigenous peoples are frontliners in conservation and must be acknowledged as leaders in shaping national NbS strategies. The launch of the IUCN National Committee Philippines was hailed as a step toward aligning global conservation frameworks with these local realities.
Financing the Future
The question of financing surfaced repeatedly. Participants stressed that resources must be managed with transparency, accountability, and inclusivity so that communities benefit equitably. Innovative climate finance instruments, green infrastructure, and access to both domestic and international funds were seen as opportunities to sustain momentum.
The challenge lies not only in raising funds but in ensuring they are strategically directed to initiatives that address climate and biodiversity risks while strengthening local livelihoods. Courage and participation from communities were noted as equally important in ensuring that financial mechanisms lead to real, lasting outcomes.
Scaling Up: Blending Sciece, Stories, and Synergy
With scientists warning that one million plant and animal species could face extinction by 2030, the urgency of scaling up NbS is clear. Participants described NbS as both shield and foundation: a shield against the risks of climate change and a foundation for sustainable livelihoods.
Models like the Katiwala Project demonstrate how blending scientific research with cultural knowledge can build trust and adaptive governance. Speakers also challenged institutions to ask whether they are “really counting the things that count.” Beyond measuring carbon, monitoring must account for ecosystem health, social equity, and cultural resilience.
From ecosystem-based disaster recovery frameworks to circular economy initiatives, scaling up means moving from siloed interventions to strategies that link science, stories, and societal needs.
Toward Collective Action
Across discussions—whether centered on youth, indigenous leadership, financing, or governance—one conclusion was clear: nature-based solutions thrive through collective action. They demand creativity, collaboration, and the courage to rethink existing systems.
The call was simple but urgent: work with nature, not against it. In doing so, communities across the Philippines can survive climate change and biodiversity loss and also chart a future where they thrive.
By: Julia Mikaela Uy
