Indigenous leadership for biodiversity protection in Philippines’ last ecological frontier 

The project works towards inclusive biodiversity protection in two Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in Palawan (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) the Philippines. The KBAs are subject to ongoing and planned development activities, highlighting the importance of sustainable land-use planning to safeguard biodiversity. While policies to protect them are in place, there are opportunities to enhance their effective implementation on the ground. The project targets IUCN Red-Listed species, e.g. the Forest Product Agathis dammara, strengthens IPs’ (women) leadership, enhances green livelihoods, revives Indigenous knowledge and pushes for implementation of policies and (inter)national agreements for biodiversity protection.  

Project facts:

Country: The Philippines 

Partners: Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme Philippines (NTFP-EP Philippines), Institute for the Development of Educational and Ecological Alternatives, Inc. (IDEAS), Environmental Legal Assistance Center, Inc. (ELAC), Both ENDS 

Duration: October 2025 – March 2029 

Donor: UK Government through Darwin Initiative 

Community governance

Forests and climate

Header photo: VAMR landscape Palawan, Indonesia © Roger Garinga

Protecting Key Biodiversity Areas

The Victoria-Anepahan Mountain Range (VAMR) and Bulanjao Mountain Range (BMR) in Palawan are subject to various development pressures that may affect their biodiversity. The Palawan Biosphere Reserve is a biodiversity hotspot with high levels of endemism. Its remaining forests, including in VAMR and BMR lie in Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) Ancestral Domains. The forest fulfils important roles for the IPs and downstream communities, such as water and food provisioning and cultural values. IPs, and particularly women, are directly affected by the threats to their Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP)-based livelihoods and cultural heritage, whereas Indigenous knowledge systems are under pressure.  

*Indigenous Peoples women ©* *Green Livelihoods Alliance*

*Almaciga resin ©* *Green Livelihoods Alliance*

The project’s interventions focus on strengthening the voices, skills and rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IP&LCs) in and around the 2 KBAs, and on promoting the enforcement of existing biodiversity protection and IP rights’ protection. Project partners will:

Strengthen Indigenous governance structures, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSPs) and sustainable green NTFP and agroforestry-based livelihoods. These nature-friendly, sustainable production systems support food security and market opportunities that will foster the growth of a dynamic local green economy that helps reduce pressure on remaining forests and their biodiversity.  
Advocate for the legal compliance and enforcement of existing laws and policies to strengthen protection of the KBAs, with strong participation by the IPs including women and youth. This is underpinned by participative biodiversity studies.

Strengthening Indigenous rights, leadership and livelihoods

The project will empower at least 4.200 Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in and around the KBAs by enhancing their capacities and knowledge for active participation in the sustainable governance of their Ancestral Domains (AD). This includes securing tenure rights through the granting of Certificate of AD Title and the endorsement of their AD sustainable development and protection plans. At least 13 IP-led NTFP-based and agro-forestry enterprises will be established, and 775 IPs (400 women, 375 men) have increased economic resilience. 235 IP youth have enhanced their Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP). 

How we will work

Activities include IP&LC capacity strengthening, Ancestral land titling and planning, resource & biodiversity management planning and monitoring, community-based NTFP-based and agroforestry-based enterprise and market development, local government engagement and multi-stakeholder dialogues.   