Haribon Foundation

Haribon Foundation
Name	Haribon Foundation
Native name	Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Inc.
Formation	1972
Type	Non-profit organization
Headquarters	Philippines
Region served	Philippines
Leader title	Executive Director

Haribon Foundation is a Philippine non-governmental organization focused on biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and environmental advocacy. Founded in 1972, it operates across multiple islands, engaging in species protection, habitat restoration, policy advocacy, and community-based resource stewardship. Haribon collaborates with conservation partners, academic institutions, local government units, and international organizations to implement science-based programs and influence environmental policy.

History

Haribon traces its origins to the early 1970s when conservation concerns about Philippine biodiversity drew attention from scientists and activists associated with institutions such as University of the Philippines, National Museum of the Philippines, and international groups like World Wildlife Fund and Conservation International. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Haribon expanded programs in response to events including the aftermath of Tropical Storm Thelma (Uring) and the policy shifts following the 1987 Philippine Constitution environmental provisions. In the 2000s the organization partnered with agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and engaged in regional initiatives linked to the Convention on Biological Diversity and Ramsar Convention.

Mission and Programs

Haribon’s mission centers on conserving Philippine biodiversity and empowering communities through participatory approaches. Programmatic foci include protected area management, species recovery, reforestation, and coastal and marine conservation. Haribon has implemented pilot projects with partners like United Nations Development Programme, Asian Development Bank, and local civil society groups such as Ateneo de Manila University research teams and Sibuyan Island community organizations. The foundation’s programs frequently intersect with policy arenas involving the Biodiversity Management Bureau and municipal governments.

Conservation Initiatives

Haribon conducts habitat restoration, species monitoring, and protected area establishment across landscapes including the Sierra Madre, Palawan, Mindoro, and Visayas islands. Notable initiatives have targeted flagship species such as the Philippine eagle, tamaraw, Philippine crocodile, and endemic flora in the Montane rain forests. Projects have utilized corridor design, reforestation of native species, and mangrove rehabilitation adjacent to sites recognized under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and marine protected areas linked to the Coral Triangle Initiative. Collaborative work has included community-based forest management agreements and biodiversity-friendly livelihood schemes coordinated with local stakeholders and provincial administrations.

Research and Policy Influence

Haribon integrates applied research with advocacy to shape environmental policy at national and local levels. Research outputs have informed regulatory processes under statutes like the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act and have been cited in planning documents for protected areas and municipal ordinances. The foundation has convened technical working groups alongside agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and academic partners including De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas to produce species inventories, ecological assessments, and management plans. Haribon has participated in multilateral dialogues connected to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and biodiversity negotiations under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Community Engagement and Education

Community engagement is central to Haribon’s model, emphasizing participatory mapping, capacity building, and environmental education. Programs have worked with indigenous communities such as those in Cordillera Administrative Region and fisherfolk in Sulu Sea localities to blend traditional ecological knowledge with scientific monitoring. Environmental education campaigns have targeted schools and municipal stakeholders through partnerships with organizations like Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Inc. (note: organizational name used here in outreach contexts), academic networks, and local media outlets. Citizen science efforts have mobilized volunteers for bird surveys, coastal clean-ups, and reforestation drives in collaboration with provincial offices and local NGOs.

Organizational Structure and Funding

Haribon functions as a non-profit entity with a governance board, an executive leadership team, program managers, and field staff operating from regional offices. Funding streams comprise grants from international donors such as Ford Foundation, project support from agencies including United States Agency for International Development, philanthropic contributions, corporate partnerships, and fee-for-service contracts with local governments. The organization engages in strategic partnerships with academic institutions, municipal administrations, and international conservation networks to leverage technical capacity and co-finance projects.

Awards and Recognitions

Over its history Haribon has received recognition from national and regional bodies for conservation achievements, including awards linked to biodiversity stewardship, community-based natural resource management, and environmental advocacy. These honors have been presented by institutions such as the Presidential Communications Office (Philippines), environmental award programs affiliated with ASEAN, and conservation prize juries that include academic and international partners. The foundation’s projects have been cited in case studies by multilateral organizations and universities for best practices in participatory conservation.

Category:Environmental organizations based in the Philippines Category:Non-profit organizations established in 1972