Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
Name	Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
Country	Philippines
Adopted	1999
Framework	Convention on Biological Diversity
Agency	Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Website	Philippine biodiversity strategy

Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan is the national policy framework for conserving biodiversity in the Philippines, aligning domestic priorities with the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It positions the Department of Environment and Natural Resources alongside agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the National Economic and Development Authority to integrate biodiversity into sectoral planning, linking to international efforts led by the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank.

Background and Legal Framework

The strategy draws on the constitutional mandate in the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines and statutes such as the Republic Act No. 7586 (National Integrated Protected Areas System Act), Republic Act No. 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act), and Republic Act No. 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act), while interfacing with policies from the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System, the Local Government Code of 1991, and the National Integrated Protected Areas System. It responds to obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and reporting requirements from the Conference of the Parties to the CBD, coordinating with international agreements like the Ramsar Convention, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the Kyoto Protocol as interpreted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Objectives and Strategic Priorities

The plan outlines objectives to conserve critical ecosystems such as the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, and the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape by promoting in-situ and ex-situ conservation through institutions like the Philippine Botanical Gardens, the Zoological and Wildlife Conservation Center, and university collections at University of the Philippines. Strategic priorities include strengthening protected area networks, safeguarding endemic species such as the Philippine Eagle, the tamaraw, and the Philippine tarsier, and integrating biodiversity considerations into sectors managed by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Energy. It emphasizes ecosystem-based adaptation tied to initiatives by the Climate Change Commission, marine conservation linked to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and sustainable tourism models exemplified by El Nido and Apo Island.

Implementation Mechanisms and Institutional Arrangements

Implementation relies on multi-level coordination between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, the Biodiversity Management Bureau, regional offices, and local government units under the Local Government Code of 1991. The plan establishes technical working groups with representation from academe such as Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines Los Baños, and Silliman University, as well as civil society organizations like the Haribon Foundation and World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines. It prescribes management instruments including biodiversity inventories, species recovery plans, and community-based resource management models developed alongside indigenous peoples represented by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and municipal councils.

Funding, Resources, and Partnerships

Financing strategies combine national budget allocations through the Department of Budget and Management, donor support from the Global Environment Facility, loans and grants from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, and private sector engagement involving corporations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Partnerships extend to international NGOs such as Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and BirdLife International; academic collaborations with institutions like Harvard University and James Cook University; and philanthropic funders such as the MacArthur Foundation. Payment for ecosystem services pilots draw from models promoted by the United Nations Development Programme and carbon finance mechanisms linked to the Green Climate Fund.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

Monitoring frameworks align with national reporting obligations to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Environment Programme, using indicators harmonized with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and later the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Data collection involves agencies like the Philippine Statistics Authority and research centers such as the National Museum of the Philippines and the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau. Evaluation processes incorporate third-party audits by multilateral partners including the Asian Development Bank and independent assessments from organizations like Transparency International and academic peer review from journals that include contributors from University of the Philippines Diliman.

National and Local Action Plans

The national strategy is operationalized through provincial and municipal action plans in biodiverse regions such as Palawan, Mindoro, Sierra Madre, and the Visayas, coordinated with local initiatives in cities like Davao City, Cebu City, and Puerto Princesa. Community conservation models emphasize partnerships with indigenous governance bodies highlighted in the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997, and barangay-level programs integrate with livelihood projects promoted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and cooperative development facilitated by the Cooperative Development Authority.

Challenges and Criticisms

Critiques of the strategy cite gaps in enforcement under agencies including the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, funding shortfalls influenced by fiscal priorities of the Department of Budget and Management, and overlapping mandates among the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the National Economic and Development Authority, and sectoral departments. Conservationists reference persistent threats from illegal logging in areas once studied by the Forest Management Bureau, overfishing documented by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and habitat loss linked to development projects reviewed under the Environmental Impact Statement System. Scholars from institutions such as Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines have called for stronger integration with climate policy from the Climate Change Commission and clearer mechanisms to operationalize commitments to conventions like the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Category:Conservation in the Philippines