Quezon City, Philippines — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and with the support of the Government of Canada, convened a Forum on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) with experts and stakeholders for a deep dive into the crucial role of ecosystems in achieving adaptation, mitigation, and resilience from climate change and biodiversity loss in the Philippines. 

The event was held in light of the recently concluded 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali, Colombia. The Forum also coincided with DENR’s Climate Change Consciousness Week, all to underscore the growing momentum behind nature-based solutions as a powerful tool for climate action and biodiversity protection.

“In the Philippines, we cannot speak about the climate crisis without acknowledging its interconnection with environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Given the complexity and interconnected nature of these challenges, interventions must address them simultaneously and equitably. UNDP is dedicated to championing gender-responsive nature-based solutions as a viable and cost-effective approach to combating the climate crisis while restoring and protecting the environment,” said Edwine Carrie, UNDP Philippines Deputy Resident Representative. 

“Nature-based Solutions defend and restore natural areas such as forests and wetlands that are essential in protecting us from climate change impacts and reversing wildlife decline. It uses the features and complex system processes of nature – such as its ability to store carbon and regulate water flows – and provide innovative and resilient alternatives in the context of constrained fiscal capacity. Nature-based solutions also offer opportunities to empower women, Indigenous Peoples, and their communities to lead initiatives that will tackle climate change impacts” added John Lok, Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Canada to the Philippines.

Ecosystem of policies

DENR shared that its draft Nature-based Solutions framework for the country is expected to be concluded next year, replacing the current general Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) principle in place. 

“The DENR has undertaken initiatives to institutionalize NbS. We are developing a mother policy to strengthen NbS integration within the Department. With support from UNDP, we are finalizing the Forest Carbon Policy Roadmap and conducting NbS stocktaking studies to map the current landscape of NbS implementation across the environment and natural resources sector, non-profit, and the private sector,” said Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, DENR Undersecretary for Finance, Information System and Climate Change. 

Dir. Elenida Basug of the DENR Climate Change Service also emphasized how NbS must interoperate within an ecosystem of policies such as in the Philippine Development Plan 2022-2028, the National Adaptation Plan 2023-2050, and the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) 2015-2028. 

Biodiversity COP16 takeaways

Rowena Bolinas of the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau reported the best practices featured at COP16, the launch of new funding support via the USD$200-million Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF) for developing countries, and the landmark recognition of “biodiversity,” “ocean systems” and “climate change” intersect as a significant premise for NbS policymaking in the country. 

In the Philippines, Canada is funding two NbS-specific projects: The Accelerating Green and Climate Finance (AGCF) project, implemented by the UNDP, and the Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solution for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS) with the Forest Foundation Philippines. 

The event featured three panel discussions on NbS initiatives. In the Public Sector Panel, Tom Kabigting of the DENR-Forest Management Bureau, Eduardo Alberto of the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management, and Lea Avilla of the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau discussed policies spearheaded by their agencies to promote NbS. The Private Sector Panel included Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar of Aboitiz Group, Audrey Palomar of EcoSecurities, Bonar Laureto of SGV & Co., and Brian James Arevalo of Straw Innovations, Inc., who shared their experiences in implementing NbS projects and emphasized the need for policy reforms to boost private-sector investment. Meanwhile, the CSO Panel featured Arby Duero of Forest Foundation Philippines, Jerome Montemayor of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, Wilbur Dee of Conservation International, AC Dy of Villgro, and Joeffrey Maglinte of World Wide Fund for Nature who highlighted community-driven initiatives and the importance of partnerships in advancing sustainability efforts.

The two-day Forum took stock of the latest NbS projects from across the country, including the grassroots efforts of ‘Klima-likasan' Climate and Disaster Resiliency awardees and a data-gathering activity for the ongoing NbS Stocktaking Research by the DENR and UNDP. Insights gathered will feed into the NbS study to identify the policy support required to strengthen NbS implementation in the Philippines. ###