DENR, Forest Foundation, and Canada Advance Nature-based Solutions in the Philippines Amid Rising Climate Threats

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP), and the Government of Canada convened leaders from government, civil society, local communities, development organizations, and the academe for the PUNLA: Multistakeholder Forum on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) on Sept. 9–10 in Quezon City.

The forum aimed to build a shared understanding of high-integrity NbS as a critical approach to addressing climate, biodiversity, and social challenges in the Philippines.

Jake Brunner, head of the Lower Mekong Subregion at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), emphasized that effective NbS must address societal needs, work within ecosystems, and provide measurable benefits for both people and nature.

To institutionalize NbS at the national level, the DENR launched a multistakeholder Nature-based Solutions Support Network to define priorities and actions for integrating NbS into agency initiatives.

The network—comprising partners from the academe, civil society, local communities, and development organizations—was launched through the PUNLA Forum to foster shared understanding, drive commitments, and create mechanisms for sustained collaboration.

The Philippines–Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS) was presented as a model for inclusive, community-led climate action across six climate-vulnerable, biodiversity-rich areas.

The Philippines–Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS) was highlighted as a model of inclusive, community-led actions across six climate-vulnerable, biodiversity-rich areas that blend traditional knowledge, local leadership, and science.

Edwina Garchitorena, Chair of the Board of Trustees of FFP, stressed that NbS bridges environmental and development goals, and that strong collaboration with partners is essential to institutionalizing them.

Mr. Simon Snoxell, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Canada to the Philippines echoes the same statement. “This multi-sectoral collaboration builds on local solutions, showing how scaling community-driven efforts can strengthen resilience for both people and ecosystems nationwide.”

The forum also marked a milestone in global-local alignment with the launch of the IUCN National Committee Philippines. Comprising IUCN members in the Philippines, the committee aims to localize global conservation frameworks and amplify the country’s voice in international environmental policy. “The committee connects Philippine efforts with global NbS and biodiversity targets while adapting international standards to local realities,” Edwina added.

Responding to converging climate and social risks
In the Philippines, 74% of the population faces climate-related threats, and the country holds the highest natural disaster risk globally, with a 2024 World Risk Index score of 46.91%. Forum discussions underscored how these risks are especially acute for Indigenous and rural communities, where degraded ecosystems weaken food systems, water access, and disaster resilience.

As Dr. Dixon Gevaña, Director of Forestry Development Center, University of the Philippines Los Baños said, NbS emerges as a critical pathway to restore natural defenses, and eventually strengthen social equity. “If we are to build lasting resilience, we must restore the ecosystems that sustain us while empowering the communities that depend on them,” he added.

Towards a sustainable, and climate-resilient nation
Panelists and community representatives reiterated integrating Indigenous knowledge, community practices, and science in NbS design, highlighting gender-responsive, youth-led, and community-driven approaches. They called for innovative financing, coherent governance, and strong partnerships to scale and sustain these initiatives.

“Ongoing collaboration across all sectors is essential to build a resilient and inclusive Philippines that can effectively respond to the nation’s most urgent climate and social challenges,” said Atty. Ray Thomas Kabigting, Assistant Director of the DENR Forest Management Bureau.

As environmental and social risks escalate, DENR, FFP, the Government of Canada and its partners remain committed to strengthening efforts to institutionalize and scale NbS to build lasting resilience for the country.