Leaders from the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), the Biodiversity Corridor (BD Corridor) Project, and the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) visited the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) on July 10, to discuss collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening biodiversity conservation within the Philippine mining sector.
The group met with Assistant Secretary for Mining Concerns and MGB OIC Engr. Michael V. Cabalda and MGB Assistant Director Engr. Teodorico A. Sandoval to reinforce ongoing partnerships and efforts led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
BIOFIN Project Manager Anabelle E. Plantilla emphasized that the group seeks to close the national biodiversity financing gap by integrating biodiversity into planning and development, while simultaneously also mobilizing funding across national agencies, LGUs, civil society, and the private sector. BIOFIN aligns with the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) and the country’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Meanwhile, the BD Corridor Project, led by Dr. Mary Jean Caleda, promotes integrated biodiversity corridor management to conserve threatened species, reduce deforestation, and support biodiversity-friendly livelihoods. Currently, the project is being implemented in two key areas: the Mindoro Biodiversity Corridor (Region 4B) and the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (Regions 11 and 13).
Since 2014, collaboration between MGB, BIOFIN, BMB, and the BD Corridor Project has helped shape policies like DENR Administrative Order No. 2022-04. A mandate that states biodiversity integration should be implemented in all stages of mining operations, from exploration to rehabilitation. This includes biodiversity assessments, progressive rehabilitation plans, and survival targets for reforestation efforts.
Building on this foundation, several biodiversity-focused programs are targeted for implementation in 2025, including:
- A policy consultation on a draft order amending DAO No. 2022-04;
- Publication of a Mine Rehabilitation Manual to guide best practices;
- Biodiversity expenditure-tagging in mining operations; and
- Pilot testing of a tool for establishing Reference Ecosystems to support science-based rehabilitation and potential OECM (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure) designation.
These programs aim to improve ecological restoration in mined-out areas, promote science-based rehabilitation, and increase transparency in biodiversity-related investments.
The DENR and MGB affirmed that these efforts are aligned with national and global frameworks.
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