Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources

The Haribon Foundation began as a birdwatching society in 1972, and later became the country's first environmental conservation organization. While initially focused on the critically endangered Philippine Eagle (Haring Ibon), our conservation efforts have since expanded not only to include other species, but also to engage in habitat restoration and community development. Haribon's multisectoral approach is guided by our four pillars: conserving sites and habitats, saving species, encouraging sustainability, and empowering people. As the Philippines' pioneering environmental conservation organization, we are dedicated to advancing participatory sustainable solutions; solutions that are not only science-based but that place people at their core. Local communities are often the most vulnerable to natural disasters and the effects of climate change, but they also have the capacity to become staunch environmental defenders and biodiversity champions. Placing community development and capacity building at the heart of our programs ensures the sustainability of our efforts, so that future generations can enjoy the rewards of a healthy ecosystem.

Through our Species of Hope project, we contribute to the conservation of other endemic bird species, most notably the Negros Bleeding Heart Pigeon and Rufous-headed Hornbill. In addition to conservation research on the ecology and biology of these species, we also empower local stakeholders and communities through ecology, natural resource management, and forest warden (Bantay Gubat) training, and provide technical guidance for species conservation plans.

Through our flagship reforestation project, the Forests For Life (FFL) Movement, we restore Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) using rainforestation technology developed by our foresters, which makes use of native tree species. Since the beginning of this project, we have planted over 1 million native tree seedlings in reforestation sites across Luzon, with survival rates of 92% and above during our 3-year monitoring periods. FFL also includes rainforestation training for our partner Peoples Organizations (POs), and a community livelihood fund that supports their biodiversity-friendly livelihood alternatives. By establishing strong relationships and capacity building among our partner communities and relevant government units, we ensure the longevity of our reforestation efforts, even long after the initial agreement.

The denuded areas in our 2023 sites (in the provinces of Rizal, Quezon, and Laguna) have been fully replanted and now only require maintenance. As of 2024, agreements are already underway as we prepare to implement FFL in new Protected Areas in Quezon, Zambales, Rizal, and Nueva Ecija.

Future projects include the Blue Carbon Forest Program (BCFP), a mangrove forest restoration program, and the relaunching of Biodiversity On Wheels (BOW), a multimedia van that would visit different schools with Haribon volunteers and environmental education materials, teaching children of all ages about vital ecological principles in order to shape a new generation of environmental defenders.