Camille Naredo

Indigenous leaders at civil society supporters gather at UP Diliman for the "Forest Fellowship," organized by the Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity Coalition Philippines, July 19, 2026. Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Forest Fellowship

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17844799505281784479615714860.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Indigenous leaders at civil society supporters gather at UP Diliman for the &quot;Forest Fellowship,&quot; organized by the Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity Coalition Philippines, July 19, 2026. Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Indigenous leaders at civil society supporters gather at UP Diliman for the &quot;Forest Fellowship,&quot; organized by the Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity Coalition Philippines, July 19, 2026. <em>Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Protecting ancestral domain rights is crucial to preserving the Philippines&#x27; remaining forests and biodiversity, Indigenous leaders and environmental advocates said, as they urged the government to strengthen safeguards and fund community-led conservation programs.</p><p>More than 100 Indigenous leaders and civil society supporters from across the country gathered on Sunday at the University of the Philippines Diliman for the &quot;Forest Fellowship,&quot; organized by the Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity Coalition Philippines.</p><p>According to the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC), ancestral domains encompass about 85 percent of the Philippines&#x27; Key Biodiversity Areas and 75 percent of its remaining forest cover.</p><p>These figures demonstrate the strong connection between Indigenous rights and environmental protection.</p><p>Leon Dulce, campaigns support and linkages coordinator of the LRC, said Indigenous communities remain inadequately protected despite their vital role in conserving forests and biodiversity.</p><p>&quot;Bagamat kinikilala ng mga siyentista, ng mga eksperto na napakahalaga ng tungkulin ng katutubong mamamayan doon sa proteksyon ng natitira nating mga kagubatan, mga biodiversity areas, kulang iyong proteksyon sa kanilang mga lupaing ninuno,&quot; Dulce said.</p><p>&quot;Malawakan iyong pagpapahintulot—umaabot ng halos 3 milyong hektarya ng lupaing ninuno sa buong Pilipinas ang may conflict mula sa iba&#x27;t ibang mga mapanirang proyekto tulad ng pagmimina, ng mga imprastruktura, kahit iyong mga sinasabing malinis na renewable energy projects,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DEVELOPMENT AT WHAT COST?</strong></div><p>A 2025 LRC report found that about 2.8 million hectares within Indigenous territories overlap with mining, large-scale plantations, infrastructure, and other development projects. This represents about 51 percent of the total land covered by registered Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs).</p><p>Representatives from the Cordillera and Mindanao raised concerns over mining operations, plantations, dams, and infrastructure developments, including projects promoted as sources of renewable or clean energy.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2078807783257026941&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring&amp;sessionId=dbd578eeeec50c0978886414ad8e10c9caf1b5b0&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:672px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2078807783257026941"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>Indigenous Ibaloy leader Jill Cariño warned that projects should not automatically be approved simply because they are labeled environmentally friendly.</p><p>&quot;While they say, for example, mega-dams are a source of clean energy, napakalaki naman ang epekto nito sa mga affected communities,&quot; Cariño said. &quot;Kaya hindi gano&#x27;n lang basta porket green energy siya or renewable energy ay papayagan na gawin.&quot;</p><p>Cariño, coordinator of the Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines and a convener of the coalition, cited proposed large dams in Apayao and along the Abulog River that could submerge communities, displace residents, and threaten livelihoods dependent on waterways.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/6/2/oriental-mindoro-gov-wants-to-protect-mt-halcon-two-rivers-against-mining-1117">READ: Oriental Mindoro gov wants to protect Mt. Halcon, two rivers against mining</a></div><p>&quot;Nanganganib talagang masira ang ancestral lands na ito. Talagang may threat ng displacement, threat of loss of livelihoods, at maliban sa destruction ng environment,&quot; she explained.</p><p>She said large dams could also become less effective over time because of siltation while continuing to damage wider areas.</p><p>The coalition also raised concerns over alleged violations of Indigenous communities&#x27; right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), which requires communities to be consulted and give their consent before projects affecting ancestral territories proceed.</p><p>Dulce warned that proposed revisions to FPIC guidelines could shorten consultations, reduce Indigenous participation, and weaken communities&#x27; ability to defend their lands.</p><p>&quot;Kahit anong mga desisyon sa loob ng lupaing ninuno ay dapat kinukonsulta muna sila at hindi aabante kung walang pahintulot mula sa kanila,&quot; Dulce said.</p><p>&quot;Lalo sa ngayon na nire-repaso ng gobyerno iyong guidelines patungkol sa FPIC at posible na paikliin iyong proseso, tanggalan ng mga katungkulan ang mga katutubo mismo sa proseso at kalaunan ay papahinain iyong kanilang kakayahan na ipagtanggol iyong kanilang lupaing ninuno,&quot; he added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/4/12/house-probe-into-masbate-mining-operations-sought-1015">READ: House probe into Masbate mining operations sought</a></div><p>Dulce said protections under the Constitution and the Indigenous Peoples&#x27; Rights Act (IPRA) are often subordinated to the Mining Act of 1995 and other extractive and infrastructure policies.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>GLOBAL TARGET BY 2030</strong><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17844799744651784479616117989.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Indigenous leaders at civil society supporters gather at UP Diliman for the &quot;Forest Fellowship,&quot; organized by the Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity Coalition Philippines, July 19, 2026. Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Indigenous leaders at civil society supporters gather at UP Diliman for the &quot;Forest Fellowship,&quot; organized by the Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity Coalition Philippines, July 19, 2026. <em>Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Cariño said the gathering aimed to emphasize the role of Indigenous communities in meeting the global target of halting biodiversity loss by 2030.</p><p>Indigenous groups developed the Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IPBSAP), which contains 23 targets aligned with global biodiversity goals. It seeks to strengthen customary governance, address biodiversity loss, and ensure Indigenous participation and benefit-sharing in conservation programs.</p><p>Following the fellowship, the coalition will hold its third national roundtable to assess the implementation of the targets, measure Indigenous communities&#x27; contributions, and identify continuing threats to their territories.</p><p>The findings will be presented to government agencies, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and United Nations representatives.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/2/28/fishers-group-leads-march-vs-windmill-project-on-talim-island-1051">READ: Fishers group leads march vs windmill project on Talim Island</a></div><p>Cariño said the IPBSAP has been incorporated into the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and cited by environmental authorities as a good practice. However, she said government funding and implementation mechanisms remain unclear.</p><p>&quot;Ngayon, ang hindi lang malinaw—while they are proud of this achievement, hindi pa malinaw how they will support it. Kasi syempre to implement this, kailangan ng resources, kailangan ng suporta,&quot; Cariño said.</p><p>The coalition is urging the government to adopt a formal policy, possibly through an executive order, and provide sufficient funding for Indigenous-led conservation.</p><p>Dulce said protecting forests and meeting the country&#x27;s biodiversity commitments require the government to enforce ancestral rights and translate its support into concrete action.</p><p>&quot;Itutulak natin na i-walk the talk ng gobyerno, iyong kanilang pag-suporta sa katutubo na magkaroon talaga ng kongkretong patakaran. Whether it&#x27;s an executive order or kung ano mang policy na i-implement ng Philippine government, na talagang binibigyan ng kongkretong patakaran, implementasyon at sapat na subsidyo,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Protecting ancestral domain rights is crucial to preserving the Philippines' remaining forests and biodiversity, Indigenous leaders and environmental advocates said.</p>

Protecting ancestral domain rights is crucial to preserving the Philippines' remaining forests and biodiversity, Indigenous leaders and environmental advocates said.

Ancestral rights key to saving forests and biodiversity, Indigenous groups say

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Ancestral rights key to saving forests and biodiversity, Indigenous groups say

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 20, 2026 12:46 AM PHT

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Updated July 20, 2026 12:53 AM PHT

Read More:

Ancestral Rights

Ancestral Domain

Biodiversity

Indigenous People

IPBSAP

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