Canada And Forest Foundation Philippines OK PHP25M Grant for Climate Adaptation Projects

The Forest Foundation Philippines, with support from the Government of Canada, has awarded over PHP25 million in grants for nature-based solutions (NbS) aimed at climate adaptation in Negros Occidental, Maguindanao del Sur, and Palawan.

The Government of Canada has committed PHP332 million (CA$8 million) to implement the program from 2024 through 2028. I Photo: Forest Foundation Philippines

NbS are cost-effective actions that restore, protect, and manage ecosystems while addressing community needs and preserving biodiversity.

The approved projects represent the first round of initiatives under the Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS), and focus on building climate resilience, advancing biodiversity co-benefits, and promoting gender-responsive approaches.

The PHP25,281,707.06 in grants will directly benefit over 600 individuals—both men and women—and indirectly support more than 100,000 people.

The initiatives will impact 119 hectares of forest and riverbank areas through community-based forest restoration, agroforestry, riverbank rehabilitation, support for pollinators, and the restoration of indigenous food systems.

Approved Site-Based Grants – Negros Occidental:

• "Nurturing Gawahon" – A community-driven model promoting NbS, gender equality, and ecotourism, by BeeGlad (Gawahon Livelihood and Apiculture Development Association).

  
  

• "Nature-Based Regenerative Agroforestry" – Supporting sustainable agriculture and restoring the Sicaba and Malogo River watersheds, by the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation, Inc. (NISARD).

  
  

• "Sustaining Sicaba Watershed" – Through agroforestry and local enterprise development, by the Negros Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (NEDF).

  
  

Approved Thematic Grants:

• San Carlos City (Negros Occidental): "Collaborative Restoration of River Easements Utilizing NbS," by the San Carlos Development Board, Inc. (SCDBI).

  
  

• Maguindanao del Sur: "Strengthening Roles of the Women Tedurays Indigenous Peoples in Climate Change Adaptation, Resilience, and Peacebuilding," by the Teduray Lambangian Women’s Organization, Inc. (TLWOI).

  
  

• Palawan: "Supporting Tagbanwa Agroforestry through Adaptive Restoration of Indigenous Food Crop Systems," by the Aplaya Collaborative Center for Conservation, Inc.

  
  

The Government of Canada has committed PHP332 million (CA$8 million) to implement the program from 2024 through 2028.