Indigenous leaders in Palawan signed a deal to launch the Philippines’ first locally owned forest carbon project, aiming to protect forests by assigning economic value to stored carbon. This initiative addresses climate change and local livelihoods by selling carbon credits. It seeks to halt deforestation and empower Indigenous communities.
Indigenous leaders in Palawan, Philippines, have signed a groundbreaking agreement to create the country’s first locally owned forest carbon project. This initiative assigns economic value to the carbon stored in trees, promoting the forest as more valuable when intact. The project’s goal is to prevent deforestation through the sales of carbon credits, bolstering the ecological significance of the forest.
The deal, facilitated by Conservation International and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, aims to protect 39,000 hectares (or 97,000 acres) within Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape. This area is vital as it represents one of the last ecological frontiers in the Philippines, providing critical resources and habitats.
Approximately 12,000 Indigenous Filipinos depend on the region’s natural resources for food and livelihood. However, they face threats from illegal mining and logging. Over the past 20 years, illegal activities have led to a loss of more than 20 percent of Mount Mantalingahan’s forests, driven largely by mineral extraction.
Panglima Norlito Silnay, a Pala’wan leader, expressed hopes for community management of the project, stressing the need to ward off external business interests. This project aims not only to benefit local communities but to inspire similar Indigenous-led carbon initiatives globally, enhancing recognition of Indigenous groups in climate action.
Currently, carbon trading in the Philippines is nascent, with no formal system for carbon credits in place. Yet, Conservation International’s Wilson Barbon remains optimistic. He believes this project could set a precedent for incorporating biodiversity and community engagement into carbon credit valuations.
Starting next year, revenue generated from carbon credits will be reinvested into conservation efforts within the region. This endeavor seeks to create a sustainable model for forest conservation that balances environmental and community needs efficiently.
The signing of the carbon deal in Palawan marks a significant step forward for Indigenous rights and environmental conservation in the Philippines. By establishing a locally managed carbon project, the initiative aims to halt deforestation and recognize the invaluable contribution of Indigenous communities in climate efforts. The expected revenues will bolster further conservation projects, setting a positive precedent for similar initiatives worldwide.
Original Source: www.conservation.org
