USAID B+ WISER

After about six months of rehabilitation, Boracay Island reopened to the public on October 26, 2018. Both visitors and residents marveled at its revitalized natural beauty, and a number of measures were taken in order to protect and conserve it. One of them is the use of the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System developed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and USAID Philippines.

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Photo credit: FMB

DENR uses Lawin system to protect Boracay Boracay now. Considered as one of the top beach destinations in the world, Boracay Island was closed for rehabilitation for six months and re-opened to the public on October 26. (Photo credit: DENR-FMB)

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu officially signed the Administrative Order formally adopting the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System, which was developed by DENR and USAID Philippines, as a national strategy for the protection and conservation of the country's forests and biodiversity. This ensures regular and long term budget allocation for its nationwide implementation, and shows the DENR's interest in expanding its use.

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On October 11, USAID Philippines and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) officially culminated the the Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystem Resilience (B+WISER) program, through which they have helped improve management for more than 90 percent of forest areas in the Philippines (6.2 million hectares) and livelihoods and incomes for over 29,000 people in communities that depend on natural resources.

“We are honored to work with all of you as friends and partners in safeguarding our environment and pursuing a more prosperous Philippines,” U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim said during the Program's closeout event in Pasay City.
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FMB Biodiversity Management Bureau

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) trained almost 100 forest protection frontliners of Region 11 (Davao Region) on the Lawin Response Protocol Mechanism.

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DENR trains Davao region's forest protection frontliners on the Lawin response protocol The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) trained almost 100 field staff of Region 11 (Davao Region) on the Lawin Response Protocol Mechanism on September 19-20. The participants were frontliners of forest protection activities in the field and covering the region's 12 Community Env...

USAID Philippines Environment Office Chief John Edgar visited Iloilo in Western Visayas on September 20 to join the Lawin SMART 6 rollout workshop and experience how the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System works.

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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
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DENR and USAID roll out Lawin SMART 6 in Iloilo City Representatives from CENRO Barotac Nuevo and DENR Forest Management Bureau demonstrate how to use CyberTracker in recording threats, indicator species and forest condition during a Lawin patrol in Iloilo. (Photo credit: USAID/B+WISER)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and USAID Philippines, through its B+WISER program, conducted Lawin Data Management Conferences in Manila and Davao in August. This is the first large scale gathering of Lawin data managers nationwide.

“The department has invested significantly in Lawin and therefore, it is not a temporary initiative; it will be institutionalized and it will continue to be enhanced,” Marcial C. Amaro Jr., DENR Assistant Secretary for Field Operations in the Visayas and concurrent Undersecretary for Field Operations, said in his inspirational message to the participants.

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DENR holds Lawin data management conferences DENR Undersecretary Marcial C. Amaro Jr. delivers an inspirational speech at the Lawin data management conference in Davao City. (Photo credit: USAID/B+WISER)

Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART), the data management software used for the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System will release a new update later this year, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be the first of its worldwide users to enjoy the upgrade. To prep for this updated version, technical staff from USAID Philippines B+WISER and DENR-FMB underwent training on the software's new features.

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DENR and USAID train to become first ever users of newest SMART software feature Jeff Lounsbury of the SMART programming team at Refraction Research discusses the new features of the software's latest version. (Photo credit: USAID/B+WISER)

Mariveles Watershed Forest Reserve spans 15,491 hectares and supplies water to several municipalities in Bataan. Like many other forests, it faces a lot of threats such as kaingin, timber poaching, and poor land use practices. It continues to lose forest cover, diminishing the watershed's capacity to store water and regulate its flow.

To protect water supply in Bataan, Mariveles Watershed must be conserved and protected. This will require ample resources to sustain conservation activities. For this, USAID Philippines and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Forest Management Bureau (FMB) conducted a study on instituting a payment for ecosystem services (PES) scheme for the conservation of forests and watersheds in the province.

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Payment for ecosystem services scheme in Bataan

As part of the Philippine government's Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program, former rebels are engaged in forest protection activities as forest guards. They patrol forests, looking out for threats such as illegal logging and kaingin, and often battling them in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In Region 7, PAMANA forest guards protect the forests of Negros Oriental. They recently underwent training on the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System from USAID Philippines and DENR Region 7.

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DENR Region 7 trains PAMANA forest guards as Lawin patrollers

In one season, a tree can produce enough oxygen that 10 people need in a year.
- Mercedes Lopez-Vargas, Executive Director, Lopez Group Foundation, Inc.

However, Philippine forest cover has been declining at an alarming rate, threatening the survival of every breathing being not just with the depletion of oxygen sources, but also with continuously shrinking wildlife habitats. Philippine biodiversity is endangered, as more species face possibility of extinction.

In an effort to help alleviate this problem, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) started the EDC BINHI project, which aims to help restore Philippine forests and conserve biodiversity. The company plants indigenous tree seedlings in various locations, currently focusing on saving 96 of the country's most threatened native tree species. EDC also partnered with USAID Philippines and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) FMB to implement the Lawin
Forest and Biodiversity Protection System in all its geothermal reservations. Once a year, EDC holds the BINHI Day to celebrate the resuts of its endeavors, promote awareness, and encourage increased involvement among its employees and partners.

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Energy Development Corporation celebrates BINHI Day 2018 USAID's B+WISER featured its partnership with EDC and DENR on forest protection during the exhibit that was put-up for BINHI Day 2018. (Photo credit: USAID/B+WISER)