Manila, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP), and the Government of Canada convened leaders and members of the government, civil society and development organizations, local communities, and the academe at the PUNLA Multistakeholder Forum on Nature-based Solutions on September 9–10 in Quezon City, to build a shared understanding of high-integrity Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
The Forum underscored NbS as vital for restoring ecosystems while addressing climate, biodiversity, and social challenges in the Philippines, highlighting the need for stronger national understanding and cross-sector coordination. Jake Brunner, Head of the Lower Mekong Subregion of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said that effective NbS must tackle societal challenges, work within ecosystems, and deliver measurable benefits for people and nature.
Integrating NbS in National Planning
To embed NbS in national policies, the DENR has convened a multistakeholder Nature-based Solutions Support Network to collectively define priorities and actions towards institutionalization of high-integrity NbS initiatives within the agency. With partners from the academe, civil society, local communities and development partners, beginning with the PUNLA: NbS Forum, the group aims to develop a shared understanding of NbS, enable actionable commitments and follow-up mechanisms to ensure sustained collaboration and implementation of NbS in the country.
