The Philippines is a global hotspot for threatened and endemic species. The Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NPPNP), located in the northwest section of Panay Island, is one of the largest contiguous low-elevation forest landscapes remaining in its range. It is home to critically endangered species such as the Visayan warty pig and Walden’s hornbill.

As we celebrate World Wildlife Day on March 3, we recognize the wealth of wild flora and fauna and their intrinsic value to people and our planet. This year’s theme, “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet,” serves as a clarion call to all stakeholders to fund and invest in conservation efforts. It urges us to put our money where our hearts are—preserving, conserving, and protecting our wildlife.

However, despite the urgent need to restore biodiversity and achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework’s “30×30” target, there are constraints in accessing funds and securing investment support for biodiversity conservation. The 30×30 ambition requires a strong financial mechanism, but today, we face a global biodiversity financing gap estimated at $711 billion per year. The World Economic Forum has also emphasized that having a cost-effective way to measure quality and progress is crucial for the credibility and effectiveness of wildlife conservation efforts.

Yet, this biodiversity financing gap should not derail our efforts. Instead, it presents an opportunity for small, local conservation organizations like PhilinCon to shift to more innovative conservation financing models, such as community-based eco-financing, which fosters symbiotic relationships between biological and social systems while utilizing cross- and trans-disciplinary approaches. We must work alongside environmentally conscious private institutions, governments, and fellow NGOs to turn commitments into action.

This shift moves away from traditional conservation funding dependency to a community-based model, leveraging private partnerships and collaborations. These social financial instruments can help secure sustainable funding by engaging and empowering local partners, particularly the youth.

At PhilinCon, our core conservation values lie at the intersection of ecological and social protection. We believe that for conservation efforts to succeed, we must proactively engage with and enhance the economic benefits of communities—especially those living on the periphery of forests and protected areas.

As such, we recognize and appreciate the conscious efforts of private businesses and spaces aligned with our principles of conservation and sustainability. Their support reinforces the growing commitment of community and private stakeholders who truly wish to invest in a livable future for the next generation.

Northwest Panay Loop on Foot for Wildlife Conservation

Here in Northwest Panay, we are fortunate to share our home with diverse wildlife that play significant roles in maintaining balanced and healthy ecosystems—from the rockstar-looking Visayan warty pig (baboy talunon) to the elegant Negros bleeding-heart dove (banatad).

In celebration of World Wildlife Day 2025, the PhilinCon team, under the Darwin Project, together with supporters and advocates, will embark on a five-day trek around the Northwest Panay Peninsula loop, starting March 3, 2025. As we undertake this journey, we will bring the message of conservation to schools and communities along the way.

Our proactive partnership and collaboration with various social actors across five municipalities in Antique and Aklan, located at the edges of the protected area, demonstrate the power of social partnerships in raising conservation awareness and driving action. From academic communities to private businesses, local government units, people’s organizations, and civil society groups, all participating and supporting this event, we amplify our campaign for commitment and action.

All of this, we do for our forests and our future.

For the love of conservation, Padayon!

Rebecca Tandug is the Executive Director of PhilinCon, a non-government organization centered on conservation and empowerment based in the central Philippines.