Filipina conservationists Ann and Billie Dumaliang, co-founders of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, have been recognized in TIME Magazine’s 2024 Next Generation Leaders list, which honors ten global trailblazers who are leading with empathy and challenging the status quo. 

The recognition highlights their efforts in protecting and restoring the Masungi limestone landscape and the Upper Marikina Watershed in the Philippines, one of the country’s critical watersheds.

In a message sent to LiCAS News, Ann said the recognition is “an immense privilege” but it “isn’t just for us.” 

“It belongs to everyone who has stood with Masungi, fought for our forests, and believed in the power of collective action to protect our planet,” she said. 

The Dumaliang sisters have been at the forefront of environmental protection, working with local communities, government agencies, and international partners to preserve the Masungi Georeserve, a biodiversity hotspot that faces threats from land encroachment, illegal activities, and deforestation.

In their efforts, they have spearheaded projects that have not only restored large portions of the degraded watershed but have also inspired a new generation of environmental advocates. 

Ann emphasized that their guiding force has always been the courage to envision bold solutions and the determination to bring them to life, even in the face of challenges and the need to stand up to powerful interests. 

She credited their incredible team for their unwavering dedication to the difficult work of conservation and highlighted the broader Masungi community for embodying hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

Billie Dumaliang expressed hopes that local political leaders would “appreciate the work we do for the Philippines and its environment, as much as the international community does.” 

“I hope that they begin to see us as allies, and not threats, in the performance of their mandate and the country’s sustainable development,” she added. 

Billie called on Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to engage in productive and meaningful dialogue to ensure the continuation of the Masungi conservation and reforestation projects. 

She emphasized that the world is paying attention, and maintaining the project is crucial to fulfilling the Philippines’ international commitments on climate, biodiversity, and land restoration efforts.

The Masungi Georeserve Foundation, which they co-founded, was awarded the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Action Campaign Inspire Award in 2022. 

The foundation, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to the conservation of the Masungi karst ecosystem, spanning over 2,700 hectares of degraded watershed areas through the Masungi Geopark Project. 

Its work also includes research, education, and sustainable geotourism, promoting the protection of this natural heritage.

Recently, a BBC documentary brought attention to a disinformation network targeting the foundation, underscoring the dangers faced by environmental defenders in the Philippines, one of the most perilous countries for those fighting to protect the environment.