Environmental advocate and Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has stepped forward to support the preservation of the Masungi Geopark Project in the Philippines, which is under threat from detrimental developmental activities. 

DiCaprio made a plea on Instagram to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., urging him to bolster and maintain the conservation initiatives safeguarding Masungi.

“Join local rangers in calling on President [Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.] to intervene and continue to protect Masungi. Conservation successes like Masungi serve as a reminder that the Philippines can become a leader in sustainability, eco-tourism, biodiversity protection, and climate action,” DiCaprio said.

DiCaprio voiced his apprehension about the potential revocation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the agreement that shields the area from encroachers. 

The Masungi Geopark Project, spanning 2,700 hectares in Rizal province, is a lauded conservation endeavor designed to rehabilitate an essential segment of the Upper Marikina Watershed.

The initiative now risks being undermined due to Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga’s indication of plans to annul the 2017 Memorandum of Agreement between the Masungi Georeserve Foundation and the DENR. 

“This cancellation would undermine the progress of an internationally recognized conservation project and make the area susceptible to mining, logging, and unlawful developments again,” DiCaprio said.

The Masungi Georeserve has received accolades for its environmental efforts, including recognition at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and the 2022 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Action Campaign Inspire Awards.

Caritas Philippines previously declared its support for the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, urging the government to initiate meaningful dialogue to reassess the decision to cancel the protective agreement.