The Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have partnered to advance forest restoration, community-based forest management, and climate initiatives across the region, officials announced on Thursday.
The collaboration was formalized with the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on April 16, between FFP and the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) in Makati City.
MENRE Minister Akmad Brahim signed the MOA along with lawyer Badr Salendab, Director General of Environment and Natural Resources, and lawyer Jose Canivel, FFP executive director.
In a statement, Brahim said the BARMM’s advocacy of protecting the environment and natural resources is ‘not just a mandate but a sacred obligation.’
‘Our forests are the lifeblood of our region. They provide the water that feeds our lands, the air we breathe, and the heritage we pass on to the next generation of Bangsamoro,’ Brahim said.
‘The challenges we face-climate change, deforestation, and the need for sustainable livelihoods-are too vast for any single agency to tackle alone. This is why this MOA is so vital,’ he added.
The collaboration also aims to strengthen long-term environmental policy in the region, supporting policy development, program implementation, and project co-financing.
Canivel underscored the ecological importance of the Bangsamoro region. ‘It is the Bangsamoro that holds vast, dense forests and mangroves,’ he said.
‘These resources position the region to contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation and the Philippines’ global commitments,’ he added.
FFP is a non-stock, non-profit, non-governmental organization that provides grants and technical assistance to organizations and individuals that empower people to protect and conserve the forests.
In January this year, MENRE-BARMM implemented a reforestation initiative under the Integrated Bangsamoro Greening Program (IBGP), aiming to restore ecological balance and protect natural resources for future generations.
BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua approved the P168-million allocation for the reforestation of 2,600 hectares across BARMM.
Macacua emphasized that environmental protection remains a cornerstone of BARMM’s development agenda, particularly in addressing the growing impacts of climate change.
‘We will create safe and sustainable living conditions through resilience programs that will strengthen our communities physically and environmentally,’ Macacua added.
The program is also expected to bring social and economic benefits, including the preservation of biodiversity, protection of watersheds, and the creation of livelihoods for local communities.
As of 2024, BARMM’s forest cover was approximately 299,195 hectares. This represented roughly 45 percent of the region’s total land area of 1,293,552 hectares, MENRE said.
According to the Climate Change Commission, the lead government policy-making body on climate change, Mindanao accounts for approximately 32.36 percent of the Philippines’ total forest cover (over 7.22 million hectares as of 2020/2022).