Masungi Georeserve protectors selected as speakers at the 21st World Travel and Tourism Global Summit in Manila

Masungi Georesrve has long been successful in getting a lot of urbanites nearer to nature and caring for the environment. So much so that it's won international awards and has been given recognition for its conservation work.

Last year, Vanity Fair even included Masungi Georeserve trustees Ann and Billie Dumaliang in its "Changing Your Mind Travel Awards" and at COP 26, Billie spoke about water conservation.

This year, the Dumaliang sisters have been invited to be speakers at the 21st Global Summit of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). 

"We are honored to be invited by WTTC President Julia Simpson and the Philippine Government to speak about our project and continue to work in tandem on vital issues. Tourism plays a crucial role in biodiversity conservation efforts - both in terms of funding and spreading awareness on the importance of the environment," shared Masungi Georeserve managing trustee Ann Dumaliang.

Regarded as the most influential travel event on the calendar, the highly anticipated WTTC will be held in Manila from April 20 to 22, with over 600 industry leaders and 20 government representatives expected to attend.

And as part of their post-conference itinerary, summit delegates are set to visit Masungi, to see and better understand Masungi's vision and mission. 

Masungi Georeserve Foundation's conservation approach has earned its accolades here and abroad. The WTTC recognizes it in its 2018 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), naming it one of the top three privately-led sustainable tourism projects in 2019.

In addition, Masungi Georeserve recently won the inaugural global Water Changemakers Award from the Global Water Partnership for speaking truth to power, overcoming inertia, and forming collaborations in watershed rehabilitation.

"Aside from supplementing government efforts, our team also ensures that Masungi's visitors come away with a deeper understanding of how caring for the environment is essential to our own survival. We are hoping that with the resurgence of international and domestic tourism, we will be able to ramp up our conservation work," Ann said. 

Masungi Georeserve in Rizal opened in 2016 as an active park with trails and rope courses taking a limited number of visitors around limestone mountains. It soon opened more trails and as well as opportunities for visitors to take part in their conservation efforts including tree-planting. 

The  21st World Travel and Tourism Global Summit with the theme "Rediscovering Travel" is set to take place in Manila from April 20 to 22, 2022. — LA, GMA News