US government launches P1.1-B biodiversity project in Philippines

Published August 12, 2020 9:26am

USAID’s new biodiversity project will protect Cleopatra’s Needle in Puerto Princesa City as a critical habitat for wildlife (Photo credit: Samual Villanueva/Center for Sustainability PHL).

The US government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has launched the Philippines Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscapes (SIBOL) project that will support the sustainable management of the country’s natural resources and combat environmental crimes.

An article posted in the US Embassy in Manila website on July 11 said that the USAID will work closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to implement the SIBOL project.

“Effective conservation management and measurement of the value of natural resources contribute to the Philippines’ economic development and environmental resilience,” explained Lawrence Hardy II, Mission Director of USAID Philippines. “Through SIBOL, USAID is pleased to support the Philippines’ efforts to conserve the country’s rich biodiversity while improving the livelihoods of Filipinos whose incomes depend upon these natural resources,” it said.

.@USAID_Manila's five-year, Php1.1 billion ($22 million) biodiversity project will support the Philippine government to achieve its goals of improving natural resource governance and stimulating public and private investments. #FriendsPartnersAllies https://t.co/kTRha4nthV pic.twitter.com/y3ppEp189p
— U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (@USEmbassyPH) August 11, 2020

DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and International Affairs Juan Miguel T. Cuna welcomed this important partnership with USAID. “Ensuring ecosystem integrity and human well-being are among the key priorities of DENR,” he said.

“We look forward to partnering with USAID in advancing our goals of environmental sustainability and strengthening DENR’s capacity to combat environmental criminals, enhance the adaptive capacities of communities against natural disasters, as well as improve the economic conditions of affected local people,” he added.

One of the target sites for environmental protection and preservation is Palawan's Mount Cleopatra's Needle.

The mountain is one of the several tourist attractions in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. —LBG, GMA News

Tags: usaid, environmentalprotection, philippines, palawan, p1.1-benvironmentproject