About Us

The Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (PhilBio) is a non-stock, non-profit organisation, formally registered with the Philippine Government’s ‘Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)’ in 29 May 2006, but whose origins date back to the early 1990’s when the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Programme (PBCP) was created.

Although the PhilBio is a seeming late entrant into the Philippines biodiversity conservation scene, it was established for the specific purpose of furthering the biodiversity conservation initiatives of the ‘Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Programme (PBCP) by providing increased technical assistance to local partner agencies – whether governmental or non-governmental – and to access additional resources to assist and enable the conservation of the Philippines’ unique and threatened environment, biodiversity and natural resources into perpetuity.

It is envisioned that the only realistic means of achieving such a goal is via the establishment of integrated, long-term and locally-based biodiversity conservation and development programs, that include improved dissemination of knowledge, enhanced management practices and the active participation and collaboration of relevant stakeholders, particularly those most dependent upon the natural resources of each  region.

ASAP Species That We Work On

What We Do

The PhilBio works in close collaboration with a network of local/regional partner agencies responsible for implementing agreed priority projects and longer-term programs, and a network of international partner agencies which have kindly provided the majority of funding, diverse technical support and personnel training opportunities needed to develop and help sustain conservation activities in the Philippines for over 20 years. These projects and programs collectively comprise the ‘Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Program (PBCP)’, which has been in continual operation since 1990.

Biological Research, Survey and Monitoring

PhilBio works closely with government agencies, biology or forestry students, researchers, teachers, communities and the local government. On-going/Current Species’ Research and Conservation Programmes

Philippine Hornbills Conservation Sub-programme (All Philippine hornbills and threatened hornbills particularly Rufous-headed Hornbill Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni and Sulu Hornbill Anthracoderus montani):

  • Facilitated the regular conduct of Hornbill Count or synchronized Biodiversity Monitoring (BMS) in Negros, Panay, Mt. Banahaw de Tayabas and Tawi-Tawi
  • Ongoing ecological research and monitoring in different protected areas and key biodiversity areas in Negros and Panay for Rufous-headed Hornbill and Sulu Hornbill
  • Conducted training on biodiversity monitoring form communities, students, government agencies technical staff, local government united environment office, researchers and volunteers in Negros Panay and Tawi-Tawi

Philippine Bleeding-heart Conservation Sub-programme (majority focus on the critically endangered Sulu Bleeding-heart Galicolumba menagei, Mindoro Bleeding-heart platenae and Negros/Visayan Bleeding-heart Pigeon G. keayi):

  • Ongoing biodiversity research and monitoring in different protected areas and key biodiversity areas in Negros, Panay and Tawi-Tawi
  • Conduct of monitoring system in key biodiversity areas and protected areas in Negros, Panay and Tawi-Tawi

Philippine Parrot Conservation Sub-programme (Focus on threatened species and subspecies particularly the Philippine Cockatoo Cacatua heamaturopygia, Sulu Racket-tail Prioniturus vertiacalis some important subspecies of Loriculus, Prioniturus, and Tanygnathus):

  • Ongoing biodiversity research and monitoring in different protected areas and key biodiversity areas in Negros, Panay, Tawi-Tawi, Mt Banahaw, Cebu, Tablas and Busuanga

Philippine Bat Conservation Sub-programme (focus on threatened fruitbats, cave bats, forest bats and flying foxes particularly the Visayan/Philippine Bare-backed Fruit Bat Dobsonia chapmani):

  • Institutionalization of Philippine Flying Fox Conservation and Monitoring at the national and regional level with Biodiversity Management Bureau
  • Trained Department of Environment and Natural Resources technical staff, local government units, communities and researchers on flying fox monitoring
  • Cave surveys in Visayas and Mindanao
  • Ecological study on the critically endangered Visayan/Philippine Bare-Backed Fruit Bat chapmani

Philippine/Visayan Spotted Deer Conservation Sub-program Rusa alfredi:

  • Ongoing biodiversity research and monitoring in different protected areas and key biodiversity areas in Negros and Panay.
  • Calamian Deer Conservation Sub-programme (Axis calamianensis)
  • Conducted an island-wide survey in Calamian Group of Islands.

Visayan Warty Pig Conservation Sub-programme (Sus cebifrons)

  • Ongoing biodiversity research and monitoring in different protected areas and key biodiversity areas in Negros and Panay (camera trapping and radio telemetry in the pipeline).

Visayan Leopard Cat Conservation Sub-programme (Prionailurus bengalensis)

  • Conducted radio tracking and ecological study

Philippine Cloud Rat Conservation Sub-programme (particularly Dinagat Bushy-tailed Cloud Rat Crateromys australis)

  • Supported studies of Dinagat Cloud Rat that led to the discovery of the species.
  • Field surveys of bushy-tailed cloud rats and slender-tailed cloud rats in the Philippines

Philippine Owls Conservation Sub-programme (threatened and endemic owls)

  • Conducted research e.g. Camiguin, Tablas, Cebu, Zamboanga, Mt, Banahaw, Palawan, Busuanga, Negros, Panay and Tawi-Tawi.

Philippine Threatened Endemic Plant Conservation Sub-programme (particularly Cebu Cinnamon and Philippine Teak)

  • Conducted research and monitoring of Philippine Teak and Cebu Cinnamon
  • Cebu Cinnamon replanting and habitat restoration
  • Partnership with Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines Project that led to discoveries and new records of plants as well as updating of plant list in the Philippines

Waterbird Monitoring Project (Christmas Frigate Fregata andewsi, Great Knot, Far-eastern Curlew, Philippine Duck and other waterbird threatened species)

  • Facilitate waterbird monitoring in Ramsar Site, EAAF Site and important waterbird sites e.g. Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Areas; Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary; Lake Mainit; Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary; Sibugay bay Wetlands; Capiz Wetlands; Guimaras Wetlands
  • Participate in annual seabird monitoring in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
  • Provided waterbird identification and monitoring training and equipment to Protected Areas and LGUs

Philippine Reptiles and Amphibians Conservation Sub-programme (Focus on threatened species of herpetofauna particularly on the Cebu Small Worm Skink Brachymeles cebuensis, Cebu Blind Snake Typhlops hypogius, Panay Monitor Varanus mabitang, and other threatened species.

  • Conducted ecological research on reptiles and amphibians in Negros, Panay, Cebu, Busuanga, Tablas, Camiguin and Tawi-Tawi
  • Trained students, researchers conducting reptiles and amphibians research

Conservation Site Establishment and Management –focus on the conservation of globally important sites in partnership with different stakeholders within local conservation sites or protected areas:

Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Sub-programmes

  • Biodiversity technical adviser to local partner institution and local government units
  • Institutionalization on the forest monitoring in Southern Cebu Key Biodiversity Area
  • Organized synchronized biodiversity monitoring or Siloy Watch or Black Shama Watch
  • Conducted ecological studies on Cebu Flowerpecker, Black Shama and Cebu Hawk-owl

Negros and Panay Biodiversity Conservation Sub-programmes

  • Provide technical support to local partners institution
  • Conduct habitat restoration in Gawahon Eco Park
  • Provided support for forest protection programme

Smaller Islands Conservation Sub-programmes – Calamian Islands, Camiguin, Tawi-Tawi Tablas & Dinagat

  • Conduct habitat restoration and conservation
  • Provided support for forest protection programme
  • Local biodiversity technical adviser to partners

South Luzon Biodiversity Conservation Sub-programme

  • Biodiversity technical support to Tayabas City Environment Management Office
  • Conduct research and survey in Southern Luzon

Landscapes and Wetlands Conservation

  • Assist in development of new protected areas (PA) and 15 local conservation areas (LCA) or Key Biodiversity Areas (KA) in different PhilBio key sites
  • Creation and adoption of Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans in provincial, regional, and national levels
  • West Visayas Biodiversity Strategy and Finance Plan 2018-2028; Negros Island Biodiversity Strategy and Finance Plan 2018-2028; Cebu Biodiversity Strategy and Finance Plan 2018-202 Negros Island Biodiversity Strategy and Finance Plan 2018-2028; Dalaguete Biodiversity Strategy and Finance Plan 2018-2028
  • Provide technical support and facilitate the creation of species action plans e.g.
  • Sulu Hornbill Species Action Plan
  • Philippine Flying Fox Conservation Action Plan
  • Cebu Bat Species Action Plan
  • Cebu Flowerpecker Species Action Plan
  • Cebu Black Shama Species Action Plan

Conservation Awareness Education and Events

  • Providing biodiversity knowledge and expertise in science-based awareness on wildlife, biodiversity, habitats, ecosystems as foundation for biodiversity literacy efforts.
  • Mainstreamed biodiversity in provincial development agenda and regional development programme
  • Integration workshop on K12 curriculum with Department of Education
  • Create biodiversity targeted lectures for K12 year level
  • Regular biodiversity lectures in key PhilBio sites
  • Organized community youth groups to aid the awareness and conservation sites particularly the Duaw Sangyaw Youth Volunteers for Biodiversity in Alcoy Cebu.
  • Develop, produce and distribute high-quality biodiversity conservation education materials
  • Published Photographic guide to the Birds of Negros, Panay and Cebu
  • Printed and distributed over 10,000 copies of Only in the Philippines Posters
  • Institutionalized Cebu Black Shama Festival
  • Institutionalized Negros Occidental Provincial Wildlife Festival
  • Mainstreamed bat watching and birdwatching tourism in 10 ecotourism sites in Cebu and Negros

ASAP is proud to be supporting PhilBio through ASAP Rapid Action Fund. For more info: visit The Tawsi Project: Urgent action for the conservation of the Sulu Hornbill and other threatened birds on the isolated Tawi-Tawi Island - Asian Species Action Partnership (speciesonthebrink.org)

Where We Work

Negros, Panay, Cebu, Calamian Group of Islands Palawan, Tablas, Dinagat, Mindoro and Tawi-Tawi Islands

 

Contact Details

Door 1, Roma Apartment Northland Compound, 12th Lacson St., Bacolod City 6000 Negros Occidental, Philippines

Web & Social Media

Photo Credits

Pedro Villart / Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc.