From Seed to Sprout: Haribon Foundation at USBONG 2026

July 3, 2026 | By Marteena Kyla Panopio, Advocacy and Policy Officer

Haribon Foundation COO Arlie Jo Endonila, CEAD Manager Theresa Dela Cruz, Advocacy and Policy Officer Marteena Kyla Panopio, and Training Specialist Jhef Martizano joined practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders at the three-day USBONG: A Transdisciplinary Forum on Nature-based Solutions last June 30-July 2, 2026, organized by Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP) under the Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation, in partnership with the IUCN National Committee of the Philippines and the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Support Network. .

The forum takes its name from usbong, the Filipino word for a sprout breaking through soil. It builds on PUNLA (seed), last year’s multistakeholder NbS forum also organized by FFP, which planted the seed by introducing NbS and opening the conversation. USBONG picks up from there, grounding those conversations into practice, policy, and accountability.

Haribon Foundation, one of the leading conservation organizations in the Philippines, has been actively involved in conservation efforts in the region. Through meetings with the local offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR – Regional, PENROs, and CENROs), Local Government Units (LGUs – Provincial, Municipal, and Barangay), Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices (MENROs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the foundation has been fostering support for the CPMR declaration.

Key challenges identified during the meetings include balancing conservation with local development needs, addressing the concerns of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs), and securing cooperation from all involved local government units.

Despite these challenges, Haribon Foundation remains optimistic about the project’s potential, which is still in an exploratory stage. The organization plans to collaborate with indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs), implement capacity-building programs, and advocate for policy changes to ensure the long-term protection and conservation of the CPMR.