Timeline 1972-2014: 42 years of Struggle for the Environment
Haribon is the Philippines’ pioneer environmental organization. Hatched in 1972, the organization giving birth to the Philippine environmental movement as a whole. The individuals it trained and nurtured were instrumental in the formation of other environmental organizations in the country,
1972
Haribon was established as a birdwatching society. Inspired by the majesty as well as the plight of the Philippine Eagle, which even then was critically endangered, Haribon drew members from nature lovers who wanted to do something about the threatened wildlife of the country.
Haribon undertook the Philippine Eagle project, studying the little known ecology of the Philippine Eagle and looking for the most effective way to conserve one of the world’s most magnificent birds of prey.
The Haribon Society’s first logo was designed by Dr. Robert Kennedy, one of the authors of “The Guide Book of the Birds of the Philippines”, in 1972.
An undated newspaper clipping, possibly the late 70’s.
An article in Filipino from the Pilipino Express dated July 2, 1973.
Volume 1, No. 1 of “The Hariboner” was delivered in September 1982.
1983
Haribon became a full-fledged nature conservation foundation under the leadership of its first president, Dr. Celso Roque. Its name was changed from The Haribon Society to the Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources.
1984
Haribon was also accredited by the Department of Science and Technology as a science and research institution conducting floral and faunal studies.
From a nature organization society, Haribon evolved into an organization dedicated to reversing the tide of environmental degradation happening in the country.
It was also the first year that Haribon adopted the “tree-symbol” whose nine leaves symbolized the ecosystems found in the country.
1987
Haribon led the campaign against commercial logging in Palawan, led by then President Maximo “Junie” Kalaw. It was highlighted by the “Boto para sa Inang Bayan” signature campaign, which gathered 1 million signatures against commercial logging. The campaign significantly increased public awareness on the environment and on Haribon as an environmental organization.
A joint Haribon and DENR task force was created to evaluate the protected areas in the country in preparation for the establishment of an Integrated Protected Areas System (IPAS). The results of this project served as key inputs to the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (NIPAS Act).
The Environmental Legal Defense Program was started. It provided legal services, legal research and paralegal training for conservation-related crimes and assistance.
1989
DENR, the WWF, and Haribon entered into the Philippine Debt-for-Nature Swap Program, the first debt swap program in Asia. It involved $2 million for conservation work. Haribon administered the first tranch of the swap.
It was used to implement projects in Batangas, St. Paul Subterranean River National Park, El Nido Marine Reserve, Mt. Pulag National Park, and Tubbataha Reef National Park, Mt. Isarog, the wildlife trade campaign, and environmental education.
Haribon also initiated a Philippine Netsman Program to wean aquarium fishers away from using cyanide fishing. A paper called “Alternative to Sodium Cyanide Use in Aquarium Fish Collection: A Community-Based Approach” was presented in 1992 at the 7th International Coral Reef Symposium in June 1992 in Guam.
The Community Based Resource Management Program (CBRM) was initiated covering both forest and marine ecosystems. The first marine sites were San Salvador Island in Masinloc, Zambales and in Brgy. San Teodoro in Mabini, Batangas. The firest forest ecosystem site was in Brgy. Magsaysay, in Infanta, Quezon.
1990
Haribon led the campaign against the Masinloc Coal-Fired Thermal Plant. Efforts in this campaign led to the proclamation of Oyon Bay as a protected area.
Formation of the Green Forum – the NGO-PO-Church forum addressing broader issues of sustainable development.
In 1983 Haribon became a nature conservation foundation under the leadership of its first president, Dr. Celso Roque.
A Filipino delegation which included then Haribon president Junie Kalaw and current board member Philip Camara negotiated the second Debt-for-Naiure Swap with the US Senate. It resulted in the establishment of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, providing a permanent endowment to fund Filipino NGO environment initiatives.
1991
A Filipino delegation negotiated the second Debt-for-Nature Swap with the US Senate which included then Haribon president Junie Kalaw and then board member Philip Camara.
1992
Congress passed the National Integrated Protected Areas (NIPAS) Act, which established a system of protected areas in the Philippines. Haribon was involved in developing the principles of this landmark legislation.
In 1987 Haribon led the campaign against commercial logging in Palawan, led by then President Maximo “Junie” Kalaw.
Haribon campaigned against a proposed cement plant threatening the pristine environs of Bolinao. The campaign was truly community-based and multi-sectoral, involving communities, NGOs, the church, academe, media, and other groups.
1994
Haribon campaigned against a proposed cement plant threatening the pristine environs of Bolinao. The campaign was truly community-based and multi-sectoral, involving communities, NGOs, the church, academe, media, and other groups.
1997
Haribon joins BirdLife International family, a global partnership of 115 (and counting) conservation NGOs that work together on shared priorities and programs to conserve birds and other biodiversity, and their habitats by working with communities, government and businesses.
1999
Haribon and BirdLife International came out with the “Threatened Birds of the Philippines”, compiling the most comprehensive information on the country’s threatened birds, was published by Haribon and BirdLife International. Another publication was the “Philippine Red Data Book”, with the Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines and the DENR, compiling the most comprehensive information on the country’s threatened birds.
Haribon spearheaded the formation of PAMANA Ka sa Pilipinas, a nationwide alliance of community-based marine protected area managers composed of fisherfolks that are supported by non-governmental organizations, research institutions and local government units. By 2001, PAMANA became an independent organization separate from Haribon. They are composed of 122 member sanctuary sites.
2001
A culmination of the Threatened Birds of the Philippines” book project, a total of 117 Important Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) throughout the Philippines were identified as areas of global significance for biodiversity conservation. Research on these areas were compiled in the Haribon multi-award winning book, the “Key Conservation Sites in the Philippines”.
Haribon, with the support of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, launched the “Building a National Constituency for Biodiversity Conservation” Project. This launched a tri-media campaign to build a national constituency on biodiversity conservation.
Haribon was one of the major organizers of the Conference on Protected Area Management in the Philippines on November 12-16, 2001 at Davao City.
Marine sites that promoted marine protection and sustainable fishing were established in 1989 by the Community Based Resource Management Program (CBRM) in Zambales and Batangas. A forest site was also established in Quezon province.
The EU-Funded “Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance in the Philippines” project was launched. This project adopted a new strategy for biodiversity conservation, that is, allowing the local stakeholders like LGUs to have more responsibility in managing their forest resources by integrating forest management plan in their CLUP.
2002
Haribon built the capacities and capabilities of four academic centers for excellence (ACEs) for biodiversity conservation: Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (formerly the Camarines Sur State Agricultural College), De La Salle University Dasmarinas campus, Silliman University, and the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.
Haribon initiates its first project with a component of sustainable livelihoods in Bolinao.
Haribon implemented the Banka’t Buhay with PAMANA Ka Sa Pilipinas. Local coastal issues were lifted up as a national issue, this included Department of Agriculture Administrative Order (DAO) 17 or the delineation of city/municipal waters, institutionalization of fish warden benefits, and establishment of marine courts which is the initial phase towards Green Courts.
Lobbying for DAO 17 with the NGOs for Fisheries Reform (NFR), a networks 12 NGOs with the advocacty on fisheries management, in order to contribute in the decentralization of DA-BFAR to LGUs and the delimitation and delineation of municipal waters which would benefit small fisherfolks.
2003
Haribon launched the Haribon Ambassadors for Conservation composed of celebrities and media personalities
Throughout its tenure as a conservation foundation Haribon has implemented different campaigns to spread awareness about different advocacies concerning the environment.
Haribon was one of the organizers of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)-World Commission on Protected Areas, Third Southeast Asia Regional Meeting on April 1-5 2003 here in the Philippines.
Haribon implemented Threatened Species Program with support from Critical Ecosystems Program and BirdLife International (2003-2007) to arrest threats to terrestrial species and habitats by ensuring strong local commitment and supporting civil society initiatives for conservation. It supports also field research on threatened species.
2004
Haribon established corporate partnerships (GMA 7, Meralco, Napocor, The Manila Times, EDSA Shangri-la Hotel) to improve the level of awareness and support for biodiversity conservation among the general public.
Haribon obtained publisher status from the National Book Development Board.
Haribon received the first Panibagong Paraan Award for Masinloc.
Integrating Forests Conservation with Local Governance Project (IFCLGP) Conference in Subic
Haribon launched the First National Birdkite Festival at the Bonifacio Global City.
Forged a memorandum of agreemnt (MOA) with the DENR as partners for biodiversity conservation.
Haribon launched the Boto Para sa Inang Bayan campaign (part 2), a signature campaign to stop commercial logging and mining in the country. This was during the 2004 landslide in the municipalities of Real, Infanta and General Nakar in Quezon during Typhoons Winnie and Yoyong.
Haribon advocated and lobbied for the issuance of DENR Memorandum Circular 2004-06 which promotes rainforestation as an approach in restoring the tropical rainforest using indigenous species.
2005
Start of Rainforestation Organizations and Advocates (ROAD) to 2020 Campaign, an environmental conservation movement to restore 1 million hectares of our rainforests using native tree species by year 2020.
Haribon received the Catholic Mass Media Serviam Award Special Citation for institutional category
A MOU signing with MSN (Marine Protected Area Support Network), a network of government agencies (DENR, DA-BFAR) and NGOs (WWF, CI, CBCRM-RC, Silliman University, etc.), projects, research institutions, and individuals supporting marine protected areas in the Philippines. PAMANA’s Third National Congress was with small fisherfolks directly engaging the Department of Natural Resources-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR-PAWB) on the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) on how to advance DAO 17, and localizing fisherfolk advocacy.
2006
Catholic Mass Media Special Citation for the billboard “Wealth” installed by Meralco; also garnered a silver medal in the 2006 Araw Values Advertising Award
Haribon spearheaded the National Conference on Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance at Subic , Pampanga
2007
Haribon sssisted in the database that led to the identification and designation of 117 environmental courts in 2008
UNDP-GEF-SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM supported Haribon in the production of environmental baseline studies in Cebu, Negros and Panay Islands to provide benchmark data to start building the Cebu-Negros-Panay Landscapes and Seascapes database MIS and to facilitate the appraisal, validation and implementation of community-based biodiversity conservation initiatives in areas identified as priority sites for SGP funding.
Haribon initiated IBA Montoring System (IBAMS) orientation and installation in some Haribon sites, e.g. Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, and Mangatarem, Pangasinan.
2008
Haribon supported the Department of Tourism’s project on The Environmental Security for Tourism (TEST). It was a stakeholder’s analysis promoting responsible travel to natural areas, aiming to turn threats to tourism into opportunities, while conserving and protecting the environment and improve the well-being of the community.
Haribon was contracted to publish the following reports and studies: Threat Reduction Analysis in Mt. Isarog, Management Plan for Samar Island Natural Park, User Fee Study for Samar Island, Biological Resource Assesment of Samar Natural Park, Use of the Biological Diversity Important to Agriculture, and more.
2010
Alongside Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Haribon drafted the CSO version of The Sustainable Forest Management Bill.
1,000 runners joined the ROAD to 2020 campaign through the Million Hectare Challenge 2010 pledge run.
Alongside People’s Organizations KAMAPAKA and NAGMAKAPAK 22.48 hectares at an average of 1,724 seedlings per hectare was restored in Mangatarem’s forest, part of the Zambales Mountain Important Biodiversity Area (IBA).
2011
1200 runners joined the 5th Million Hectare Challenge to celebrate Haribon’s 39th anniversary and to support its ROAD to 2020 project.
Bills filed on Sustainable Forest Management were further reviewed in the Senate and House of Representatives Technical Working Groups.
12.59 hectares of degraded forest planted with native tree species was maintained in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
2012
Haribon’s “Biodiversity on Wheels” is launched at the Cultural Center of the Philippines during the Earth Day celebrations. Over 50 different groups including organizations, corporations, and schools participated at tree planting sites.
Biodiversity and socio-economic assessment conducted in two of the largest sub-watersheds in the Marikina Watershed Reservation (MWR), the Boso-boso and Tayabasan sub-watersheds, mostly located in Antipolo City. Only 460 hectares of old growth forests currently remain in the watershed of Antipolo City.
Over 460 hectares of land was rainforested totaling over 800,000 native tree seedlings.
2013
Panay Island’s endemic Rafflesia speciosa gains local protection in the Barbaza town, province of Antique through Municipal Resolution No. 91, Series of 2013.
Haribon celebrated 41 years of environmental conservation via “Biodiversity Rocks!” concert featuring some of the country’s popular bands, linking pop culture to Philippine rainforestation.
2014
Launched “What is your environmental pledge” for 2014 where supporters chimed in on what they pledged to do for the environment in the new year.
The year has just begun and we will need more help than ever. Become part of the Philippine environment conservation story, become a member, volunteer, and learn more by emailing us at act@haribon.org.ph.
