Shalom Women’s Biodiversity Conservation Association

10/05/2026

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: Coast Guard Station Northeastern Palawan, together with MEPERG-Coron, SOG-Coron, and SMU-Coron, in coordination with the Shalom Women’s Biodiversity Conservation Association successfully conducted a Coastal Clean-Up and Mangrove Planting Activity at Sitio Balisungan, Barangay Tagumpay, Coron, Palawan.

The activity included coastal clean-up efforts and the planting of 300 mangrove propagules to support coastal conservation and environmental sustainability. This initiative highlighted the cooperation among participating agencies in protecting the marine environment.

21/04/2026

Dear PATH Foundation Philippines, Inc. - PFPI -FishRight Project ,

Mam Viv Anj sir Jomel Baobao sir Recamar Guinares Maraming salamat po🌱

From the buttom of our heart,
Shalom Women’s Biodiversity Conservation Association

09/03/2026

Coral restoration has been practiced in the Philippines since the 1970s for a range of motivations including biodiversity conservation and fisheries enhancement. But while efforts have grown, the central problem remains: how do you sustain coral restoration for meaningful benefits for both people and nature?

Dr. Maria Vanessa Baria-Rodriguez of the UP Marine Science Institute worked with Dr. Vera Horigue of Macquarie University, along with experts from the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation, Inc., UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines Baguio, University of the Philippines Visayas, and scientists from Australia to develop a framework that integrates coral restoration with existing programs for local marine protected areas (MPAs). The lessons and long experience from MPA governance in the Philippines can provide the foundation for mainstreaming coral restoration efforts in different sites and contexts across the country. Key elements of the framework are strategic site selection, social inclusivity, long-term monitoring, policy collaboration, and climate resilience integration. Partnerships between scientists, local governments, and coastal communities are critical for success.

Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70334

This study is part of the "Political economy and institutional effectiveness of coral reef restoration in the Philippines" Project, which was funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. The Project is a partnership of the University of Technology Sydney, Marine Environment and Resources Foundation, Inc., Macquarie University, and Southern Cross University. For more information, visit our Experience Builder through https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9fc0380a0a1044228bf74204c76a4821. Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACIARCoralRestoration

Science Flash is an initiative of the UP Diliman College of Science that aims to summarize recent studies by our scientists. For interview requests and other media inquiries, please contact content(at)msi.upd.edu.ph

04/03/2026

📣𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓: 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐒

Here are the 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 of the 𝗢𝗻-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 conducted on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at Coron School of Fisheries, alongside IEC Caravan.

With the theme “𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆”, the finalists showcased their creativity and artistic skills to create beautiful and meaningful posters.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀! 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧! Your posters demonstrate the theme artistically. You truly prove that youth have the power to inspire using art. 👏

To other finalists and participants from preliminary round, may you not be discouraged. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

04/03/2026

Women can acts as a leader and drive sustainable practices🙋‍♀️🌱

"Babae ako hindi babae lang,"

The municipal government of Pola has intensified the implementation of its Integrated Coastal Resource Management Plan (ICRMP), expanding mangrove rehabilitation efforts and reinforcing policy measures aimed at protecting marine resources while uplifting community livelihoods.

Full story link in the comments section.

04/03/2026

04/03/2026

𝐈𝐄𝐂 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐍-𝐓𝐇𝐄-𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓

The Shalom Women’s Biodiversity Conservation Association, Inc. (SWBCA) conducted an 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗜𝗘𝗖) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗻-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀. The purpose of the event was to educate students on the conservation, protection, and rehabilitation of 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 (𝗠𝗣𝗔𝘀).

𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥.

We are grateful for the opportunity to engage and educate the youth. This small step, like a seed, will grow into something that will benefit both our environment and the generations to come. The youth pledged to advocate for the conservation of our Marine Ecosystem.

To 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, we would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to conduct this activity. To 𝗠𝘀. 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘇 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝘀. 𝗝𝗼𝘆𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘇, 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼-𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗘𝗦-𝗢, we are thankful for your coordination and help throughout the event. This could not have been done successfully without your help.

01/03/2026

𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬.

We are calling on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to withdraw or substantially revise its Memorandum dated October 8, 2025, titled “Interim Operational Guidance and Conditions on the Earth-Balling and Relocation of Mangroves in Exceptional Circumstances.”

While the memorandum claims that mangroves should not be removed or disturbed, it introduces a dangerous loophole: it allows the earth-balling and relocation of mangroves for infrastructure “flagship projects” endorsed by government authorities, once proponents claim that all other mitigation measures have been exhausted.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Mangroves are not movable infrastructure. They are complex, living ecosystems that serve as natural storm barriers, prevent coastal erosion, support fisheries, store vast amounts of blue carbon, and sustain the livelihoods of coastal communities. Scientific evidence consistently shows that earth-balling and relocation of mangroves result in extremely low survival rates, irreversible damage to root systems, biodiversity loss, and permanent degradation of ecosystem services. Removing mangroves, even temporarily, can trigger long-term ecological and economic harm.

The memorandum’s definition of “exceptional circumstances” is dangerously broad. Allowing exemptions for infrastructure projects creates a clear pathway for mangrove removal across the country, particularly in ecologically sensitive coastal areas. If left unchallenged, this interim guidance risks becoming standard operating procedure across DENR regional offices, effectively rolling back decades of mangrove protection policy in the Philippines.

Renowned mangrove scientist Dr. Jurgenne Primavera has publicly called for the repeal of this memorandum, citing its lack of scientific basis and the grave ecological risks it poses. Her call reflects the consensus of mangrove researchers and conservation practitioners who have dedicated decades to protecting these vital ecosystems.

Mangroves are not obstacles to development. They are frontline defenses against climate change, irreplaceable natural infrastructure for disaster risk reduction, and essential to food security and community resilience. Allowing their relocation for short-term economic gain contradicts the principles of sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

We therefore urge the DENR to:
1. Withdraw or substantially revise the October 8, 2025 memorandum
2. Remove the infrastructure project exemption that allows mangrove earth-balling and relocation
3. Uphold the strongest possible, science-based protections for mangrove ecosystems under the precautionary principle

This petition is supported by members and friends of the Global Mangrove Alliance Philippines, alongside scientists, civil society organizations, and concerned citizens.

Every signature is a call to protect our mangroves, and the communities that depend on them. Together, we can safeguard the Philippines’ coasts for present and future generations.

01/03/2026