20/04/2026
Meet another Naturalists of Iloilo:
Nick Taladro ππͺ±πΏ
Every living being contributes to the balance of nature in countless ways, many of which go unseen, leaving enigmatic and less charismatic species underappreciated.
Romnick, often called Nick, is a teacherβturnedβconservationist. His passion for participatory environmental movements to protect and conserve all forms of life led him to pursue a path outside his academic line, choosing conservation. With a degree in education, he uses this background as a tool to communicate and share knowledge about the importance of conserving our environment and working with communities as guardians of the sites they belong to and the wildlife in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Nick is the Co-founder of the Alliance for the Conservation of Enigmatic Wildlife (ACEW), a youth-led advocacy group composed of volunteer young scientists, artists, students, conservationists, and citizen scientists. ACEW was created to amplify the call for participatory conservation of enigmatic and non-charismatic species and their habitats. The organization is guided by three pillars: Empowered Youth for Conservation, Participatory Environmental Action, and Advocacy for Underappreciated Wildlife & Habitats.
The founding of ACEW was inspired by his love for diplopods, or millipedes. He recognized a gap in conservation where many animals and plants were neglected, facing challenges such as habitat destruction, poaching, misinformation, and even hate. In response, he established ACEW in February 2025 to provide a platform that amplifies appreciation, protection, and conservation of species often overlooked. This initiative has positively shifted perspectives, with members invited as resource speakers to highlight enigmatic wildlife and bring them into the spotlight for conservation attention. Today, ACEW has members not only from Panay but also across the Philippines, from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It is a small step with a big impact, proving that even the little things we rarely notice truly matter, and that voices from all sectors count.
Nickβs advocacy and areas of interest include participatory conservation of enigmatic and nonβcharismatic species and their ecosystems, as well as Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP), through which he seeks to understand indigenous approaches to wildlife and bioresource conservation. With his background in education, he bridges conservation concepts with communities, advancing GEDSIβresponsive and cultureβsensitive approaches to participatory conservation.
Currently, Nick works as a Conservation Specialist for the Haribon Foundation and collaborates with the Indigenous Cultural Community Akeanon Bukidnon under the project Engaging Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Ensuring Environmental and Social Safeguards for the Aklan River Watershed Forest Reserve (AGOS).
To leave a note, Nick deeply believes that Conservation starts with awareness and unbiased appreciation of all living beings.
For additional Information, visit:
https://justmiecreatives.my.canva.site/acew?fbclid=IwY2xjawRShB5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFZOENLbW83dkFYcE1ONjBJc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsNWGKgLBdaSeUOCrbMeynZlziGWCQmgXKOsZMGF68cM1nII5kZS5rYRHIa9_aem_khKNHJaq32tAVfLrUHgaRQ
