The executive director of the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc describes their approach to conservation and the biggest challenges they face at work
At Danjugan Island, a marine and wildlife sanctuary located in Negros Occidental, Philippines, sustainability is not executed as a vanity project but a way of life. Run by Dave Albao’s non-profit NGO Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc (PRRCFI), the modest refuge's biodiversity was once threatened and its marine life overfished but it is now being steadily rehabilitated.
The 43-hectare island is also a haven for human visitors to come and learn about nature and connect with it. After all, it's Albao's belief that only when wildlife and humans live in harmony can there be a sustainable future.
“Our mission is to inspire people to take action for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development through four strategic areas: experiential learning, collaborative research, enabling communities, and nurturing partnerships,” says the executive director of PRRCFI.
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By taking a community-first approach to its conservation efforts, PRRCFI cultivates in people a sense of individual responsibility. “We strive to be mindful, invoking the ecological principle of interconnectedness, and in parallel, we make sure our projects are inclusive and authentic.”
We speak to Albao to find out more about the mission and work of their organisation.
PRRCFI employs an experiential and community-based approach to conservation. How does this approach manifest in your operations and projects?
[As Sengalese environmentalist] Baba Dioum said at an IUCN [International Union for Conservation of Nature] General Assembly, “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.”
Our ecotourism and environmental education programmes are centred around providing an experience of deep connection with nature, so we minimise all distractions such as television and the Internet. Every natural phenomenon and wildlife interaction is an opportunity to inspire, share and teach. Our projects outside of Danjugan follow the same approaches in experiential learning.
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