The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has launched the country's first national Nature-based Solutions (NbS) policy, aimed at integrating nature-based approaches into climate, biodiversity, and disaster risk reduction programs.
The policy establishes a national framework for integrating nature-based approaches into government plans and programs, while strengthening coordination among government agencies, local governments, civil society organizations, communities, and the private sector.
The Philippines remains one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, facing frequent floods, droughts, typhoons, and earthquakes. These risks are expected to intensify as the climate changes, putting economies more vulnerable as ecosystems deteriorate.
The challenge lies not in creating new initiatives, but in connecting existing programs and initiatives across the country, said a disaster risk reduction technical officer.
The NbS policy formalizes nature-based practices that communities have long implemented and requires DENR bureaus, regional offices, and local government partners to integrate NbS into their plans and programs.
The policy encourages investments from local governments, communities, and the private sector while promoting diversified funding sources, including payment for ecosystem services, to support long-term implementation.
The policy aligns with national laws, including the Climate Change Act and the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act, as well as international commitments such as the Paris Agreement and the National Adaptation Plan.
A key component of the policy is the establishment of a national framework for monitoring, financing, and capacity building, which will be supported by the NbS Support Network.
The network will provide technical guidance, support the design and implementation of NbS projects at national and local levels, convene stakeholders, promote knowledge sharing, and demonstrate high-integrity Nature-based Solutions on the ground.
The Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS) also provides grants to community-based organizations to demonstrate NbS for climate resilience while advancing discussions on the biodiversity-climate-gender nexus.
