ORTIGAS CENTER — To advance the identification and management of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and lay the groundwork for a comprehensive roadmap to achieve the 30×30 goal of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE), together with members of the National Coordinating Group for KBAs, engaged in a workshop organized by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) from June 27 to 29 at Crowne Plaza Hotel Galleria, Ortigas Center.

Adopted in 2022 at the 15th Conference of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) calls for the restoration and conservation of 30% of the world’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems by 2030, otherwise known as 30×30 Goals. By 2030, the DENR is looking to protect 6.45m hectares or a total of 21.59% of the country’s land area, while for marine ecosystem, it is targeting to protect 35m hectares, or almost 16% of the country’s seas.

From 2000-2010, the Philippines identified key biodiversity area (KBA) in the country, which area sites that contribute significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity. This workshop supported the KBA mapping process and the institutionalization of the National Coordinating Group for the 30×30 initiative.

The participants, including Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Research and Development Services (BERDS) Director Mohamad Ali R. Dimaren, Chief PAMD Joeffry L. Kamid and the Philippine KBA support team focused on updating the KBA database and establishing the KBA National Coordination Group’s functions and standards.

Dr. Andrew Plumptre, Head of the KBA Secretariat, presented on the KBA proposal process, while Dr. Satrio Adil Wicaksono, Programme Officer, Forests-IUCN Asia Regional Office, reviewed relevant tools for species and ecosystems. Vanessa Rathbone Kendall Jones of WCS discussed case studies and criteria for ecosystem KBA identification, linking ecosystem mapping to the monitoring framework under the GBF.

The workshop concluded with a closing message from Armida Andres, Assistant Director of DENR-BMB, and the distribution of certificates.

Other key participants of the said workshop were Acting Provincial ENRE Officer of Sulu Nur-Padzri S. Pao, CENRE Officer Saido Espiliro, and Oliver S. Pao. Head of the KBA Secretariat, WCS Conservation Planning Specialist, BMB officials were also present.