Empowering Local Governments for Sustainable Development and Biodiversity Conservation

Strategic Insights -

Local government units in the Philippines play a crucial role in safeguarding the country's natural wealth and building resilient and sustainable communities. With their autonomy and fiscal powers, they can drive innovation and tailor solutions to their specific needs, ultimately contributing to accelerating climate action and strengthening disaster resilience. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been working with local governments since 2016 to mainstream biodiversity in local plans and programs, ensuring a stable flow of financing for conservation through good local governance.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160) empowers local government units (LGUs) to have meaningful autonomy, including fiscal powers and authority to propose, appropriate, and release funds to agencies, offices, programs, and projects.
  • The UNDP's Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Project has been working with LGUs since 2016 to mainstream biodiversity in local plans and programs, ensuring a stable flow of financing for conservation.
  • The Negros Island Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NIBSAP) is a good example of this work, with local biodiversity finance plans identifying the funding needs for implementing biodiversity projects and programs.
  • The finance plans helped pave the way for a steady increase in LGU budgets for conservation, which became a crucial model for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) to advance a policy advocating for the localization of the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP).
  • Strengthening governance at the site level is essential for conservation efforts to contribute to national and international biodiversity goals.
  • In 2023, UNDP signed Memoranda of Understanding with governors of two provinces in the Negros Island, together with the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PhilBio), enabling the implementation of finance solutions for conservation purposes.
  • LGUs can spearhead nature-based solutions to restore ecosystems and protect livelihoods, such as wetlands management, maintenance of green spaces, and ecosystem restoration.
  • San Carlos City's BaLANCE or Biodiversity and Landscape Approach in Nature Conservation is about to implement a proposed 'Emerald Necklace' to protect wildlife and regenerate denuded forests within the boundaries of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park.

Statistics:

  • The UNDP's BIOFIN Project has been working with LGUs since 2016 to mainstream biodiversity in local plans and programs.
  • The project is supported by the European Commission and the Governments of Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Belgium, Flanders, UK, Canada, and France.
  • 133 countries are implementing the BIOFIN initiative globally.
  • In the Philippines, UNDP is working to ensure sustainable economic growth while conserving precious natural resources by supporting LGUs in formulating their local biodiversity plans.
  • The Negros Island Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NIBSAP) was formulated with local biodiversity finance plans to identify the funding needs for implementing biodiversity projects and programs.
  • The budget for coastal resources management, wildlife and biodiversity management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and forest resources management in Negros Oriental increased significantly after the implementation of finance solutions.

Sources:

  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Project
  • Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160)
  • Negros Island Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NIBSAP)
  • Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP)
  • Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB)
  • Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PhilBio)
  • Memoranda of Understanding between UNDP, governors of two provinces in the Negros Island, and PhilBio (2023)
  • San Carlos City's BaLANCE or Biodiversity and Landscape Approach in Nature Conservation