Sign in Subscribe
Natural resources

Philippines Declares Three New Protected Areas, Strengthening Efforts to Conserve Biodiversity

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Philippines has declared three new protected areas, including the Taklong and Tandog Group of Islands Natural Park, further solidifying its commitment to conserving biodiversity. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Acts 12225, 12226, and 12227, which establish the Taklong and Tandog Group of Islands Natural Park, the Alibijaban Protected Landscape and Seascape, and the Mt. Masaraga Protected Landscape, respectively. These protected areas will be managed by the national government, local government units, concerned nongovernment organizations, private groups, and local communities, ensuring their protection and conservation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Philippines now has 249 protected areas, with the three new additions strengthening its efforts to conserve biodiversity.
  • The Taklong and Tandog Group of Islands Natural Park, previously a component of the National Integrated Protected Areas System, is a biodiversity hotspot with a diverse range of coastal and marine ecosystems.
  • The protected area will undergo a stricter management regime, with increased protection of natural resources, promotion of citizen science, and development of sustainable ecotourism.
  • The Asean Centre for Biodiversity has welcomed the declaration of the three new protected areas, recognizing the importance of community-based management strategies and the need for collective action to ensure their protection.
  • The Philippines has two landmark laws on protected areas - RA 7586, the Nipas Act of 1992, and RA 11038, the Expanded Nipas Act of 2018 - which provide a legal framework for the protection and conservation of protected areas.
  • The Asean Centre for Biodiversity has committed to supporting the Philippines and other Asean member states in the conservation, restoration, and effective management of protected areas.
  • The new regional conservation project, titled Enhancing Conservation and Restoration of Wetlands and Peatlands in Asean as Effective Sinks and Reservoirs of Greenhouse Gases, aims to create science-based and practical methods to protect carbon-rich ecosystems.

Statistics:

  • The Philippines has 1,238 recorded species of terrestrial vertebrates, half of which are endemic.
  • The country hosts over 3,214 fish species in its marine and freshwater ecosystems, including approximately 121 endemic species and 76 that are currently threatened.
  • The Asean Centre for Biodiversity region has more than 2,600 protected areas, covering over 700,000 square kilometers of terrestrial and around 300,000 square kilometers of marine protected areas.
  • The new project aims to create a network of protected areas, with 50,000 square kilometers of wetlands and peatlands protected by 2030.

Sources:

  • BusinessMirror, "Asean Centre for Biodiversity welcomes declaration of 3 new protected areas in PH"
  • Republic Act 12225, Series of 2025
  • Republic Act 12226, Series of 2025
  • Republic Act 12227, Series of 2025
  • Asean Centre for Biodiversity, "Enhancing Conservation and Restoration of Wetlands and Peatlands in Asean as Effective Sinks and Reservoirs of Greenhouse Gases"
  • Asean Centre for Biodiversity, "Asean Biodiversity Plan"
  • Philippine National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
  • German Agency For International Cooperation (GIZ), "Protected Area Management Enhancement Program"
  • German Agency For International Cooperation (GIZ), "ProCoast Program"

Read more