We Make Conservation Work
Innovative Biodiversity Approaches. Nature-Positive Solutions
Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes Malacensis)
ABOUT US
The Center for Conservation Innovations PH, Inc (CCIPH) is a nature conservation NGO. We reimagine the conservation challenges that we face and offer solutions that explore innovative approaches that enable nature-positive action. We aim to enhance conservation practice by putting inclusive conservation science at the core of decision-making. We also make conservation work accessible to help us build a constituency for nature conservation.
The CCIPH Staff
Photo: Joel Emmanuel Manalo, CCIPH
At CCIPH, we aspire for a sustainable world where people and nature coexist and co-adapt in harmony.
VISION MISSION
Our sworn mission is to help create multi-sectoral, sustainable, and innovative conservation solutions by developing science-based tools and frameworks driven by an empowered community of practitioners.
Bronchocela cristatella
Photo: John Bibar, CCIPH
OUR APPROACH
We prioritize work that will Protect critically endangered species and fragile ecosystems by addressing the drivers of degradation, endangerment and loss. Our projects are designed to reduce the pressures on ecosystems and ecosystem services so that these ecosystems are able to Sustain us in the long haul. Our solutions are anchored on strategies that will Empower communities and stakeholders and will put them at the core of the designs to increase effectiveness and sustainability. An important cross-cutting strand in our work is adaptive management. We Innovate –– we always look for solutions that are fresh and cutting edge to accelerate nature positive-change.
Photo: Pauline Abello, CCIPH
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Since our birth in 2015, we have been trail-blazing in challenging antiquated conservation paradigms and practices that do not deliver meaningful, measurable and verifiable conservation outcomes After all, CCIPH was originally conceived a direct response to the observed lack of sufficient conservation knowledge and capacity driving poor natural resource management in the country
Apart from helping enable and accelerate the achievement of effective and sustainable biodiversity conservation in the country, CCIPH is at the forefront of implementing programs that identify and address biodiversity opportunities and risks For example, we have been developing and implementing carbon community-biodiversity balanced projects that are informed by the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) Strategy. We also help enhance community resilience to disasters via an ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) approach in the country
We have developed foundational frameworks that will revolutionize conservation work in the country. We conceptualized and co-developed the following:
1. Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) (https://bit.ly/LAWINForestandBiodiversity)
2 The Sukat ng Kalikasan (Nature Metrics) Framework and Toolkit of the Philippines using the High Conservation Value AreasNatural Capital Frameworks (USAID-SIBOL);
3. Green Assessment and Green Recovery Framework - a biodiversity and ecosystem-based post-disaster assessment that will inform rehabilitation, restoration, and recovery to achieve resilience (USAID-SIBOL).
4 Enhanced (and electronic) Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring Systems (e-BMS and e-BAMS) - using technology solutions to streamline biodiversity monitoring and improve Protected and Conserved Areas domain awareness
Palawan Peacock
Photo: John Bibar, CCIPH
OUR TEAMS
We are composed of experienced, hands-on, and creative thought leaders and practitioners who all share a common passion for nature conservation. Currently, we have five specialized, solutionsoriented teams:
Biodiversity Solutions Team
Natural Assets Solution Team
Geospatial Solutions Team
Community Conservation Solutions Team
Technology Solutions Team
OUR PARTNERS
CCIPH has had many dedicated and invaluable partner organizations from the public and private sectors and civil society over the years. The partnerships we have built and cultivated helped us in our success and milestones.
OUR PROJECT AND THEMATIC AREAS
Maximizing assessment methodologies to inform protected areas management planning
CCIPH’s expertise extends beyond terrestrial ecosystems and into critical marine habitats as well. Well-managed protected areas can effectively protect individual species, biodiversity, and ecosystem services and this is something that we always strive to enable, ably demonstrated in two important projects namely the Benthic Habitat Mapping and Beach Profiling in Masinloc and Oyon Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape (MOBLS) and the Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) Marine Ground-truthing and Mapping
In the MOBPLS project, CCIPH determined how multiple external pressures and threats of natural and anthropogenic causes have affected Masinloc and Oyon by comparing the seagrass and coral reef conditions between 2018 and 2022. Our team explained and illustrated the manner in which the benthic habitat maps were developed, with the information derived from the habitat maps indicating the historical and contemporary status and the changes in the spatial extent and distribution of the coral reefs, seagrasses, and other shoreline ecosystems in the MOBPLS This was used to support the assessment of areas with High Conservation Values pertinent to the spatial dimension. The generated maps presented the loss of coral reefs and seagrasses over time and the associated possible causes or drivers The research also affirmed how the coastal areas of MOBPLS are also under threat by erosion especially prominent in areas facing the open waters.
Featured Projects: Maximizing assessment methodologies to inform protected areas management planning
Photos during the actual survey Transects were laid perpendicular to the shore In each quadrat, the canopy height was measured, the percent canopy cover was estimated, and the substrate and species present are identified
For the SIPLAS Project, CCIPH conducted a series of marine ground truthing and mapping activities in select locations in the area of interest, including San Benito and Santa Monica, Del Carmen, Dapa, General Luna, and Socorro Among the methods used in this project are Coral and Seagrass surveys, which measured and determined canopy height, percent cover, average condition, and genus identification; a Remotely deployed video system (RDV) to obtain videos of ground-truth points; and a Side scan sonar survey which obtained single-beam bathymetric data and sonar images The activity was able to generate pre- and post-Odette benthic maps as well as a Bathymetric and Substrate Maps
Typhoon Odette (Super Typhoon Rai), first made landfall on Dinagat Islands and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands in SIPLAS and caused severe damage in its wake Fishing is among the major sources of income and livelihood in SIPLAS, hence it is of utmost importance to determine the impact of Odette on the marine ecosystem in the area
OUR PROJECT AND THEMATIC AREAS
Re-Imagining Post Disaster Response
The Green Assessment Framework or GAF was specifically developed by CCIPH under the auspices of the USAID-SIBOL Project to provide biodiversity and ecosystem-based pre- and post-disaster analyses that will underpin planning for future disaster risks, and green reconstruction and resilience planning. The GAF was piloted in response to the Super Typhoon Odette. Green Assessments were conducted in Palawan (March - May 2022) and in Siargao (August - October 2022)
The impetus for this initiative is the idea that ecological concerns are not always sufficiently incorporated into strategic planning at the outset of the reconstruction process as seen in global post-disaster experiences. The Philippines’ own post-disaster needs assessments and recovery plans in the last decade have primarily focused on the resumption of economic activities and the provision of basic services
CCIPH’s experience in piloting the GAF led to the development of the Green Recovery Plan (GRP) Framework, which is designed to determine a set of strategies and initiatives aimed at restoring damaged ecosystems after climate-induced disasters
OUR PROJECT AND THEMATIC AREAS
Community-based ReWilding of degraded ecosystems
Using the Framework Species Method (FSM), we employed a restoration strategy to revegetate the degraded area of interest for biodiversity recovery and develop plans for the protection of the restored land. FSM restores forest ecosystems by densely planting open sites, close to natural forests, with woody species, indigenous to the reference ecosystem and selected for their ability to accelerate ecological succession.
We were able to determine the best practices in the area, namely: 1) Characterization of land prior to planting, 2) Species mix (pioneer, secondary, climax), 3) Geotagging of planted trees by using Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART), and 4) Replacement of dead trees as part of maintenance practices
CCIPH partnered with a people's organization, Pangkat Ugnayan ng Nagkakaisang Lakas ng Alaminos, or PUNLA, with the goal of restoring the land with Philippine native trees and guiding them to a science-driven approach to land restoration They were able to help us in reforestation activities, including the propagation and planting of native trees and the maintenance of the planted seedlings.
OUR PROJECT AND THEMATIC AREAS
Mindoro Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Programme
As a REDD+ Project, this means that the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks should be equally prioritized along with Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation. What makes this initiative distinct and unprecedented is the direct and proactive participation of Indigenous people and local communities (IPLC). Indigenous Peoples (IPs) play a crucial role as stewards of conservation due to their close relationship with and dependence on their traditional lands, their role encompassing a range of activities and responsibilities that contribute to the sustainable management and preservation of ecosystems. CCIPH has had a long and productive history working in forest and IP communities since we openly recognize their rights and contributions to enhancing the ecological and social outcomes of conservation initiatives Being aware of their invaluable contributions to achieving long-term success in combating deforestation and promoting sustainable forest management, we have always maintained a respectful and inclusive approach with them.
In working with local IP communities and other stakeholders to address the focal issues, we seek to accomplish several key interrelated climate, community, and biodiversity objectives.
OUR PROJECT AND THEMATIC AREAS
Vulnerable Communities
CCIPH is leading the implementation of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) mitigation measures in the Tublay Municipality in Benguet Province. The Eco-DRR project involves systematically harnessing the regulatory functions of forest ecosystems to igate, prevent, or buffer against asters Ecosystem-based solutions n provide disaster risk reduction vices and other productive and tural value services, which also ntribute to building communities' lience to disasters and climate ange impacts. The Eco-DRR project is being implemented together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of JAPAN (MAFF), Cordillera Green Network (CGN), and Farm to Cup groups (F2C).
OUR PROJECT AND THEMATIC AREAS
Tech Solutions to make Conservation Work
Accessible
CCIPH is the official deployment partner of EarthRanger in the Philippines. EarthRanger is recognized as a cutting-edge technology platform for domain awareness, ecological management, human-wildlife coexistence and security within a protected area. We use EarthRanger to enable citizen scientists to participate meaningfully in natural resource management.
Project CoNNECT (Coping with the New Normal: Enhanced Connectivity Tools) is a joint initiative between CCIPH and Telus International Philippines for the benefit of the Iraya Mangyan of San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro that was conceived during the height of the COVID Pandemic Aside from donating connectivity tools and equipment and the repair and improvement of the office of the Mal-Anggatan Iraya Paranawan Kakuyanan (MIPK) peoples’ organization’s office, CCIPH also provided basic training workshops to Iraya Mangyan learners. These are in line with the Project’s commitment to improving the communication, information access, and quality of life of the Iraya Mangyan communities who, before this initiative, did not have the resources and tools to be part of the digital mainstream. It is hoped that these tools and equipment will enable the Iraya Mangyans to get connected to the Internet to allow them to use technology properly and communicate information over the Internet to help improve their lives and livelihoods
OUR PROJECT AND THEMATIC AREAS
Developing safeguard standards for biodiversity and ecosystem services
Sukat ng Kalikasan (Nature Metrics) Framework and Toolkit is born from the combination of two widely used international frameworks, i.e., the High Conservation Value Areas Framework and the Natural Capital Accounting Framework. This new national framework will provide standardised and science and evidence-based decision-support system to avoid and minimise risks and mitigate impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems services The Resources, Environment, and Economics Center for Studies Inc (REECS) and CCIPH have codeveloped this Framework for DENR under the auspices of the USAID Philippine Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscapes (USAID-SIBOL) project
OUR PROJECT AND THEMATIC AREAS
Partnering with USAID to achieve natural resource security and safeguards
CCIPH is a consortium partner in two concurrent USAID projects: The Philippine Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscapes (SIBOL) Project and the Inclusive Growth and Regenerative Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Project
CCIPH, in partnership with USAIDSIBOL, is at the forefront of developing high-impact tools and frameworks to improve natural resource management in the country, including the Sukat ng Kalikasan Framework (High Conservation Value Areas - Natural Capital Accounting Framework and Toolkit for the Philippines), the Rewilding Framework, which seeks to increase wild spaces in the country, the Green Assessment Framework, a biodiversity and ecosystem-based analysis for postdisaster needs assessment, green reconstruction, and resilience planning.
With Inspire Project, CCIPH is at the helm of a capacity-building program for institutions and communities to enable non-state actors to significantly contribute to the management, security, and safeguarding of natural resources.
