FPE - Fostering Partnerships for the Environment

Fostering Partnerships for the Environment

Foundation for the Philippine Environment

FPE at a Glance The Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) is the first non-government grant making institution for the environment in the Philippines.

Vision FPE envisions itself as a dynamic, relevant, proactive and growing organization enabling civil society and other stakeholders towards effective biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. It envisions communities caring responsibly and living fully in harmony with their environment.

Mission To be a catalyst for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of communities in critical sites.

Goals A. Initiate and support community-based approaches and actions in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development (BCSD) in critical biodiversity areas.

B. Preserve the capital through judicious fiscal management and generate additional resources for BCSD. C. Build local and international cooperation between and among civil society, government and business groups towards development of policies and effective programs for BCSD. D. Continually develop an appropriate organizational structure and infrastructure for more effective design and implementation of interventions on BCSD. E. Facilitate information exchange and utilization of plans and initiatives on BSCD within FPE and among stakeholders.

FPE’s Beginnings FPE was established on January 15, 1992 to help mitigate the destruction of the country’s natural resources. The Foundation was created through a process of nationwide consultations with 334 Philippine non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs), and 24 academic institutions.

The Philippine NGOs took the lead in conceptualizing and organizing FPE and its subsequent program directions.

The collective efforts of the Philippine and the United States government agencies and NGOs paved the way for the funding of FPE, making it the first non-government grant-making institution for the environment in the country. The initial capital base of FPE is an endowment fund established through a debt-for-nature swap. Start-up financing came from the United States Agency for International Development, which through the Natural Resources Management Program, provided the grants that established an endowment fund worth US$ 21.8 Million given in Philippine Peso.

FPE photos, top to bottom: A meeting with FPE partners in 1991; FPE Inaugural Ceremonies with then FPE Board Chairperson and former Secretary of DENR, Atty. Fulgencio S. Factoran, addressing the guests; First orientation session for FPE’s Expert Advisory Panel (EAP) in 1993; and Meeting of FPE BOT in 1994.

FPE, Sustaining Biodiversity and Communities Today, as environmental issues have become more challenging, complex and localized, FPE, through a consultative process, developed a set of areas or issues where funding would be prioritized. Each island region (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) has its own Regional Environment Agenda (REA) . The seven environmental issues that have been identified as common in these regions become the priority National Environmental Agenda (NEA), which are as follows: (1) mining, (2) logging, (2) unsustainable farming and agriculture, (4) renewable energy, (5) pollution/solid waste/air pollution, (6) climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and (7) urbanization and conversion of agricultural lands into residential use.

This photo of Whiskered Pitta or Pitta kochi, a threatened bird of Luzon was found on Mt. Banahaw, a priority conservation site of FPE. Photo by Alain Pascua of Wild Bird and Nature Photography Philippines and KAAKBAY.

FPE, a Catalyst for Cooperation and Growth As a catalyst for cooperation, FPE promotes and encourages international and local cooperation among NGOs, business groups, government agencies, and communities towards developing policies and effective programs for biodiversity conservation in critical sites.

As a grantmaker, FPE provides financial resources needed to strengthen the capabilities of non-government organizations, people’s organizations and local communities in implementing programs on biodiversity conservation, protection and rehabilitation.

As fund facilitator, FPE generates additional financial resources and provides linkages between proponents and donors for qualified projects in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Tribesman of the Sadik-Habanan Buhid, one of the IP partners of FPE in Oriental Mindoro. FPE file photo.

FPE Governance Structure FPE was created by and for the Philippine NGOs and POs. In this way, FPE is broadly represented by the civil society groups who are deeply involved in the Foundation’s programs through the majority membership in the Board of Trustees (BOT) and the participation in the three Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The BOT is the highest governing body of FPE, composed of 11 members from the NGO, PO, academe, and the private and government sectors. The elected Chair of the BOT automatically becomes the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FPE. Both the Board members and RAC members act on their individual capacity and should neither seek nor be expected to promote the interests of their mother organization.

The day-to-day operations of FPE is managed by the Executive Director.

FPE photos, top to bottom: RAC Visayas posing after their June 1, 2012 meeting; BOT and FPE staff tree planting in the Marikina Watershed; and BOT appearing on a local TV show to promote FPE’s efforts on BCSD.

FPE Priority Conservation Sites Visayas On-going 1. Guiuan, Eastern Samar 2. North Negros Natural Park

Luzon On-going 1. Banao Watershed, Kalinga Closed 2. Biak-na-Bato National Park 3. Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal PL, Quezon/Laguna 4. Bulusan Volcano Park, Sorsogon 5. Zambales Mountain Range 6. Honda and Green Island Bays, Palawan 7. Buasao Watershed, Abra 8. Bolos Point, Cagayan To be opened 9. Kalbario-Patapat, Ilocos Norte 10. Lake Buhi, Camarines Sur 11. Candaba Swamp, Pampanga 12. Taal Lake, Cavite/Batangas

Closed 3. Paranas, Samar 4. Palapag, Northern Samar 5. Northwest Panay Peninsula Park 6. Bohol Marine Triangle, Bohol 7. Mt. Talinis-Twin Lakes, Negros Oriental To be opened 8. Cebu Island 9. Mt. Nacolod Range, Southern Leyte 10. Northeast Panay-Gigantes, Iloilo 11. North Visayan Sea

Mindanao On-going 1. Arakan, North Cotabato 2. Lake Mainit, Surigao and Agusan 3. Ligawasan Marsh (SK Pendatun) 4. Mt. Malindang, Bukidnon 5. Tawi-Tawi Bay, Tawi-Tawi Closed 6. Mt. Matutum, South Cotabato 7. Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte 8. Pantaron Range, Bukidnon 9. Upper Pulangi Watershed, Bukidnon To be opened 10. Marilog Forest Reserve, Davao 11. Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary 12. Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Davao 13. Camiguin Island, Camiguin

FPE conservation sites hold significant biodiversity in need of protection. These are also the sites where FPE has the longest site-focused projects.

www.fpe.ph Main Office 77 Matahimik Street Teachers’ Village Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines Telephone: (63 2) 927 2186 926 9629 / 927 9403 Fax: (63 2) 922 3022 Email: fpemain@fpe.ph

Luzon Regional Unit 77 Matahimik Street, Teachers’ Village, Diliman, Quezon City 1100 Philippines Telephone: (63 2) 927 2186 926 9629 / 927 9403 Fax: (63 2) 922 3022 Email: fpeluz@fpe.ph

Visayas Regional Unit Room 23, 2nd flr Vel-Quano Bldg 1 M.C. Briones corner A.S. Fortuna Street, Highway Mandaue City, Cebu 6014 Philippines Telephone: (63 32) 345 6255 345 6254 Fax: (63 32) 345 6254 Email: fpevis@fpe.ph

Mindanao Regional Unit #37 3rd Street Ecoland Subdivision Phase 1 corner Quimpo Boulevard, Matina Davao City 8000 Philippines Telephone: (082) 295 6994 Fax: (082) 295 6993 Email: fpemin@fpe.ph