Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s largest and most biodiverse tropical rainforests, including those in the Philippines and Indonesia, and plays a vital role in climate regulation, supporting thousands of plant and animal species, and providing essential resources for Filipinos, especially for the indigenous and rural communities.
Community-Led Reforestation in the Philippines
Those critical landscapes are increasingly under threat due to deforestation, illegal logging, mining, and agricultural expansion. From 2002 to 2023, the world lost 76.3 million hectares, according to Global Forest Watch, of tropical wet primary forest. The Philippines accounts for about 190,000 hectares, 13% of its total tree cover loss, posing serious risks to the nation’s biodiversity, water supply, and climate resilience.