Quezon City, Metro Manila — On May 20, 2026, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB), in partnership with the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the DENR-UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Corridor Project (BD Corridor Project), hosted the celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDBD) 2026 through the “Videodiversity: Samot-Saring Kuwento para sa Samot-Saring Lokal na Aksyon”.
The event celebrates this year’s theme, “Acting locally for global impact”, by highlighting the roles and initiatives of individuals, communities, and sectors across the Philippines that contribute to biodiversity conservation through panel talks and a showcase of multimedia videos from the first-ever video reel contest of the DENR-BMB.
Protecting Wildlife, Connecting Ecosystems through Flagship Species Conservation
The Videodiversity included categories on youth action, community action, urban biodiversity, and protecting wildlife, connecting ecosystems, which is in parallel to the presentation topics under the Samot-Sari TV: A Philippine Biodiversity Talk. Under the last category, Director of Operations of the Philippine Eagle Foundation Inc. (PEFI) Dr. Jayson Ibañez, and Regional Landscape Planning Officer of the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor Project Management Unit (EMBC-PMU) of the BD Corridor Project talked about the project’s flagship species – the Philippine Eagle – as not just a species to be protected, but as a conservation trigger and planning tool. Dr. Ibañez and Mr. Labiao highlighted how the Philippine Eagle’s habitat requirements, flight movement across provinces in the EMBC, and genetic data drive decisions about where to place corridors, how to manage land use, and how to structure governance. Specifically, they underscored how the different sectors, such as the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Local Government Units (LGUs), the DENR Regional Offices, and other local communities, come together for the establishment of the proposed Philippine Eagle Critical Habitats in the EMBC.
Dr. Jayson Ibañez (left) of PEFI and EnP Ryan Jay Labiao (right) of the EMBC-PMU highlighting the significance of the Philippine Eagle as a tool for conservation and planning
Mr. Labiao also shared that the project, in collaboration with PEFI, was able to rediscover the Mindanao Bleeding-Heart Pigeon in Surigao del Norte after more than a century since its first discovery in the province in the year 1906. The confirmed presence of this elusive animal indicates that the forest is still healthy enough to provide essential conditions for many small plants and animals that form the foundation of an ecosystem. Similar to the Philippine Eagle, the Mindanao Bleeding-Heart Pigeon serves as a flagship species for biodiversity conservation at the local level, prompting different sectors to appreciate and take efforts towards its protection.
Samot-Saring Parangal at Kuwento
The main highlight of this event was the awarding of the winners of the Videodiversity contest. Each contestant had a unique and creative way of storytelling and championing biodiversity conservation and protection. Mr. Patrick Lawrence Chiva became the recipient of the “Samot-saring Kuwento of the Year” award and overall winner with his entry entitled “Mangrove Revolution: The Tales of Trees That Inspired Generations” which showcased the initiatives of the youth of Saranggani Bay in conserving and promoting mangrove protection.
Aside from the overall winner of the contest, special awards were also given to recognize the commendable efforts of each contestant. Among these special awards was the “Tulay ng Saribuhay” award, which recognizes the effort in the portrayal of interconnectedness between human initiatives, ecosystem services, restoration, and biodiversity conservation, and was given to Mr. Kevin Kyle Edra with his entry entitled “Luntian Kidapawan” which highlighted the initiative of Kidapawan City entitled Canopy 25 by showcasing the involvement of various stakeholder groups for one initiative to restore the degraded habitats for the benefit of future generations.
Shaping the Future through Local Actions
The conservation of the Philippine Eagle and Mindanao Bleeding-heart Pigeon in the EMBC are only two of the many species in our mega-biodiverse country, which weaves local actions into national-level governance and efforts. The Videodiversity celebration underscored how biodiversity conservation and protection are a shared responsibility to all who benefit from its services, requiring collective action, backed by science, collaboration, and community participation.
Assistant Director of the DENR-BMB Ms. Mariglo Rosaida Laririt highlights this, saying, “Ang usaping biodiversity ay hindi pangkaraniwan. So kung ang isang Pilipino ay nais lumahok dito, hindi ka pangkaraniwang Pilipino…at maraming superpowers ang mga hindi pangkaraniwang mga tao. So let’s start with that: hindi ka pangkaraniwan, mayroon kang superpower, ngayon gamitin mo iyon.”
This year’s IDBD celebration reminds us that every effort, whether it’s on an individual, community, or national scale, contributes to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity for us and future generations.
This story is published under the DENR-UNDP/GEF Project “Integrated Approach in the Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines” or BD Corridor Project, which seeks to operationalize integrated management of biodiversity corridors to generate multiple benefits, including effective conservation of globally threatened species and high conservation value forests, reduce deforestation and degradation, and enhance local biodiversity-friendly livelihoods.
The project is implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and funded by the Global Environment Facility. 🐾🌳
