The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) collaborated with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) – BINHI program, a private sector-led greening initiative, and nationwide forest restoration program which seeks to restore denuded forests, preserve and propagate threatened native tree species, and protect biodiversity for future generations.
Said synergy between PCSD and EDC was sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the BINHI In-situ conservation project on May 17, 2021. The project focuses on the conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats and the maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings.
For its partnership with EDC, PCSD conducted a kick-off webinar dubbed “Saving Palawan’s Threatened Flora” on May 21, 2021, which was done in collaboration with the Philippine Parks & Biodiversity and celebration of the International Day of Biodiversity Conservation.
Being EDC’s 190th partner for the BINHI program, PCSD will share its expertise and resources for the conduct of population survey, propagation, protection of the habitat of the Palawan Mangkono (๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ค๐ช๐ฐ๐ด๐ถ๐ด), Manggis (๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ข๐ด๐ด๐ช๐ข ๐ฆ๐น๐ค๐ฆ๐ญ๐ด๐ข), Palawan Narig (๐๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ข ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐ค๐ฉ๐ข๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ช ssp. ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ช๐ง๐ฐ๐ญ๐ช๐ข), Narig Laot (๐๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ข ๐ฎ๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ข) and 12 other Palawan-endemic tree species identified to be critically endangered and near extinction. This expanded list of tree species identified was the product of the sustained and extended partnership of EDC with the Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) for the Global Tree Assessment (GTA) project.
The PCSD will identify possible locations of the aforementioned Palawan threatened tree species and prioritize these in its conservation efforts. Together with EDC, PCSD will also conduct advocacy campaigns such as drafting local policy ordinances, scientific researches, the conduct of capacity building for key stakeholders, etc. Moreover, potential partnerships not only for In-situ but to ex-situ or the establishment of arboretums of the Palawan endemic threatened tree species would be explored by PCSD in coordination with EDC. During the implementation of the In-situ conservation project, the PCSD would be provided technical assistance and expertise by the BINHI team.
PCSD Executive Director Atty. Teodoro Jose S. Matta expressed in a statement that despite restrictions brought about by the pandemic, the PCSD will work hard to ensure that the project would be implemented as the advocacy campaigns of the BINHI program are geared towards sustainable future and general welfare of the Palaweรฑos.