“Political will of local executives key to achieving PH...

Political will among local government executives will be critical to achieving the Philippines' commitment to protect and conserve 30% of its land and sea by 2030, according to Rare, an international conservation organization working with coastal communities and local government partners to advance coastal and fisheries conservation.

The call comes as the Philippines works to meet Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, an international agreement adopted by governments, including the Philippines, to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

At the Aichi Target to 30×30: Expansion and Transition to Effective Governance side event during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia, on October 22, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Assistant Secretary Felix Alicer outlined the Philippines' approach to meeting the 30×30 target. This includes establishing marine protected areas and recognizing other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), including ancestral territories.

"Our roadmap is the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, aligned with the Framework, which aims to protect 24 percent of our terrestrial areas and 16 percent of our coastal and marine areas by 2040," Alicer said.

The DENR reported that the Philippines has 121 legislated protected areas covering more than 4.5 million hectares, alongside approximately 1,800 locally managed marine protected areas spanning around 3.1 million hectares of coastal and marine areas.

However, Alicer acknowledged that only an estimated 10 to 15% of these marine protected areas are effectively managed, highlighting the need to move beyond designating conservation areas and ensure that they are adequately protected.

For Rare, this gap underscores the importance of local governments in turning national commitments into effective conservation on the ground. Mayors and other local executives help shape local policies, allocate resources, convene stakeholders, and support community participation - all of which are essential to sustaining marine protection and fisheries management.

Through its Coastal 500 initiative, Rare mobilizes mayors and other local government leaders to champion thriving oceans and resilient coastal communities. With more than 550 members worldwide, including 117 from the Philippines, the initiative provides a platform for leaders to exchange experiences, strengthen their commitment to coastal conservation, and advance locally driven solutions for marine protection and sustainable fisheries management.

"The Philippines has made important strides in committing to global conservation goals and translating them into national policies. The opportunity now is to build on this progress by strengthening implementation on the ground, where local governments play a critical role in turning these commitments into meaningful action," said Aya Silva, Rare Philippines' country lead.

By fostering collaboration across communities and countries, Coastal 500 aims to strengthen local leadership in coastal and fisheries governance and demonstrate how community-level action can contribute to broader conservation goals.

The importance of local leadership in advancing conservation was also highlighted at CBD COP17 during the Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities, where Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, Mayor JR Coro, a member of Rare's Coastal 500 network, spoke about the role of local government in driving environmental action.

"We don't need to wait for anyone's permission to act for nature. Let us make our actions visible. Local governments can deliver," Coro urged.

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