There are several international conventions and multilateral environmental agreements (MEA) of which the Philippines is a signatory to that include the CBD, Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) and the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD). As such, the Philippines has legal obligations to develop its national strategies and plans for its fulfillment of the objectives of these conventions.
These information and texts were extracted from the unabridged version of the Philippines Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2028, produced by the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-BMB). The full report may be downloaded for free in this direct link
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
The Philippines with 154 other states and the European Union (EU) have signed the CBD in June 1992 during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The Philippine Senate ratified the country’s membership to the CBD on October 8, 1993.
The key objectives of the CBD, namely, conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge are carried out by the DENR and other key agencies through the following:
a) for conservation, through the establishment of PAs in terrestrial and marine ecosystems including those that are set up under the NIPAS Act or RA 7586;
b) for sustainable use, through various AOs that mandate this approach towards the utilization of the country’s biodiversity which are carried out by the various bureaus of the DENR, including that of the LGUs, other key agencies and specialized agencies;
c) for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, through the provisions of the Wildlife Act on bioprospecting and the administrative regulations (DENR-DA-PCSD-NCIP AO No. 1, Series of 2005, and the 2004 Wildlife Act Implementing Rules and Regulations) that lay down the ways in which scientific and commercial researches on Philippine genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge are carried out including the ways in which the FPIC of the appropriate authorities are secured.
The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), under its mandate from the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), supervises the procedures on which the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of IPs are secured, including on researches that involve indigenous knowledge systems and practices of IPs in the Philippines.
The Philippines is currently exerting efforts to accede to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity while undertaking reform measures to improve the coordination of key implementing agencies on access and benefit-sharing from the utilization of the country’s biological and genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.
Convention on Wetlands, known as the "Ramsar Convention"
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework
for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It is the only global environmental treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem.
As a contracting party to the Convention, the Philippines has updated and implemented the National Wetlands Action Plan that provides the framework to conserve Philippine wetlands; designated two (2) additional wetlands of international importance (i.e., Las Piñas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park); identified seven potential Ramsar sites in Luzon (Canarem Lake, Candaba Swamp, Dunoy Lakes, Lalaguna Marsh, Malasi Lake, Pantabangan Dam, Taal Lake); updated the information of all designated Ramsar sites; and organized an interim National Wetland Committee.
Adopted in 1979 and entered into force in 1983, the CMS aims to build and strengthen global conservation efforts for migratory species in the air, on land, and in the seas. CMS, also known as the Bonn Convention, is an international and intergovernmental treaty backed by the United Nations Environmental Programme.
The Philippines is a member of CMS since 1994 and has been implementing measures such as:
· Dialogue with fisherfolks to eradicate problems related to migratory birds e.g., tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), migratory birds that travel seasonally between the breeding and wintering grounds
· Strengthen enforcement activities in Balabac Straits and in Baguan Island (one of the islands of the Turtle Islands) to address direct capture of sea turtles
The Balabac Strait and Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA) are the two areas where foreign poachers were usually caught. A Philippine plan of action covering the two areas was drafted by concerned agencies and national government organizations in 2009. Further, a Philippine-Malaysia plan of action covering Balabac Strait and TIHPA was also drafted in 2009, and the document was discussed in the 7th Philippine-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting held on 14-15 April 20111
In September 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The document emphasizes the rights of IPs to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures, and traditions to pursue their development in keeping their own needs and aspirations.
This declaration addresses both individual and collective rights, cultural rights and identity, rights to education, health, employment, language, and others. It also asserts that indigenous peoples and individuals have the right to be free from any kind of discrimination in the exercise of their rights.
In 2008, a national conference of IPs was held in the Philippines and consequently a national network mandated towards the effective implementation of the UN Declaration in the country was established. The workshop discussed how the international mechanisms work in relation to the UN declaration and to come up with realistic strategies on how to promote its implementation.
The UNDRIP has unofficial translation in “Bisaya”, a language widely spoken in the Philippines that can be accessed from the UN site
This is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-export, and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention have to be authorized through a licensing system.
The DENR through the BMB, DA-BFAR, and the PCSD are the CITES Management Authorities in the country, while the ERDB, UP Marine Science Institute (MSI), UP Visayas, and Silliman University are the Philippines’ CITES Scientific Authorities.
From 2005 to 2013, the monitoring conducted by the DENR field staff under its Philippine Raptors Conservation Program yielded an increase in sightings of the critically endangered Philippine eagle in the wild. However, this number is not reflective of an increase or decrease in population.
Conservation and protection efforts were boosted with the discovery of Philippine eagles in various locations in Apayao from 2011-2013, rediscovery of the species in Burauen, Leyte in December 2012, and successful breeding and hatching in December 2013 of a new eaglet “Atbalin,” the fourth offspring of a pair of Philippine eagles in the wild in Zamboanga del Norte.
In 2006, the Philippines ratified the Cartagena Protocol, a supplementary agreement to the CBD that seeks to protect biodiversity from the potential risks posed by genetically modified organisms (GMO) resulting from modern biotechnology.
Implementation of the Protocol entails the cooperation of various stakeholders, including those from government such as the DENR, DA, DOST, and the Department of Health (DOH).
In the same year, EO 514 establishing the National Biosafety Framework (NBF) of the Philippines was issued providing guidelines for its implementation, strengthening the National Biosafety Committee of the Philippines and for other purposes. Along with other regulations, the NBF is expected to support implementation of the Protocol.
The Philippines also ratified the ITPGRFA in 2006. The objectives of the Treaty are similar to that of the CBD but focus on plant genetic resources important to food and agriculture.
Ex-situ collections of important germplasm have been assembled and maintained since the early 1900s. There are 45 government and CSOs that hold ex-situ germplasm collections in the Philippines totaling 173,205 accessions.
A total of 40 percent of the total collection has been characterized morphologically, 7 percent biochemical properties, 3 percent on molecular properties, and 60 percent for insect pest and pathogen reaction, physiological and abiotic stress reaction, and product quality. Major ex-situ needs include funding, staff, equipment, and facilities. There is adequate to strong capacity in plant breeding in the public and private sectors.
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is an international plant health agreement, established in 1952, that aims to protect cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of pests.
Contracting parties to the IPPC share the same goal that is to protect the world’s cultivated and natural plant resources from the spread and introduction of plant pests while minimizing interference with the international movement of goods and people. The IPPC
provides an international framework for plant protection that includes developing International
Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) for safeguarding plant resources.
The IPPC also provides information exchange related to import and export requirements, pest status, and regulated pest lists provided by each member country.
The Convention encourages support to developing countries to improve the effectiveness of their National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) and to participate in regional plant protection organizations, to help them realize the benefits of safe trade.
The World Heritage Convention sets out the duties of State Parties in identifying potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them.
By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage.
The State Parties are encouraged to integrate the protection of the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning program, set up staff and services at their sites, undertake scientific and technical conservation research, and adopt measures which give this heritage a function in the day-to-day life of the community.
The Convention stipulates the obligation of State Parties to report regularly to the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of their World Heritage properties. These reports are crucial to the work of the Committee as they enable it to assess the conditions of the sites, decide on specific programme needs, and resolve recurrent problems. It also encourages State Parties to strengthen the appreciation of the public for World Heritage properties and to enhance their protection through educational and information programs.