DENR launches first national Nature-based Solutions policy

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) launched the country’s first national Nature-based Solutions (NbS) policy on June 30, requiring the integration of nature-based approaches into climate, biodiversity, and disaster risk reduction programs.

The DENR, with support from Forest Foundation Philippines, the Government of Canada, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the NbS Support Network, unveiled the policy during the 3-day USBONG: Transdisciplinary Forum on Nature-based Solutions.

The policy establishes a national framework for integrating nature-based approaches into government plans and programs, while strengthening coordination among government agencies, local governments, civil society organizations, communities, and the private sector.

The Philippines remains one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, facing frequent floods, droughts, typhoons, and earthquakes. These risks are expected to intensify as the climate changes, according to a joint climate risk profile by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank. ADB’s 2025 Asia-Pacific Climate Report also noted that about 75% of the region’s gross domestic product depends on nature, making economies more vulnerable as ecosystems deteriorate.

“Existing programs and initiatives are already there across the country, in government agencies, local governments, civil society organizations, and communities. The challenge is no longer creating new initiatives. The challenge is connecting them,” Philippine Red Cross Disaster Risk Reduction Technical Officer Steven Laranjo said during the event.

“The challenge before us is not simply adopting NbS. It is strengthening, connecting, and integrating the local and indigenous practices that already exist across policy, governance, financing, and implementation systems. That is the goal of USBONG,” University of the Philippines Los Baños Forestry Development Center Director Dixon T. Gevaña said.

The policy formalizes nature-based practices that communities have long implemented and requires DENR bureaus, regional offices, and local government partners to integrate NbS into their plans and programs. It also establishes a national framework for monitoring, financing, and capacity building.

“The NbS policy unifies our efforts to connect and strengthen action across sectors. It gives us a national standard for recognizing, supporting, and scaling nature-based approaches across our climate, biodiversity, and disaster risk reduction programs,” DENR Acting Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna said.

The policy encourages investments from local governments, communities, and the private sector while promoting diversified funding sources, including payment for ecosystem services, to support long-term implementation. It aligns with national laws, including the Climate Change Act and the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act, as well as international commitments such as the Paris Agreement and the National Adaptation Plan.

“For generations, Filipino communities and indigenous peoples have managed forests, restored coastlines, and stewarded the land long before it was called Nature-based Solutions,” shared Forest Foundation Philippines Deputy Executive Director Alaya de Leon.

Mr. Laranjo emphasized the need for long-term institutional support and inclusive governance.

“Policies must survive political cycles. Institutions must help build projects. And governance must become inclusive rather than merely consultable,” Mr. Laranjo said.

“The number reminds us that while our aspirations are ambitious, our investments must still count. Farsighted conversations deepen this perspective. Meaningful participation is not about representation alone. It is about shared power and shared responsibility. The presentation of the landscape approach challenged us to think beyond political boundaries,” he said.

The forum also marked the launch of the NbS Support Network after its founding members signed a memorandum of understanding with the DENR, with support from development partners, including the Government of Canada and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The network will provide technical guidance, support the design and implementation of NbS projects at national and local levels, convene stakeholders, promote knowledge sharing, and demonstrate high-integrity Nature-based Solutions on the ground.

Through the Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS), Forest Foundation Philippines provides grants to community-based organizations to demonstrate NbS for climate resilience while advancing discussions on the biodiversity-climate-gender nexus. — Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba