Jhorace Tupas (middle), Officer-in-Charge of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Section, Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) discussed the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) during the side event “Harmonizing Biodiversity and Climate Change Goals through Nature-Based Solutions: Experiences from the ASEAN Region” at the Philippine Pavilion of the 28th Conference of Parties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Tupas said national and regional consultations are being conducted to update the PBSAP and ensure that climate change is being discussed in the different sectors and across the different levels of biodiversity - species, ecosystems and up to the genetic level. In the recent Conference of Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Philippines advanced its position to integrate nature based solutions (NbS) in its biodiversity agenda to address climate change.

By 2030, the Philippines envisions a common language between the government and the private sector in the implementation of NbS with both sectors working together for environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation and climate action. Other participants in the session were (2nd from left to right): John Vincent Colili of the Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme Tenure Rights and Governance; Za’iem Halbi, Head of Brunei Climate Change Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office, and Dr. Vong Sok, Head of the Environment Division and Assistant Director of Sustainable Development Director at the ASEAN Secretariat. 

 

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