Today, we celebrate Nature-based Solutions (NbS), which are not new to our country but are now officially recognized through the national policy launched by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This policy, based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Global Standard, provides a national framework for recognizing and scaling approaches that protect the environment, restore ecosystems, and address climate change. 

Stakeholders must collaborate to embed NbS into general plans, prioritize Environmental Justice for disadvantaged communities, and establish robust Greenhouse Gas Inventories to ensure growth reduces emissions while adapting to future climate impacts.

We can look to successful models, such as the Gawahon Eco-Park in Negros Occidental, where communities use sustainable apiculture to restore forests and create livelihoods, or the C-Grass project in Misamis Oriental, which restores seagrass meadows through sustainable sea cucumber farming.  In Bohol, we can apply similar NbS approaches to enhance our coastal protection, support small-scale fisher folks, and empower women in community-led resilience actions.

Let us commit to supporting these community-led initiatives through grants and partnerships, ensuring that our natural resources sustain both our biodiversity and our livelihoods. By adopting these Nature-based Solutions, we honor the wisdom of our ancestors while building a resilient future for Bohol.

As the Philippines’ first UNESCO Global Geopark, the Province of Bohol stands as a global model for integrating geological conservation with community-led environmental stewardship.  This unique status provides a powerful foundation for discussing Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) that prioritize healing nature through people and practices.

Bohol’s designation highlights the intrinsic link between its geological assets and ecological resilience. Key sites such as the Chocolate Hills, Uplifted Marine Terraces, and the Alicia Schist are not merely scenic attractions but critical components of the province’s natural infrastructure.  These features support biodiversity, including the endangered Philippine Tarsier, and regulate local microclimates, demonstrating how preserving geological integrity directly enhances ecosystem services.

The UNESCO Global Geopark framework emphasizes that conservation is most effective when driven by local communities. Bohol’s approach involves engaging residents in the protection of geosites like Hinagdanan Cave and Balicasag Marine Sanctuary.  This model ensures that NbS are culturally appropriate and economically beneficial, turning conservation into a legacy for future generations rather than a restriction on development.

Bohol’s journey as the first UNESCO Global Geopark in the Philippines offers a replicable blueprint for other regions. By framing nature-based solutions through the lens of geological heritage and community empowerment, the province can lead the way in achieving both environmental sustainability and socio-economic resilience. 

On behalf of Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners – Bohol Chapter, we sincerely express our gratitude to the Provincial Government for their support together with partner institutions to make this NBS Roadshow a reality.