What We Do
We are locally-minded, bringing supporters and communities together to protect biodiversity
We enable communities around the world to take effective action for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development by acting as a conduit between supporters and communities, co-designing local models for action.
Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI)
The foundation supports the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI) and similar organisations and communities around the world. Our aim is to build a better future for humans and wildlife though effective environmental education, conservation, regeneration and by supporting sustainable economic development.
Our Approach
Our Approach
At the heart of what we do is the belief that action for a sustainable future must be co-designed and created by communities and supporters working together. We are:
Community-led.
We trust communities to guide us as to where our support will make the most difference.
Hands-on.
We work at the front-line of conservation, directly with communities. Through us, supporters and communities connect and build a relationship that benefits both.
Inclusive.
We are inclusive and committed to fair and equal access to opportunity. We celebrate the range of skills, knowledge and life experiences of all those who work with us, whether community or funder.
Determined.
Communities and nature around the world face enormous challenges. We are determined to take action now.
Accountable.
We are fully accountable to the communities and supporters who choose to put their trust in us. We are transparent at every stage of our work – around who funds us, the communities and projects funding reaches, and the impact of our work.
Trustees
Our experienced board of trustees work to safeguard the organisation’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development across the globe.
Rhoda Phillips
CHAIR & FOUNDER
Sef Carandang
SECRETARY
Claire Weeks
TREASURER
Kaila Trebol
TRUSTEE
Gerry Ledesma
TRUSTEE
Richard Friedberger
TRUSTEE
Andy Phillips
TRUSTEE
Debbie Caunce
TRUSTEE
Partners
Communities for Nature offers companies, groups, and individuals an unparalleled opportunity to partner with communities working on the frontline of conservation.
As a supporter, you’ll form a long-term, reciprocal relationship with a community, increasing your knowledge about the locality, conservation, and sustainable development. You’ll see the practical impact of your support, which will always be linked to a specific initiative and not lumped into a non-descript resource fund. This opportunity goes far beyond simple corporate sponsorship. We’re looking for teams who want to play a direct role in creating a sustainable future for all.
Rhoda Phillips
Rhoda’s experience in the public, private and third sectors spans over 20 years, including a 21-year relationship with the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCFI), which began when she became Danjugan Island’s manager and education officer in 2001 and now sees her sitting on the Foundation’s board as a Trustee. She combines her work with Communities for Nature and PRRFCI with her role as CEO of LDN, a business transformation and people development management consulting firm.
Rhoda loves working with people. She finds a huge sense of fulfilment through inspiring others and bringing about positive change in communities and organisations, which she is grateful to be able to do in her conservation, environmental, development and management consulting work.
Sef Carandang
Sef has almost 20 years’ experience in development work, creating sustainable livelihoods with rural communities, protecting the environment, and empowering women and young people. She believes in addressing climate change and plastic pollution, and is passionate about marine conservation and alternative food systems that are healthy, farmer-friendly, and community-focused.
As managing trustee of the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCFI) Sef has various roles, including the operation and promotion of PRRCFI’s Danjugan Island Nature Tourism Program, and Zero Waste advocacy. She also works as a Gender Specialist for the United Nations in the Philippines.
Claire Weeks
Claire is a policy and organisational development specialist with a 17-year track record in UK local government. She works with Executive and Senior Teams to define business strategies and performance management frameworks and as a Lean Practitioner, supports operational teams to deliver service excellence.
Bringing out the best in people is Claire’s passion – supporting them to achieve goals, and allowing them to find deep purpose and meaning in their work and lives. In Claire’s own wider life, she is a busy mum of two children and a keen traveller.
Kaila Trebol
Kaila is a biologist with an abiding professional and personal interest in marine and terrestrial conservation work. She has worked in the field for more than 20 years, holding roles including that of Research Officer for WWF, Education Officer for Negros Forest Ecological Foundation, Art and Education Director for Ocean Adventure and Environmental Interpretation Consultant for GIZ. Currently, she is a Trustee for the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc.
Also a talented artist, Kaila loves to incorporate her art in her environmental education and conservation work.
Gerry Ledesma
As one of the founding members of the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCFI), Gerry is passionate about environmental awareness and conservation. Having been with the PRRCFI since its inception in 1994, he has sat as its president ever since.
Gerry was a pioneer of the youth marine and wildlife camps on Danjugan Island that led to PRRCFI’s creation, and has been instrumental in the transformation of the Island into a focal point for biodiversity conservation, environmental education, zero-waste initiatives and similar programmes.
Richard Friedberger
Richard has spent half of his life working in remote environments and communities and has travelled extensively in 60 countries.
His experience spans working as an expedition leader on Danjugan island in 2001, as a Look and Feel manager for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and more recently becoming a co-founder of Mr and Mrs Benn, a travel management company. He defines himself as an orophile and thalassophile, a lover of mountain and sea, and all that lives in between. Richard is also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Andy Phillips
Dr. Andy Phillips has over 20 years of experience leading innovative technology teams and is currently the Chief Technology Officer at LMAX exchange. With a PhD in Astronomy from London University, Andy has worked on design, build and data analysis for a variety of satellite missions in Solar and X-Ray Astronomy, including managing the Yohkoh Data Archive Centre. He also has an active interest in Open Source and FinTech.
Away from the world of computers, Andy has a keen interest in conservation. He has worked with several charities and foundations in the Caribbean and South East Asia on a variety of marine conservation and conservation education projects, including PRRCFI and Coral Cay Conservation. Andy is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Debbie Caunce
Debbie Caunce is a primary school teacher and leads Key Stage One at Holy Trinity Primary C of E Primary School in Woking, England. A geography graduate of Royal Holloway University in Egham, she is passionate about educating the next generation and sharing her love of nature and care for the environment. Her weekly meetings with the school ‘Eco-Warriors’ ensure green issues are addressed and provide opportunities for children to lead whole school initiatives, involve the community and raise awareness of global environmental issues. The desire to ‘make a difference’ and ‘help people’ is shared with the whole school community.
Debbie has her own non-profit organisation ‘Freddie’s Family’ which recognises the importance of embracing the outdoor classroom for learning. Children with a variety of needs attend equine assisted learning sessions, using ponies and nature to target individual needs and promote well-being. She was also involved with a charity in Kenya for ten years where she taught in orphanages, assisted with projects involving street children and drug rehabilitation and worked alongside play therapists to improve the lives of people in Nakuru.
Having worked with horses since leaving college, she taught riding and equine management to students at Merrist Wood College and travelled to Australia as an event groom where she also learnt to scuba dive. Her father was one of the first divers to work in the Antarctic so she was keen to scuba dive with a purpose as well as for fun and qualified as a rescue diver on her return to England.
In her free time, Debbie can be found planning adventures overseas with her two sons and spending time enjoying nature in the Surrey Hills.
Contact Us
Any questions? Our team would love to hear from you. Get in touch by emailing us at info@communitiesfornature.org or fill in the form below and we will get back to you shortly.