This September was particularly special for the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation (PRRCFI), as we proudly celebrated its founding anniversary—a legacy of commitment to preserving the rich biodiversity of the Philippines.

London, UK. The trustees of Communities For Nature, joined by the Philippine Ambassador to the UK, at the 30th PRRCFI Anniversary celebration to give thanks to the people who have supported the foundation since it’s inception in 1991.

For us, this month also marked a significant milestone in our journey with PRRCFI, as we continue to reflect on our inspiring three-year partnership with them.

Over these years, working alongside PRRCFI has been a transformative experience, deepening our appreciation for the immense power of community and collaboration. In the heart of this partnership, we’ve learned that when people are empowered to take ownership of their own progress, the results are nothing short of remarkable. 🌱

We’ve witnessed firsthand how individuals and entire communities can drive change when given the tools and support to do so. These changes aren’t imposed—they grow from within. Whether it’s restoring coral reefs, preserving rainforests, or fostering sustainable livelihoods, it is the people themselves who become the custodians of their environment. And the results? Incredible, lasting transformations, led by communities, at their own pace and on their own terms.

In the spirit of this collaboration, Project ACE (Actions for Communities and Environment) has played a key role in amplifying these efforts, blending innovation with grassroots action to protect vital ecosystems. We’ve seen how innovative approaches combined with local knowledge can lead to groundbreaking solutions for environmental challenges.

Want to dive deeper into these stories of impact, empowerment, and innovation? We invite you to explore more about Project ACE and the inspiring work we’ve done in collaboration with PRRCFI in our latest magazine.

The mothers of Bulata Small Fisherfolk Association tending to their vegetable garden are the cover photo of the Project ACE Year 2 Magazine

From the shores of Negros to the rainforests of Danjugan Island, the collective efforts of communities, volunteers, and partners like you are making a difference for future generations.

Let’s continue this journey of collaboration, where equity and sustainability isn’t just a goal—it’s a shared mission. 🌍✨

In the heart of Nepal, in the Raksirang Rural Municipality, lies the Chepang community– one of Nepal’s most marginalized indigenous groups. Because of deforestation and unplanned road construction, this community faces the constant threat of landslides during the monsoon, which not only destroy their homes but also their crops and their means of livelihood. 

In comes Bighnaharta Nepal, a youth-led organization that aims to holistically address extreme poverty and the risk of landslides in the area. Founded in 2019 by passionate Nepali youths, they work in various sectors, including ⁠climate action, disaster risk reduction, livelihood upliftment, gender equality and women and youth empowerment using the tools of nature-based solutions, social entrepreneurship, fellowship, research and  evidence based policy advocacy. Their holistic approach ensures that core issues of livelihood, climate change, gender, and food security among marginalized communities are addressed effectively.  Their major priority is to work at the grassroots level keeping the communities at the forefront for greater impact and sustainability of their projects

Currently, one of their projects is with the Chepang Community called Bio-engineering Social Enterprise Dedicated to Disaster Risk Reduction and Livelihood Upliftment,  a community adaptive solution wherein the Chepang people plant broom grass to prevent landslides, and from this crop create brooms and paper. Both provide sustainable livelihood for the community.

A Project with Purpose

The project initiated by Bighnaharta Nepal aims to address the dangers of landslides, establish a sustainable means of living, and ensure food security for the Chepang community through the plantation of broom grass or “amriso” (Thysanolaena maxima) in landslide-prone areas. The results have been nothing short of miraculous. The risk of landslides has been reduced by 90%, benefiting 1,610 Chepang households across all nine wards of the municipality. These families, who once relied on daily labor for survival, now have a sustainable source of income and a more secure future.

CfN is absolutely thrilled to be partnering with them and supporting the growth and evolution of this bio-engineering project.

“Bighnaharta Nepal has a good track record of helping the Chepang community secure a brighter future. I am very excited about the project expansion, particularly the goal to plant 1 million broom grass saplings over the next couple of years.” says CEO Rhoda Phillips 

A Brighter Future

Ultimately, the journey of Bighnaharta Nepal and the Chepang community is a testament to the power of nature and community-driven initiatives. 

Executive President and Co-founder Gomesh Singh Upreti says, “We are looking into establishing a community run resource center making a creative space for the communities to grow even more, create more job opportunities and ultimately uplift the entire local economy of the municipality. With the right resources and support, even the most vulnerable communities can rise above challenges and thrive. We are happy about this new partnership with Communities for Nature. We are really looking forward to the good things we can do together”

photo c/o Bighnaharta Nepal

Let’s celebrate and support such initiatives that bring hope and change to the world, one step at a time. 

[all photos c/o Bighnaharta Nepal]

Passport? Check.

Swimsuit? Check.

Change the world? Check.

Does this list sound strange to you?  Perhaps not, as mindful travel is fast becoming a global trend these days.

The UK market for travel, from Office of National Statistics data, represents $76.7 billion spent in 2022 alone. And by the end of 2024, an optimistic projection for outbound tourism would reach 86.9 million trips! And with the European Green Deal pushing for a carbon-neutral continent by 2050, the travel industry is definitely going to need to do its part as it plays a massive part in shaping the planet’s sustainability agenda. Through a blend of innovation and responsibility, the steadily growing industry is striving to minimize its environmental footprint and reimagine how it operates, from embracing fuel-efficient transportation options to adopting eco-friendly practices in accommodations.  

We, at Communities for Nature, want to help “traveling for good” become even easier for people  around the world by partnering with Charitable Travel, a unique social enterprise that  goes above and beyond the traditional travel agency business model. They focus on purpose over profit, donating surplus profit from all sales to charity; with 5% of the holiday price to the charity of choice.

From exotic getaways to relaxing cruises, a traveler is able to choose from a wide range of holiday options to suit every traveler’s taste and budget. But here’s the best part: with every booking, the traveler has the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. With no additional fees, 5% of the travel costs goes straight to the Charitable Travel’s  JustGiving website and can make a real difference to local communities. 

Charitable Travels Chief Executive Officer Melissa Tilling agrees, ”More and more travelers are championing responsible tourism practices and engaging with destinations respectfully and supporting local communities.”

She further shares, “ Through purpose driven social enterprise we can help our customers have fabulous and much needed holidays whilst helping them support great causes like Communities for Nature at no extra cost.”

Rhoda Phillips CEO and Chair says, “Partnering with Charitable Travel was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make. We both share a dedication to building a sustainable future for all. Charitable Travel’s commitment to curate travel experiences that benefit both  the environment and communities aligns perfectly with our mission at Communities for Nature: to make a positive environmental impact on the communities that need it the most. Personally, I love knowing that every time I travel with Charitable Travel, I am not only enjoying a great holiday but also making the world a better place..”

Ultimately, when booking with Charitable Travel we are reminded that the world is a vast and diverse tapestry of people, cultures, and landscapes, and that we all have a role to play in shaping a brighter future for generations to come.

To learn more about how you can plan your next adventure with Charitable Travels (and support Communities for Nature), visit their website at https://charitable.travel/communities-for-nature/.

Have you heard about the term “blue carbon”?

Coined in 2009, the term refers to the carbon captured and stored by oceanic and coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes. According to an article by NOAA titled “Understanding Blue Carbon”, these ecosystems are powerhouse carbon sinks that play a critical role in mitigating the impacts of global warming because of their immense potential to sequester carbon dioxide more efficiently than terrestrial forests, storing it for centuries in their biomass and underlying sediments.

One of the most thrilling aspects of blue carbon is its dual benefit of promoting environmental health and supporting human communities. By protecting and restoring these ecosystems, we can enhance biodiversity, bolster coastal protection against storms and erosion, and provide sustainable livelihoods for local populations through activities such as eco-tourism and sustainable fishing.

With all the excitement surrounding the concept of Blue Carbon habitats, there is one organization in the Philippines advocating for the restoration and protection of these ecosystems. They are Oceanus Conservation,  CfN’s latest community partner! 

Oceanus Conservation is a science-based, non-profit environmental organization that has been working with communities on mangrove habitat restoration in Mindanao and La Union since 2021. To date they have successfully planted 15,915 mangrove saplings and monitored 71 hectares of mangrove forests – quite an impressive feat for a small team. Oceanus Conservation credits this success to the initiatives of the local communities and the local governments that they work with. Moving forward with CfN, they shall be working on project expansion in the areas of Northern Luzon and South Negros.

Oceanus Conservation co-founder and Director, Camille Rivera says, “It is truly exciting to work with groups who are aligned with our values. With CfN we are one in our holistic approach to conservation, recognizing the intrinsic link between healthy ecosystems and thriving communities. Combining our strengths, we really hope to make a profound impact on both the environment and the lives of those who depend on it. I look forward to the innovative solutions and meaningful progress of this collaboration. “

“I am excited about our new partnership with Oceanus and the powerful combination of our shared commitment to conservation and community engagement”, says CfN’s Founder and Chair Rhoda Phillips. “Together, we will create lasting positive change for our planet and its communities.”

In the next few months, CfN and Oceanus Conservation will build on blue carbon initiatives.  The convergence of ecological preservation, community enablement, and climate action in blue carbon projects represents a beacon of hope and a testament to the transformative power of community-led,  nature-based solutions. Stay tuned!

The island of Borneo is considered by many to be the “lungs of Southeast Asia”  with its rainforest and peatland ecosystems storing immense amounts of biodiversity. These ecosystems are also home to some of the world’s most endangered species like the Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) and Bornean Orangutan(Pongo pygmaeus). Indonesia’s portion of the island of Borneo is called Kalimantan.

Alam Sehat Lestari (ASRI), a multi-awarded non-profit organization dedicated to the health of our planet, has been working hard to halt and reverse forest degradation in Kalimantan. They have been working together with local communities and the government to restore the forests of Western Kalimantan’s Gunung Palung National Park (GPNP), a critical conservation area. The success of their reforestation program yielded very promising results. According to a 10-year study by Stanford University scientists that culminated in 2020, the impact of ASRI’s community-led solutions showed a dramatic drop in logging households, stabilization of primary forest loss and 21,000 hectares of secondary forest regrowth. This was very good news to 2,500 Bornean orangutans. Additionally, infant mortality rates decreased by 67% and overall health conditions improved drastically.  ASRI’s hard work in West Kalimantan has earned them the Ashden Award for Natural Climate Solutions in 2022.

Due to the success already achieved, ASRI intends to expand their program to the eastern part of the protected area. This is where Communities for Nature comes in. ASRI’s aim is to increase access to healthcare, regenerative livelihoods and planetary health education. They attribute the positive impact of their current programs to two principles: Planetary Health and Radical Listening, both unique and compassionate approaches to halting the degradation of their forests. CfN is aligned with these principles and is excited to work with ASRI in the next coming months.

ASRI and CfN’s partnership will focus on the  following three flagship programs:

1. Health care expansion through bringing mobile clinics to more villages inside and around the GPNP, accepting seedlings as non-cash payments for health services.
2. Support for former loggers through expanding sustainable livelihood and sustainable farming practices. Support for the Chainsaw Buyback Program which will provide capital for the former loggers’ small businesses.
3. Youth camps and social media action that is aimed towards a  40% increased interest in Planetary Health.

CfN happily welcomes ASRI as our newest partner in conservation! We are so grateful for this collaboration and look forward to supporting their exciting programs in these coming months.

If you or your company are interested in getting involved, please write to us at info@communitiesfornature.org.

[featured photo c/o ASRI]

One of the main visions for Communities for Nature (CfN) is to help raise the next generation of conservationists. You will hear us harp about the importance of educating the youth over and over again – and we will not apologise! We provide education and skills training in many different ways, but one is through immersive learning opportunities for ALL students of the world, often with our partner Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc (PRRCFI). 

Recently, we treated 300 enthusiastic primary students from Holy Trinity School in Surrey, England to an unforgettable virtual adventure of Danjugan Island, Philippines – all from the comfort of their classrooms. Danjugan is a 48-hectare island rich in biodiversity. It has five lagoons, white sand beaches, bat caves, lush limestone and mangrove forests and is surrounded by vast seagrass beds and fringing coral reefs. It is a marine sanctuary and an environmental education destination.

To share the unique wonders of the island and the importance of conservation, CfN took students on a virtual exploration via Zoom of the different ecosystems and precious wildlife that inhabit the island. Through virtual instruction, videos and trivia games, the students learned how corals, sea eagles, sharks, bats, snakes, sea horses (and more!) survive and thrive in their natural habitat. They learned about the pros and the cons of the environment, including tougher topics, such as climate change and pollution.

Among the students was a team of Eco Warriors, a group of passionate ambassadors at the  school dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment. They helped steer the conversation with smart questions and comments throughout. After the virtual experience the students used worksheets to test their newfound knowledge and engage in lively class discussions about nature and the interconnectedness of living things.

Debbie Caunce, a Form 1 teacher said, “Virtual experiences such as the one CfN and PRRCFI provide are absolutely necessary in early education. They pull young children out of their everyday classroom and plant them in an exciting new environment that brings a deeper level of understanding of the world around them. My class loved the opportunity to learn from CfN and PRRCFI and understand their (very!) different world from ours in England. I could just see their minds at work! Thinking about how important it is to care about the climate, the flora and fauna, the animals, our Earth, and, now, our new friends at CfN and PRRCFI.” 

Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc (PRRCFI), the foundation that owns and manages Danjugan Island, has taught more than 2000 youth and 100 scholars about the value of wildlife conservation for over three decades. Its credo is “TODAY’S YOUTH ARE TOMORROW’S CONSERVATIONISTS”.  This educational activity ties in as part of CfN’s continuing work with PRRCFI. 

We look forward to reconnecting with the students at Holy Trinity School again in the future. To continue to fight climate change together, from all around the world.

No matter what age, where or how children live or learn, we truly believe they are the changemakers for the future.

Photo by Kaila Trebol.

From setting up our first partnership between LMAX Group and the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Inc (PRRCFI) to our founder Rhoda Phillips securing an exclusive interview with a local newspaper, we couldn’t be prouder of everything we’ve achieved in just a few short months.

FinTech focus

Back in January our press launch caught the attention of a number of publications across a broad spectrum of sectors, ranging from fintech to the environment. The fintech press were the first to cover our launch: The Fintech Times, followed shortly after by Stocks News.

It has been great to see how we are reaching others through the connections we have made under the ACE partnership – here, specifically thanks to our work with global fintech company LMAX Group.

On the green scene

Soon after, environmental publications like Environment Journal and Green Business Journal  followed suit, breaking news of our launch across their respective platforms. We were delighted: we hold the environment very close to our hearts here at Communities for Nature, and to be able to share our knowledge and mission with other like-minded people within the green community means so much to us.

The Chiswick Calendar

Most recently, Rhoda was interviewed by Bridget Osborne, Editor of The Chiswick Calendar, where she had the opportunity to share how she set off on the path that led her to Communities for Nature.

Taking Bridget on a whistle stop tour of how she fell in love with Danjugan Island in the early 2000s, Rhoda spoke of her time as the island’s manager in 2001, and its history of various efforts to preserve the island’s precious flora and fauna – ranging from the fight to save the island’s ‘eagle tree’, where pairs of white bellied sea eagles had been nesting since 1974; to the time Rhoda boarded an illegal fishing boat, refusing to leave until the authorities had arrived.

A quick thank you…

Rhoda’s dedication to protecting the environment is shared by all of us at Communities for Nature, and we are well and truly committed to doing everything we can to preserve the beauty of our natural world. But we couldn’t have made it this far without the help of our friends and supporters.

We’d like to take this chance to thank all of you who have been involved in our journey to a more sustainable future. We look forward to what lies ahead – 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year.

Photo by Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation 

This week, with the release of our new website, we are now ready to share our story and begin to galvanise action on environmental challenges around the world.   

Our vision is to support communities working with nature to build a sustainable future for all.  

Our aim is to facilitate long term, productive relationships between corporate supporters and individual communities seeking input on projects linked to the environment or sustainable development.  

As we build our network of supporters and communities around the world, our focus will be on bringing communities and their supporters together to co-create solutions that deliver results. Every project we back will deliver on environmental education, conservation or regeneration; or around sustainable economic activity.   

This is a fresh approach, but through our long-standing connection with the PRRCFI we have seen just how effective it is when local communities lead the way in establishing front line educational and environmental projects.  

What happens next?  

With the LMAX / PRRCFI partnership up and running and already delivering results we’re actively exploring new opportunities.  

If you are a corporate looking for a chance to make a meaningful difference in conservation or sustainable development we want to hear from you.  

If you’re a community with a project you would like to get off the ground, then contact us.  

Let’s build a sustainable future for us all.  

Photo by Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation 

Communities for Nature has helped arrange a new partnership between LMAX Group, the global financial technology company and the leading independent operator of multiple institutional execution venues for FX and crypto currency trading, and the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCFI).

This one year ‘Actions for Communities and Environment’ partnership between the UK-based financial tech company and Filipino Foundation was announced earlier this year, just as PRRCFI was celebrating 28 years of its conservation work. In a fitting recognition of this legacy, the new partnership with LMAX will allow PRRCFI to both continue and strengthen its leading conservation and educational work and realise its vision of wildlife and people in harmony for a sustainable future. 

Funding from the new joint initiative will be channelled into education on sustainable development and providing local communities with the tools for ecotourism. This will include sustainability scholarships, conservation research, and capacity-building sessions and equipment support for ecotourism. 

PRRCFI works with local communities in the marine protected area of Danjugan Island, Brgy. Bulata, Cauayan, and Negros Occidental, in the Philippines on a whole range of biodiversity conservation, education and sustainable development initiatives. You can read more about PRRCFI’s work and history here.