The NBCAP Roadmap was formally handed over to the DENR during the Philippine Mangrove Conference 2026 held in Quezon City on March 26, 2026. This milestone underscores the country’s commitment to coordinated, science‑based, and accountable action for blue carbon ecosystems. Photo from NBCAP Philippines. [L-R, Germaine De Ruña, Project Manager, NBCAP, ZSL- Philippines; Criselda Castor, Section Chief, Coastal and Marine Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Lloyd Cameron Economic and Climate Counsellor, British Embassy Manila; Edwina D. Garchitorena, Country Director, Zoological Society of London – Philippines]
Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, Undersecretary of DENR, welcomed the formal turnover of the NBCAP Roadmap from ZSL to DENR as a milestone for science, governance, finance, and community action. "Mangroves may be overlooked, but they are powerful pillars of resilience. This Roadmap reflects the Philippines' strong commitment to advancing blue carbon accounting and delivering tangible impact for coastal communities," she said.
“The NBCAP Roadmap will provide us with an evidence-based path forward for conserving the Philippines’ rich coastal ecosystems,” added Mariglo Laririt, Assistant Director, Biodiversity Management Bureau, DENR. “By working with our partners across various sectors, we can enhance coastal resilience, support communities, and contribute to national and global climate commitments.”
According to Laririt, the path forward begins with convening the Leadership Steering Committee (LSC) and Technical Working Group (TWG) in April. The NBCAP Structure and Roadmap will then be formalized through a policy instrument, either a DENR Administrative Order or an Executive Order, while a workplan will be developed in parallel and early actions already underway to sustain momentum.
DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau Assistant Director Mariglo Laririt outlines the next steps for the NBCAP Roadmap during the Philippine Mangrove Conference 2026 held at Microtel by Wyndham, UP Technohub, Quezon City. Laririt expressed optimism toward 2030 goals, underscoring the shared responsibility of academe, organizations, and communities in protecting mangrove ecosystems and advancing blue carbon conservation. Photo from NBCAP Philippines.
“Blue carbon ecosystems are critical natural infrastructure underpinning the Philippines’ blue economy. By aligning governance, science, livelihoods, and investment, the NBCAP Roadmap sends a strong signal to global investors and partners that nature-based solutions are key to a climate-resilient economy,” shared Alfredo Giron, Head of Ocean, World Economic Forum.
The Philippines is home to some of Southeast Asia's most ecologically significant blue carbon ecosystems with about 327,000 hectares of mangroves, alongside seagrass beds and tidal marshes. These protect coastlines, sustain livelihoods, and store vast amounts of carbon, but once degraded, they release stored greenhouse gases and threaten the biodiversity that depends on them.
“The handover of the NBCAP Roadmap to the DENR represents a turning point in advancing blue carbon action and strengthening the Philippines’ leadership in coastal conservation in the region,” shared Edwina Garchitorena, Country Director of ZSL Philippines.
The NBCAP Roadmap is anchored on four pillars—science, technology, and innovation, policy governance, communications and community engagement, and finance and sustainable livelihoods—which guide conservation practices, strengthen laws, and empower local communities for long-term resilience.
The Roadmap places coastal communities at the heart of blue carbon action. Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon, Founder and Chairman of Kapunungan sa mga Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC), emphasized, “When we protect mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes, we also protect our fishing grounds—making sure our families and the next generations have an abundant, safe, and healthy future,” highlighting the link between ecosystem health and community well-being.
For Roberto "Ka Dodoy" Ballon, the path to 2030 comes down to four priorities: Policies, People, Program, and Pondo. The Founder and Chairman of Kapunungan sa mga Gagmay'ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC) stressed that coastal communities have been the first line of defense in mangrove protection and that government and science must continue working side by side to sustain that progress.
Science and community collaboration are critical to effectively protecting and conserving mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes, according to Dr. Severino Salmo III, Professor and University Scientist at UP Diliman. "The NBCAP Roadmap provides a clear framework to translate knowledge into action for resilient coastal ecosystems and communities," he added. Central to this scientific foundation is the Blue Carbon Quantification Protocol (BCQP) — developed by Philippine blue carbon scientists and practitioners — which the Roadmap seeks to establish as the national standard for carbon assessment, reducing costs and building nationwide capacity.
The Roadmap seeks to establish a policy and legislative agenda that aligns blue carbon with the emerging national carbon policy, advances local initiatives such as coastal greenbelts, and contributes to broader efforts under the proposed Blue Economy Bill to strengthen legal protections, guide restoration, and support carbon financing and community participation.
Representatives from government agencies, NGOs, academe, youth groups, and local communities gathered for the turnover of the NBCAP Roadmap to the DENR, held during the Philippine Mangrove Conference 2026 in Quezon City. The event closed with a unified commitment to 2030 pathways, reinforcing shared responsibility for the Philippines' blue carbon future. Photo from NBCAP Philippines.
Looking ahead to 2030, the Roadmap aims to expand sustainable livelihoods, enhance protection of blue carbon ecosystems, secure financing, and empower communities through coordinated conservation initiatives.
DENR calls on all stakeholders — including national government agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Department of Transportation (DOTr), alongside local governments, academe, civil society, and the private sector — to come together to protect these ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
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