Ubá believes in equitable and inclusive development. Thus, community engagement and local participation are key to the success of all our projects. In the Philippines, we have started consulting communities in potential project areas for their insights and sentiments on the management and preservation of their mangrove forests.
Community engagement is essential for blue carbon projects for a variety of reasons. Principally, coastal communities often have invaluable knowledge of their local ecosystems. Their traditional practices and understanding of the environment can provide crucial insights for effective management and restoration efforts. Moreover, engaging local communities, particularly at the early stages of the project, fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility for the mangrove ecosystems in their area. In the long run, this can ensure sustainable management practices and encourage active community participation in monitoring and enforcement. Finally, involving locals in conservation efforts respects their cultural heritage and strengthens the bond between people and nature.
Ubá Sustainability Institute is working closely with its partners Blue Finance (https://blue-finance.org) and Blue Alliance Philippines (https://blueallianceph.carrd.co) to establish a blue carbon project in the Philippines. Together with local governments and communities, our initiative endeavors to conserve and restore the remaining mangrove forests in Northern Oriental Mindoro. Concurrently, we aim to create and develop a financial structure for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), notably with a blended-finance approach, to protect more than 30,000 ha. of coral reefs in the Coral Triangle in the Philippines.
Alongside our project partners, Ubá would like to express our utmost appreciation to the barangay local government of Nag-iba II for generously welcoming our team to their community. Maraming salamat po!