REDD+ Pilot in Puerto Galera Tests Indigenous Forest Protection

In Puerto Galera, northern Mindoro, 56‑year‑old Iraya Mangyan patroller Bernito Pampilo and his team navigate rivers, steep ridges and hidden holes to guard the 14,661‑hectare UNESCO‑designated Biosphere Reserve. Their work is part of the Mindoro Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Programme (MFBCP), a REDD+ initiative led by the Center for Conservation Innovations Philippines Inc. (CCIPH). From 2020 to 2049, MFBCP seeks to conserve more than 40,000 hectares of ancestral forest while supporting roughly 2,500 Iraya households. The programme blends ancestral‑domain recognition, carbon monitoring, Indigenous patrols and livelihood projects. While mobile apps guide patrols to assigned coordinates, they do not always indicate the safest routes, underscoring the challenges of field enforcement in remote terrain.