Bridging forest restoration, climate resilience, and finance through the Philippines’ Green Assessment and Recovery Framework (GARF)

Bridging forest restoration, climate resilience, and finance through the Philippines’ Green Assessment and Recovery Framework (GARF)

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  Bridging forest restoration,climate resilience, and finance through the Philippines’ Green Assessment and Recovery Framework (GARF) NORALENE M. UY, PhD Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, International Affairs and Climate Change Department of Environment and Natural Resources
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  Non-economic Loss andDamage is often underrepresented in policy and disaster assessments because there are limited tools to measure these impacts compared to economic losses. Hazard Context: ● In December 2021, Typhoon Rai (locally Odette) struck Palawan with unprecedented force, exposing how disasters affect not only infrastructure and livelihoods but also ecosystems that sustain communities. ● Northern and Central Palawan, known for extensive forest systems, biodiversity hotspots, and forest-dependent communities, experienced severe ecological disruption.
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  What is theGreen Assessment & Recovery Framework? A biodiversity and ecosystem-based L&D assessment framework operationalized in the Philippines Purpose Provides structured pre- and post- disaster analyses of ecosystems, biodiversity, and community livelihoods to underpin green recovery planning. Approach Integrates scientific data (remote sensing, species surveys) with citizen science and local community insights for comprehensive ecological assessment. Scope It covers ecosystem health, species impact, habitat suitability, land cover change, ecosystem services loss, and socio-economic dependencies on nature. Developed by USAID-SIBOL consortium: CCIPH, DENR, RTI International, REECS, Forest Foundation Philippines, ZSL
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  The Green AssessmentFramework Let us take a look at Statistics on Loss and Damages in Palawan after Typhoon Rai in 2021.... Green Assessment Stage 2: Analysis and Interpretation Condition Forest (ha) Mangroves (ha) Mixed Vegetation, shrubs, grasslands (ha) Cropland (ha) Plantation (ha) Settlement (ha) Overall Total (ha) Total Area Pre-Rai 222,125 (48%) 12,851 (3%) 187,045 (40%) 23,089 (5%) 10,066 (2%) 8,323 (2%) 463,499 Undamaged Post Rai 96,544 (43%) 6,404 (50%) 179,439 (96%) 21,151 (92 %) 0 3,589 (43%) 307,128 (66%) Damaged (Loss) 125,581 (57%) 6,447 (50 %) 7,606 (4%) 1,938 (8%) 10,066 (100%) 4,733 (57%) 156,371 (34%) Total Emissions (tCO2e) 108,393,208 3,049,280 663,773 33,398 6,669,389 118,809,048
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  Northern and CentralPalawan, which were predominantly closed forests prior to Typhoon Rai (221,125 ha), were reduced to open forests and non-forest areas (125,581 ha) after the event—representing a 57% damage!
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  ● Flora andfauna detection declined post- Typhoon Rai. Connectivity of suitable habitats of several threatened species contracted or have become fragmented. ● Livelihood resources severely affected by damage to forests (57%) and plantations i.e., coconut and fruiting trees (100%) ● Loss of resource-based livelihoods forced communities to seek alternative income sources. Damage to forest products disrupted local resource value chains. ● Sacred grounds and traditional hunting areas were affected. Access to hunting areas declined as wildlife detection decreased. Post-disaster assessment of biodiversity, ecosystems, and ecosystem services
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  Translating GARF Findingsinto Restoration Priorities and Investment Needs (Stage 3) Green Recovery Planning Costed 10-year Green Recovery Plan Identified restoration targets, implementation requirements, and estimated budget needs: A total investment of approximately PHP 1.2 billion (USD 21.4 million) is required to restore damaged ecosystems and support long-term resilience-building efforts in Palawan. Provides an evidence-based investment pipeline that can support local government budgeting, national government funding, donor assistance, and private sector investments Multi-stakeholder Green Recovery Planning Developed through collaboration among DENR, local government units, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and academia to validate assessment findings and identify recovery priorities Tailored Restoration Strategies Application of the Post-Disaster Restoration Catalyst Framework to determine the most appropriate interventions: (1) Protection of intact ecosystems, (2) Spontaneous Natural Regeneration (SNR), (3) Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), (4) ANR with Enrichment Planting, and (5) Monitoring and adaptive management
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  FRAME-ECO: A frameworkfor assessing climate change and disaster-related losses of biodiversity and ecosystem services Advancing loss assessments through FRAME-ECO and Philippine initiatives ● Achieve a better understanding of losses of biodiversity and ecosystem services ● Guide countries through comprehensive assessments of losses related to ecosystem extent, ecosystem condition, including biodiversity, and diverse values of nature and ecosystem services using available data, methodologies and tools ● Support country-level programming to avert, minimize and address these losses
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  Advancing loss assessmentsthrough FRAME-ECO and Philippine initiatives ● Championing FRAME-ECO in the Philippines builds on and complements existing initiatives ○ Green Assessment and Recovery Framework ○ Sukat ng Kalikasan (Measurement of Nature/Nature Metrics) ○ Eco-DRR project (Implemented by CCIPH with DENR) ○ Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) ● Mutual learning and advancements through ○ Methodologies ○ Use cases ○ Perspective of slow onset events ○ Relation of ecosystem and biodiversity losses to hazard context ○ Inclusion of diverse values of nature
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  Key Takeaways Measure whatmatters and turn evidence into action. The Philippine experience shows how ecosystem loss assessments can be translated into recovery priorities and investment-ready strategies. Plan across systems. Alignment with the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), DRR frameworks, and biodiversity and climate priorities strengthens coherence, integration, and impact. Strong government ownership enables scaling. Sustained government leadership is critical to institutionalizing GARF and embedding ecosystem-based recovery within planning, budgeting, and financing processes.
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  Salamat. Danke. Merci.Gracias. Kia ora. Cảm ơn. Misaotra. Kadrin Chhe. Shukran Jazilan. Xièxiè. Terima Kasih. Gamsahabnida. Obrigado. Gamsahamnida. Dhanyavaad. Bayarlalaa. Khop Chai. Som Arkoun. Shukriya. Shukuriyyaa. Rahmat. Рақмет. Gmadlobt. Manana. Sağ olun. Спасибо. Arigatō. Dziękuję. Maturnuwun. Mahalo. Nagode. Vinaka. Henna Thank you! denr.gov.ph | @DENROfficial conservation-innovations.org | @conservationph ccs@denr.gov.ph info@conservation-innovations.org Scan to see GARF in action and explore our impact across the Philippines or visit tinyurl.com/GARFModules