In this episode we catch up with Anabelle Plantilla, BIOFIN National Coordinator in the Philippine, and Angelique Ogena, Information and Communications Assistant for BIOFIN Philippines. They discuss how the successful crowdfunding campaign 'Together for Tamaraws' was created, promoted and how it will help not only protect a species but also help protect livelihoods.

The online fundraising campaign was set up tp help conservation frontliners affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This campaign is led by the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) project in the Philippines with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through its MIMAROPA Regional Office, plus the Biodiversity Management Bureau.

Dedicated rangers and wardens of the Mounts Iglit-Baco Natural Park (MIBNP) and Tamaraw Conservation Programme (TCP) have been conserving the tamaraw – the world’s rarest and most endangered buffalo species – for decades.

Sadly, one of the 24 TCP rangers together with 32 of the 35 Taw’buid Mangyan wardens who patrol the area to deter tamaraw hunters and poachers, have lost their jobs due to the MINBP’s closure following community quarantine measures. The wardens also serve as guides and porters for tourism and research expeditions. Now only 23 TCP rangers and three MIBNP wardens are expected to patrol a core area of 2500 hectares inside the 106,655-hectare MIBNP, which hosts at least 480 of the world’s 600 remaining tamaraw.

BIOFIN is working to ensure this important work is protected.

Finance for Nature Ep 3: Crowfunding to save Tamaraws

Finance for NatureBy BIOFINFeb 02, 2021