In the face of rising sea levels and environmental degradation, a movement is taking root in Capiz—one driven by the passion and determination of young leaders. Certainly, BayBayanihan sa Capiz: Climate Awareness & Action Workshop isn’t just a workshop; it’s a movement for climate resilience that empowers youth with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience to create real change in their communities. Oceanus Conservation and Global Landscapes Forum (GLFx) have been proud partners in empowering communities and strengthening grassroots conservation efforts. This activity is part of the GLFx Mindanao Chapter Internship Program. Empowering 44 Capiznon Youth for Conservation and Climate...
Women Empower Women: Strengthening Livelihoods in Surigao del Sur
Last February, the Bitaugan West Fisherfolk Association in Surigao del Sur participated in a livelihood project – Bangus Products Processing training, with most of the attendees being women. This initiative, supported by Oceanus Conservation and the Blue Marine Foundation, aims to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities while reinforcing the restoration of mangrove ecosystems. The milkfish used in this training (and in the kickstart of this livelihood project) are grown around the very mangrove forests that Oceanus is working to rehabilitate, ensuring that conservation and community development go hand in hand. Passing on Local Knowledge One of the most inspiring aspects of...
Ocean Adventures with Cory reaches young learners in Guimaras!
Last January 24, 2025, the UP Ichthyophilic Society (UPIS) and Oceanus Conservation joined forces in Guimaras, an island province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region, for a meaningful event dedicated to raising awareness and deepening young people’s understanding of coral reefs. Hosted at the Fiscal Jose M. Zambarrano Sr. Memorial School, this storytelling and donation drive brought together a diverse group of participants. This includes UPIS members, local government representatives, teachers, and, most importantly, 59 enthusiastic students! All were eager to learn about and connect with the wonders of coral reef ecosystems. A Collaborative Effort The event...
25,000 Mangrove Saplings and Counting: Reviving Bitaugan West Through Community Action
With the support of the Blue Marine Foundation, we successfully wrapped up the project’s first year of mangrove rehabilitation activities. In partnership with the Bitaugan West Fisherfolks Association (BWFA), we planted the last batch of mangrove saplings, 9,764, hitting our target of 25,000 saplings for the year! The BWFA, with 55 members (24 women and 31 men), actively participated in this crucial project phase. This milestone is a testament to the power of community involvement in environmental conservation. The success of this initiative also reflects the continuous support and partnership between Oceanus Conservation and BWFA, ensuring the effective implementation of...
AI can help us save mangroves. We want to do better, starting with Bislig City.
We have seen the potential of AI in supporting our conservation work. Figures 1-2. Workshop participants during the Community-Based Rehabilitation and Conservation Training last December 3-4. Sources: Andreu Bayongasan, Oceanus Conservation; Dafrose Bajaro, Thinking Machines In 2022, Oceanus partnered with Thinking Machines Data Science and Gainforest to improve monitoring of mangrove forests through mobile data collection and drone imagery. By using digital forms to collect data and uploading collected mobile and drone photos to the cloud, we found that there are various AI applications, specifically machine learning, that can be used. We saw the possibility of computing Above Ground Biomass...
Two local community associations trained for sustainable livelihood by 2025
The Bitaugan West Fisherfolks Association (BWFA) and Aras-asan Coastal Fisherfolks Association (ACFA), play an important role in mangrove rehabilitation and conservation in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur. Oceanus Conservation, with the support of Blue Marine Foundation, a UK-charity foundation, conducted series of trainings to enhance the leadership and organizational capacities of two local community associations. The team focused on critical skills for effective community governance and financial management as this will prepare them for the livelihood program to be conducted by the first quarter of 2025. The Leadership and Governance Training aims to equip participants with essential leadership skills, conflict resolution...
Oceanus Conservation at the 13th Asian Bird Fair: A Heartfelt Thank You!
Last November 2024, Oceanus Conservation had the incredible opportunity to attend our first international event at the 13th Asian Bird Fair. We are deeply grateful for the amazing turnout and the overwhelming support we received from everyone who visited our booth! We sincerely thank the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) for inviting us to participate in this prestigious event! Especially to the Asian Bird Fair (ABF) for providing such a dynamic platform for conservationists and bird enthusiasts across Asia. Special thanks go to Mike Lu, President of WBCP and co-founder of ABF, for his unwavering support! And to...
Sibugay Wetland Nature Reserve: A New Ramsar Site in the Philippines
The Sibugay Wetland Nature Reserve (Site no. 2552) has been officially recognized as the ninth (9th) Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) in the Philippines! Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay, part of the Sibugay Wetland Nature Reserve, is one of Oceanus’ key project sites. Oceanus Conservation has partnered with the Kapunungan sa Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC), led by local champion Mr. Robert “Ka-Dodoy” Ballon. Since 2022, this collaboration has focused on mangrove restoration, capacity building, and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities through environmental conservation efforts, specifically on mangroves and their associated wildlife. The area boasts thriving mangrove forests and...
Advancing Mangrove Conservation: A Successful Workshop and Policy Roll-Out in Iloilo City
From August 19-23, 2024, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) hosted a week of productive training workshop on Science-Based Mangrove Rehabilitation Methods in Iloilo City. This event was held alongside the Policy Roll-Out of Department Memorandum Order No. 2024-01, which focuses on the Immediate Assessment of Abandoned, Undeveloped (Unused), and Underutilized (AUU) Areas. Additionally, following the guidelines set forth in another Memorandum Secretary No. 2024-54 on Supplemental Guidelines for Enrichment Planting of Mangroves and Related Activities for Biodiversity Conservation and Coastal Resiliency, the event featured a combination of science-based theoretical discussions and on-site training. Key highlights...
Happy International Mangrove Day!
Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration: A Joint Effort by Oceanus Conservation and Bitaugan West Fisherfolks Association Author: Emmanuel Cababarros Jr. Oceanus Conservation in partnership with the Bitaugan West Fisherfolks Association (BWFA), conducted an ecological restoration initiative from June 25 to July 2, 2024, in Barangay Bitaugan West, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur. This collaborative effort focused on the restoration and reversion of degraded fishponds into a mangrove area, which are crucial for coastal protection, biodiversity, and the livelihood of the local communities. Over the course of the week-long initiative, 55 dedicated members of BWFA and Oceanus, planted a total of 1,400 seedlings...