Press Release: A Sustainable Commitment to Coastal Protection and Livelihood La Union, Philippines—In celebration of “Month of the Ocean”, Security Bank has taken a bold step toward environmental sustainability by planting 940 native mangrove seedlings alongside the Dulao Fishpond and Fishpen Producers Cooperative, in collaboration with Oceanus Conservation and Communities for Nature. This initiative marks the first year of Project MITHI, which is currently at 4940 planted seedlings out of 10,000 mangrove seedlings to strengthen coastal ecosystems and community resilience. The volunteer-driven initiative saw 43 Security Bank employees from nine branches—including representatives from the Head Office and locations in La...
Staying Open: Lessons from the Asia Landscape Leadership Camp in Bogor
By: Emmanuel Cababarros Jr. On April 21–23, I had the privilege of attending the Asia Landscape Leadership Camp in Bogor, Indonesia—an experience that deeply shaped my perspective on conservation and leadership. As the Project Leader at Oceanus Conservation and a member of GLFx Mindanao, this was not just my first time traveling abroad but also one of the most impactful learning journeys I’ve had. Building Leadership for Sustainable Landscapes Held at CIFOR-ICRAF, the camp was organized by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLFx) to bring together young landscape leaders across Asia. It provided tools, connections, and perspectives to strengthen our leadership, ensuring it is rooted in community, justice, and sustainability....
Biodiversity on Lens: Youth Citizen Science in Action
The role of youth in environmental conservation is becoming increasingly vital. Citizen science is one of the most effective tools for engaging young people in hands-on environmental conservation work. One exciting initiative under the Global Landscape Forum (GLFx) Mindanao Chapter is the Biodiversity on Lens: Youth Citizen Science in Action. This initiative brought together youth participants from all over the Philippines to learn, identify, and document species! Through this activity, 22 enthusiastic participants from provinces across the Philippines engaged in meaningful conservation efforts! With the guidance of expert facilitators, participants learned how to use citizen science tools like iNaturalist. They...
“BayBayanihan sa Capiz”: What Happens When Youth Lead the Charge for Climate Action?
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...