Deforestation of tropical forests accounts for 12% of all anthropogenic carbon emissions, the second largest contributor behind fossil fuel combustion (van der Werf et al. 2009). Deforestation in tropical regions is also known to be a reliable predictor of bird extinction risk (Brooks et al. 1997) and the impacts of both deforestation and climate change are thought to be especially prevalent in humid tropical forests (Asner et al. 2010).

The Haribon Foundation (BirdLife in the Philippines) has identified the Irid-Angelo Mountains as an area suitable for the conservation initiative, and is working to restore 40,000 hectares of forest in the Sierra Madre alongside a range of stakeholders; the local government, the environment ministry and indigenous people.

The project has gained support through Disney’s Friends for Change: Project Green initiative, where children could vote for environmental projects they believed deserved support, with Haribon’s project at Mount Irid-Angelo being one selected. Engagement and education has therefore been a key part of the project.

This initiative reduces carbon emissions while protecting wildlife such as the Critically Endangered Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi and safeguarding a water catchment for the national capital, Manila.

This case study is taken from ‘The Messengers: What birds tell us about threats from climate change and solutions for nature and people’. To download the report in full click here.