Bukluran

Bukluran works with Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines to map their sacred and protected areas. By documenting the biodiversity of Indigenous-managed land, Bukluran hopes to secure land tenure and the right of self-determination for Filipino Indigenous Peoples and local communities.  

The project was born almost a decade ago out of Filipino Indigenous Peoples’s desire to continue and revive traditional ecosystem stewardship. Since then, they have mapped, inventoried, and registered sixteen Indigenous and community conserved areas (ICCAs) totalling 349,423 hectares through collaborative projects with the Philippine government, the United Nations, and various civil society organisations. These ICCAs stand out for their many biodiverse and culturally significant rivers, springs, and marine ecosystems.  

Coastal Philippine rainforests are highly biodiverse ecosystems. Image: © Chris Scarffe.

As a result, the Philippines is the country with the most registered ICCAs in the world, and Bukluran has shaped a global shift towards recognising the relationship between protecting biodiversity and securing the rights of Indigenous Peoples. They also advocate at the national level for the recognition and protection of ICCAs in the Philippines.  

Synchronicity Earth began supporting Bukluran in 2023. We provide crucial core funding to cover salaries, helping Bukluran gain organisational strength by lessening reliance on volunteers. This, in turn, will allow Bukluran to focus on providing support to Indigenous Peoples protecting coastal ecosystems, wetlands, and biocultural heritage.