Manila: Negros Occidental has been recognized for its conservation story titled 'Municipal Waters in Harmony: Negros Occidental's Legacy in the 7th Ramsar Site' during the Good Stories Movement 2026 awarding ceremony on Thursday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) head Julie Ann Bedrio received the certificate of global gratitude from Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., and renowned environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr. at the DENR Social Hall in Quezon City.
The citation highlighted the province's efforts in addressing its shrinking coastline by establishing a network of coastal greenbelts and wetlands conservation areas across 10 municipalities and cities. Through strong collaboration among local government units (LGUs), community participation, and environmental governance, mangrove cover in the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA) increased significantly from 560 hectares to 1,436.8 hectares.
Additionally, the initiative led to an increase in migratory bird populations, improved fish catches, and the development of sustainable livelihoods. Efforts were supported by women-led mangrove planting, youth-driven biodiversity monitoring, and community-based environmental law enforcement.
In 2016, NOCWCA was designated as a Wetlands of International Importance Site No. 2,271, becoming the seventh Ramsar site in the Philippines and the first in Western Visayas and Negros Island Region. It remains the only Ramsar site in the country managed locally through strong collaboration among LGUs and communities.
A Ramsar site is a wetland recognized as internationally important under the Ramsar Convention, established in 1971. The PEMO described the NOCWCA story as a testament to community-driven conservation efforts, harmonized policies, and a vision of resilience and sustainability that serves as an inspiration to other provinces and countries.
The Good Stories Movement 2026, themed 'Intergenerational Stewardship: The Future Begins with A Good Story,' is presented by the DENR, the Good Stories Movement, and partner institutions, including the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, Consortium for Ecological Law-New York, Asia-Pacific Consortium for Environmental Law-Singapore, Normandy Chair for Peace-France, and Environmental Law Program-University of Hawaii.
