The Woman Fighting to Save the Philippines’ Last Rainforests
Conservationist Karina May Reyes, known as KM, is dedicated to safeguarding the Philippines’ last rainforests. Despite the Palawan region being designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO and home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it faces numerous threats from mining activities, illegal wildlife trafficking, climate change, and deforestation. Data from Global Forest Watch indicates that Palawan experienced the highest tree cover loss in the Philippines from 2001 to 2023.
Reyes and her team at the nonprofit organization Centre for Sustainability PH (CS) are working to preserve the remaining rainforests by establishing national parks. Their inaugural project in 2014 focused on Cleopatra’s Needle, a mystical mountain in Palawan, which is among the oldest and most diverse forests in the Philippines. This area serves as a refuge for several threatened and endemic species, including the Palawan hornbill, bearcat, and pangolin.
The team collaborates with the indigenous Batak tribe, who depend on the natural resources of the surrounding forest for their livelihoods. Their efforts culminated in 2017 when the entire Cleopatra’s Needle region was designated a critical habitat, prohibiting mineral extraction, logging, quarrying, and wildlife trade. Currently, their focus has shifted to Sultan Peak, which lacks formal protection and is vulnerable to mining operations due to its rich nickel deposits.
Reyes is optimistic that they can secure protection for the area within three years. However, despite obtaining community support and gathering extensive scientific data, obstacles persist. She emphasizes the need for political backing to endorse legislation for the region’s protection, highlighting the broader significance of preserving these regions for biodiversity and shielding vulnerable communities from climate change impacts.
