Forests get corporate boost

The CarbonPH Coalition, an alliance of top Philippine companies championing nature-based solutions and sustainable practices, has expressed full support for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' newly announced initiative identifying over 1.18 million hectares of potential forestry investment areas across the country.

The announcement was made during the second session of the CarbonPH Coalition Education Series, recently held at the Aboitiz Tech Space in the Asian Institute of Management, Makati City, which brought together private sector leaders, government officials, and sustainability advocates to explore investment opportunities and innovations in forest and watershed management.

Hosted by the Aboitiz Group, the event was attended by representatives from the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Foundation for Economic Freedom and Sustainability PH, as well as leading companies including SM Investments Corporation, Toyota, Mitsubishi Corporation, Nickel Asia, JG Summit, Shell and SGV & Co.

A highlight of the event was the systematic packaging of potential investment areas, which aims to simplify forestry investments by creating portfolios for land areas, taking into account current land cover, physical conditions, and various climate and financial risks.

“We want to balance sustainability, conservation and investments so we can contribute to the country’s economic growth,” said Atty. Ray Thomas Kabigting, assistant director of the DENR Forest Management Bureau.

Kabigting said DENR’s push for forest-based investments is backed by robust data and safeguards, including climate risk and vulnerability assessments, the establishment of the Satellite Land Monitoring System to track forest cover changes, and the formalization of a Safeguards Information System to uphold social and environmental protections under the REDD+ mechanism.

These national strategies align closely with the goals of the Carbon PH Project, a flagship initiative of Aboitiz Foundation in partnership with the Cebu Provincial Government.

Spanning over 42,000 hectares of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape and adjacent areas, Carbon PH is a long-term forest and watershed recovery effort focused on biodiversity restoration, water security, carbon sequestration, and sustainable livelihoods for forest-dependent communities.

With a project horizon of 25 to 40 years, Carbon PH serves as a model for how corporations can engage in nature-positive investments that deliver measurable impact.

“Forests are vital not only for climate regulation and water security, but also for inclusive economic growth,” said Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, first vice president and chief reputation and sustainability officer of Aboitiz Equity Ventures.

“Through projects like Carbon PH, we are translating climate ambition into action by supporting science-based reforestation while empowering communities.”

As a collective of sustainability-driven companies, the CarbonPH Coalition is committed to supporting DENR’s initiatives with aligned investments, technical expertise, and long-term partnerships.