The Philippines is one of 17 mega diverse countries, harboring more diversity of life per hectare than any other country in the world. Yet encroachment in forested areas, pollution, over fishing and poor land management practices are leading to biodiversity loss at an alarming rate. Through the UNDP’s Biodiversity Financing Initiative (BioFin), the DENR-BMB has determined the financing gap of implementing the PBSAP, estimated to be at least P334 billion ($7.4 billion) over the next 13 years (P24 billion annually). This covers actions on: forest, coastal and marine, inland wetlands, caves and cave systems, protected areas, invasive alien species, agrobiodiversity, access and benefit-sharing and urban biodiversity.

P334 billion needed for biodiversity conservation. (2015, December 22). The Manila Times, p. B8.