Masungi Georeserve Made It To The 2022 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Action Awards

Masungi Georeserve Foundation (MGF) bagged the 2022 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Action Awards for the Inspire category and bested more than 3,000 movements and aspiring changemakers that applied to the competition.

UN SDG heralded the Philippines’ conservation project for its huge collective efforts in championing rainforest protection and restoration. With over 150 nations onboard, the ceremony was celebrated in Bonn, Germany on September 27, 2022.

Trustees and co-founders Ann and Billie Dumaliang traveled all the way from PH to Europe to accept the award. In her speech, Billie addressed both the backers and adversaries of their advocacy.

She said, “I would like to dedicate this award, first and foremost, to our rangers and our team who are getting their hands and feet dirty to defend our remaining forests. I would also like to dedicate this award to our partners, our past visitors, our allies in and outside of government, and our entire community for helping us get this far.”

Located in the province of Rizal, Philippines, Masungi Georeserve is a refuge for a multitude of flora and fauna that makes its rainforest preserve a wildlife paradise. The limestone formations of the landmark forest is also a must-see for visitors and vacationers who are sojourning the privately-led park for a nature retreat.

The 2,100-hectare property is home to effective environmental practices, research projects, strategic models and solutions in conservation, and community stewardship.

Armed with its transformative solutions to tackle antagonistic forces that flat-out harm natural habitats, the foundation helped form Philippine public policies that promote action and inaction accountability with assistance from their collaborators and constant associates.

With her head held high, Billie managed to convey a message for their challengers as well. She worded, “We would like to also dedicate this award to our opponents, to the quarrying companies and the land grabbers, their enablers in government, to the people who have said that we are dreaming too big—that this is the way things have always been, and that we are pushing too far. This is for you. This is a reminder that we will not stop—that we will win in the end with our energy and creativity.”

Lead photos from @masungigeoreserve