“We can collectively provide the right guidance for the successful implementation of Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprises. We can contribute to a broader landscape of conservation efforts and sustainability, ensuring that our protected areas and communities thrive.”
Standing proud and firm, For. Arminda P. Andres, the BMB OIC Assistant Director and the Chair of the Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprise (BDFE) Core Group, ensures that th success in the shared mission of biodiversity conservation will be achieved through continuous capacity-building on BDFEs.
It indeed transpired in the insightful and productive Orientation-Workshop on Social Preparation and Business Planning for BDFE cum Policy Consultation and BDFE Roadmapping, held on August 19-23 in Cebu and September 23-26 in Quezon City.
The BDFE program, introduced a few years ago through DENR Administrative Order 2021-13, has been instrumental in advancing the aim to mainstream sustainable livelihoods in the country’s protected areas that align with biodiversity conservation goals. Over the past two years, the BMB has been providing technical assistance, focusing on capacity-building activities for BDFE implementation.
This year, the focus was on social preparation, business planning, policy consultation and roadmapping. Business Fair Trade Consultancy, also known as bizFTC, was once again with biodiversity—extending their support since 2019. They facilitated several activities in the workshop participated by BDFE facilitators from regional and field offices.
Social Preparation
It is crucial for business development to ensure that communities are engaged and empowered in identifying their needs and collaboratively solving problems. This is where social preparation comes in. This process enables enterprises to become more environmentally aware, harness collective abilities, and manage business operations sustainably.
Ms. French Vibar of bizFTC dedicated the second day of the week-long workshop to the lively discussion of social preparation.
Eager to learn about efficient community organization and management, participants were active in conversing about key concepts of BDFE development, the use of different necessary tools, facilitating business planning, and developing a BDFE Development Action Plan.
Nonetheless, among all the topics discussed, one thing that they reflected on the most was the importance of building a good rapport with communities. A huge step in social preparation is establishing relationships with stakeholders by being consistently present and available for guidance—walking with them towards a sustainable future.
Business Planning
Effective business planning is essential for determining how organizational assets will be utilized to achieve the goals of any venture. In the lens of BDFE, it is a process of defining strategic directions for a business by preparing a defensible market, ensuring sustainable production, implementing effective organization and management, and developing environmental and socio-economic plans.
From the discussion of business planning through a review of related concepts, then to the exchanging of ideas on analysis of market trends and business growth, Ms. Regina Gaza of bizFTC, turned the highly technical activity into an interactive, enjoyable yet insightful experience through the BDFE Game.
Grouped into several teams, participants were tasked to manage and sustain a business. Given a limited amount of capital, their goal was to earn the highest profit while ensuring every member’s health and welfare. When they thought that good selling strategy and frugality were the keys to their success, unpredictable life events posed challenges along the way.
“Strategic planning is important.” The business leader from the winning team in Luzon cluster shared his key takeaway from their unexpected victory. Some even liken business plans to an enterprise’s “bible”. The structured learning activity allowed the participants to practice effective decision-making, especially in the best use of capital for conflicting demands including business needs, social and community requirements and environmental concerns.
Roadmapping and Policy Consultation
Held on the last day of the workshop, the discussion on the policy and roadmapping was fruitful.These two agendas are necessary for updating the BDFE guideline and the appraisal tool, as well as for identifying protected areas and People’s Organizations to be prioritized in the BDFE program.
Highlighting the commitment under the Philippine Development Plan to increase the number of protected areas with established BDFEs, Ms. Hiyas Crisostomo of BMB led the discussion together with the members of the BMB BDFE Core Group. Such talks on BDFE policy and roadmap became avenues for BDFE facilitators from regional and field offices to have a thorough understanding of the guidelines, enabling them to implement them in a way that supports the program’s objectives.
As the bureau is mandated to manage protected areas of the country, the communities living within and around them are also a priority. These communities are not just stakeholders in conservation efforts; they rely on nature’s ecosystem services. It is imperative to make them our partners, our allies, and, most importantly, the stewards of the rich biodiversity seeking to conserve.
Capacitating the BDFE facilitators on various aspects of sustainable business is also capacitating the communities. Promised to re-echo what they have learned, they are dedicated to place the sustainable future of BDFE in their hands.
Starting from weeks filled with knowledge, passion, camaraderie and high hopes for more sustainable biodiversity-friendly enterprises, the BMB is keen and committed to collaboratively achieving our shared mission for the country’s development through biodiversity conservation.