The UP Resilience Institute, through Dr. DJ Darwin Bandoy, Director of the Research and Creative Work Division, contributed to discussions on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and climate-resilient infrastructure during USBONG: A Transdisciplinary Forum on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) held on June 30–July 2, 2026, at Novotel Manila Araneta City, Quezon City.
The forum brought together stakeholders from various sectors to deepen understanding of high-integrity and gender-responsive Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the Philippine context, strengthen connections among ongoing initiatives, and advance the systems, partnerships, and enabling conditions needed for sustained and scalable action. Organized by Forest Foundation Philippines, funded by the Government of Canada, and held in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Asia, USBONG highlighted the importance of collaborative approaches in addressing interconnected climate and environmental challenges.
On Day 2 of USBONG 2026, July 1, 2026, Dr. Bandoy served as a speaker during the Kwentuhan (Fireside Chat): The People’s Survival Fund and Innovative Solutions for Greener Infrastructure, under the theme “NbS and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure.” The session, moderated by Dr. Mary Antonette Beroya-Eitner of Geohazards International, featured discussions with co-speaker LAr. Vic Dul-loog of the Philippine Association of Landscape Architects (PALA) on lessons learned, best practices, and challenges in implementing and advocating for Nature-based Solutions.
The discussion highlighted the importance of strengthening enabling conditions for scaling NbS integration into infrastructure programs, emphasizing the role of science, innovation, and collaboration in advancing climate adaptation and resilience efforts. Day 2 of the forum also featured discussions on NbS for Food Security, NbS in Tourism, and NbS and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure. The program further included a workshop and plenary session exploring the IUCN NbS Self-Assessment Tool, providing participants with opportunities to exchange knowledge and explore pathways for embedding Nature-based Solutions across sectors and scales. The forum underscored the importance of collaboration among sectors in advancing Nature-based Solutions toward a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future for people and nature.
The event also served as a platform for the UP Resilience Institute and NOAH Center (UPRI-NOAH) to showcase its science-based tools and digital innovations during the three-day forum. Through its exhibits, UPRI-NOAH highlighted how hazard science, geospatial technologies, and community-centered approaches can support disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation efforts, complementing the implementation of Nature-based Solutions in the Philippines. (Read more about UPRI-NOAH’s featured innovations and exhibits at USBONG 2026 here: UPRI & NOAH Showcases Nature-Based Solutions Innovations at USBONG 2026)
The forum was co-presented by the Embassy of the Netherlands in the Philippines and the Philippine Red Cross, in partnership with UNDP Philippines, WWF-Philippines, and the UPLB Forestry Development Center, with support from various organizations advancing Nature-based Solutions in the Philippines.