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The forests of Panay Island, a major Philippine island in the Western Visayas, have been heavily degraded over decades of logging, mining, and slash-and-burn agriculture. Nationwide, only about 3% of old-growth forests remain.
Tree cover loss has hurt biodiversity. It has also weakened local water systems, raised landslide risks, and added to carbon emissions. Addressing these challenges requires combining ecological restoration with innovative finance and technology solutions.
Recent talks in the Philippines highlight how technology can boost reforestation. This method speeds up forest recovery. It also improves monitoring and links ecological results to carbon finance.
In December 2025, a key forum in Iloilo gathered government agencies, academics, the military, and civil society. They discussed using drones, AI mapping, and other tools to restore Panay’s damaged landscapes. The Sulu Garden Foundation (SGF) hosted the event.
SGF is a Panay-based nonprofit engaged in ecological restoration and community-focused reforestation. The organization works on research-informed planting strategies, supports biodiversity conservation in degraded landscapes, and works with local stakeholders to improve forest recovery.
These efforts build on programs like the National Greening Program (NGP) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. In 2022, the NGP planted nearly 2 million seedlings over 2,818 hectares.
The NGP is a big step for reforestation, but experts say past projects often had trouble. They rarely reached long-term survival rates of over 50%. This was especially true in steep, remote, and fire-prone areas. It underscores the need for precision tools, adaptive planning, and integrated community participation.
Re-Greening Panay: Science and Community at the Forefront
The Central Panay Mountains span about 65 miles and reach around 7,000 feet. They are one of the Philippines’ key biodiversity hotspots. These mountains are home to endemic species, many of which are threatened by habitat loss.
Deforestation, illegal logging, and unsustainable farming practices continue to erode forest cover, contributing to soil erosion and downstream flooding.
SGF’s reforestation initiatives in Panay focus on three core elements:
- ecological restoration grounded in research,
- community-led stewardship, and
- sustainable finance mechanisms through carbon credits.
Connecting forest restoration to clear carbon results helps local efforts cut CO₂ emissions from deforestation. This also creates incentives for landowners and communities to protect forests. The approach also provides a framework for integrating small-scale initiatives with national nature-based climate strategies.
A Strategic Partnership with Ukraine: Drones for Forests
Amid these developments, international collaboration is playing an important role. The Philippines and Ukraine are looking into working together on drone technology. They aim to share knowledge and possibly produce drones together for defense and research.
SGF recognizes the potential of these tools for reforestation. The organization plans to test drone-assisted mapping, seed dispersal, and monitoring. These tools will help tackle challenges from rugged terrain and scattered planting areas.
At the December forum, Ukrainian Ambassador Yuliia Fediv met with Philippine representatives. They talked about how drones and AI can aid in hybrid reforestation. This method combines fast-growing pioneer species with slower-growing native trees. The goal is to mimic natural regrowth.
Drone-assisted mapping helps project teams check if land is suitable, improve planting density, and track seedling survival in real time. These tasks are hard to do with traditional ground methods.
Technical advisers noted that these tools could boost seedling survival rates. Instead of the usual 30–50%, rates might exceed 80%. This depends on the terrain and species mix. They help quickly find areas hit by fires, pests, or illegal logging. This allows for fast action.
Drone technology combines data collection, mapping, and monitoring. This creates a strong platform for measuring carbon sequestration. It also helps to report results that meet global verification standards.
Representatives from the Department of Agriculture VI, Department of Science and Technology VI, and the Philippine Army contributed insights on logistics, operational deployment, and integration with community reforestation teams.
The session highlighted the need to cross-train local drone operators, foresters, and volunteers. This helps build lasting skills for tech-driven restoration efforts.
Carbon Finance and Policy Context
An important dimension of Panay’s reforestation efforts is the potential for carbon finance. Verified carbon credits let projects earn money for CO₂ absorbed by restored forests. This creates ongoing funding for maintenance, community engagement, and ecological monitoring.
High-quality credits rely on clear measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems. These systems track forest growth and carbon buildup over time. Standards like Verra and the Gold Standard help ensure credibility in global carbon markets.
The Philippines is increasingly formalizing its approach to carbon pricing and market mechanisms. House Bill No. 11375, the Philippine Carbon Pricing Act, sets up a national carbon pricing system. It encourages emission cuts in various sectors and also directs funds to projects that help, like reforestation.
The bill creates a system for companies and government agencies. They can trade or buy carbon credits. This supports both compliance and voluntary programs. This law would create a clear policy framework for forest-based carbon projects. It would work alongside current environmental rules and global climate agreements.
Integrating Technology, Communities, and Policy
Combining drones, AI, and carbon finance with community-led restoration aligns with broader national priorities. Accurate monitoring and verification boost carbon accounting. They also enhance local engagement and improve environmental governance.
Piloting drone-assisted seed dispersal in select Panay sites, conducting research on optimal seed varieties, and providing training for MRV systems are key steps to ensure long-term success.
Past restoration efforts have shown the importance of science-based planning and stakeholder coordination. Technology integration solves many issues from earlier programs. It helps with hard-to-reach areas, boosts manpower, and makes tracking survival rates and canopy growth easier over time. When paired with emerging carbon finance frameworks, these innovations offer scalable solutions for large-scale ecological restoration.
The forum also outlined the next steps for pilot projects:
- Implement drone-assisted mapping and seed dispersal in targeted reforestation areas.
- Conduct ecological research to choose tree species. Focus on balancing growth rates and biodiversity needs.
- Cross-training local teams in drone operation, forest management, and MRV systems.
- Explore integration with carbon credit markets and potential policy incentives under House Bill No. 11375.
These steps help make reforested areas strong, fair, and financially wise. Stakeholders aim to build a model using global knowledge, local insights, and policy backing. They hope this model can adapt to other areas in the Philippines dealing with similar deforestation issues.
Toward Climate-Resilient Forests
Restoring Panay’s forests is a long-term project that requires careful planning, enough funding, and collaboration across sectors. The SGF and Ukraine partnership starts a new era, adapting defense tech to boost ecological resilience. This comes as national forest cover has stalled at 7 million hectares.
As the Philippines develops its national carbon market and implements supportive policies, reforestation efforts can become more sustainable and integrated with broader climate mitigation strategies.