WWF Links Up With National Convergence Initiative ~ My Opinion

Infanta, Quezon – With 50 years of global experience in crafting and implementing a proven range of conservation solutions, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) has committed its full support and expertise for the government’s National Convergence Initiative (NCI) – an ambitious drive to synergize efforts of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the push towards a more sustainable economy, in a climate-defined future.

Top-level representatives of the three national government agencies, the Governor and Vice-Governor, plus two Quezon congressmen converged at a Social Center in Infanta, Quezon on 30 May to launch the newest phase of the NCI, which includes partnerships with both WWF-Philippines and Gawad Kalinga.

“Today’s signing represents a step closer to an ecosystems-based approach to natural resource management for a more sustainable economy. It also brings us closer to more pragmatic climate adaptation schemes,” explains WWF-Philippines Vice-Chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan.

The partnership between WWF-Philippines and the NCI aims to both develop and showcase working convergence models – especially at local levels – for the development of sustainable economies. The alliance offers current WWF project sites as models for sustainable fisheries and agriculture, watershed management, the adoption of renewable energy (RE) technologies and climate adaptation schemes.

“The long-term goals of attaining food security, improved quality of life and sustainable development are wholly interrelated and interdependent,” explains Tan.

“The achievement of these goals requires a confluence of development efforts across different sectors, planning for a climate-defined future and collaboration among government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations and other stakeholders. Convergence is the natural progression of single-department or single-site initiatives. By combining our efforts, we also multiply the results.”

WWF is the world’s largest conservation organization and spearheads practical solutions to help the country adapt to climate change, secure food sources to alleviate poverty, conserve local ecosystems to reap natural benefits, empower communities to live low-impact lives, help corporations develop equitable, low-impact supply chains and promote renewable sources of clean energy. It celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011.