From 228 to 322: The Philippines’ new biodiversity hotspots

At the 2025 Philippine Biodiversity Symposium in Iloilo City, held from August 12-15, convenors announced a landmark update: the country's official Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) map now features 322 sites, up from 228 previously. This expansion reflects years of scientific work to identify areas of exceptional ecological importance, both within and outside existing legally protected areas.

- BILLIE DUMALIANG

Among the newly proposed KBAs are the Balabac Group of Islands in Palawan, Bantayan Island in Cebu, Masungi in Rizal, Biak-na-Bato National Park in Bulacan, Brooke's Point in Palawan, Borongan in Eastern Samar, and Danjugan Island in Negros Occidental. These sites highlight habitats and species that urgently need stronger recognition and, ultimately, protection.

What are KBAs?

Key Biodiversity Areas are scientifically identified sites that hold significant biodiversity value—whether as habitats for threatened species, centers of endemism, or critical ecological corridors. They are internationally recognized and frequently serve as the basis for conservation prioritization worldwide.

While KBAs do not in themselves have the force of law, they are an invaluable planning tool. They provide early warnings about ecologically sensitive areas where development must proceed with caution. In a country like the Philippines—one of the world's biodiversity hotspots yet also one of the most threatened —KBAs serve as beacons for where conservation investments and governance must be directed.

A new roadmap:

The PBSAP 2025-2040

The Symposium also launched the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) 2025-2040, a 15-year framework that outlines the country's top environmental priorities and pathways forward.