International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has partnered with the Katala Foundation to implement a wildlife research and conservation program to protect the life support system within Palawan’s Victoria-Anepa’an Mountain Range (VAMR). Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI global corporate head and president of the ICTSI Foundation said ICTSI believes that with more people engaged in conservation initiatives — from local impacted communities, government agencies and private institutions, more resources would be available to inclusively address issues that matter from protection of threatened biodiversity to improved community life, education and participation. Once completed, the project aims to facilitate formal protection of priority areas and help guide policy development for threatened wildlife in Palawan and the rest of the Philippines. Joel G. Jimenez, President of the Katala Foundation said, “KFI is fortunate to partner with a Philippine-based private enterprise [that] shares the same vision. We implement projects that ensure opportunities for their socioeconomic improvement.”A long-term goal of the project is to come up with approaches and strategies to sustainably manage and conserve the forests of the Victoria-Anepa’an Mountain Range for the benefit of local communities and biodiversity.

Source: Manila Times February 18, 2020 21:12 UTC