The Business for Sustainable Development (BSD) has launched the Gabay Kalikasan: It’s Now for Nature Accelerator Program, the Philippines’ first initiative of its kind, to help local businesses integrate nature strategies into their operations and sustainability reporting.
The nine-month program consists of 10 sessions designed to equip participating companies with the knowledge and tools to develop credible and actionable nature strategies that align with global sustainability frameworks.
It is part of BSD’s commitment to bolster the private sector’s role in promoting biodiversity and nature-positive outcomes.
BSD executive-director Abraham Perez said nature strategy has been gaining significant traction among businesses and financial institutions across the globe especially through the Business for Nature’s own program called It’s Now for Nature.
“With Gabay Kalikasan, Philippine businesses gain the opportunity to be part of this global campaign intended to create a nature-positive world by 2030,” he said.
The Gabay Kalikasan program supports the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP), which is the country-level plan for integrating biodiversity conservation into national policies, in line with global targets.
Participants will utilize the “Nature Strategy Handbook” to guide them through the four components of the ACT-D framework (Assess, Commit, Transform, and Disclose) for nature-positive strategy.
The initiative employs workshops, peer-learning sessions and consultations to foster collaboration and is open to all companies, including BSD members and non-members, seeking to embed nature considerations in their business strategies. Companies are expected to publish their own nature strategy within 12 months after the training concludes.
Perez said the program was customized to “accelerate the building capacity of Philippine businesses in adopting nature-focused business practices, and at the same time establish a network of sustainability leaders who can collaborate for long-term scalable solutions.”
Participants will receive technical guidance, coaching from subject matter experts and networking opportunities.
