This USAID and European Commission-funded program aimed to reduce poverty and preserve biodiversity on the Mindanao and Palawan islands of the Philippines. By improving natural resource management and environmental service delivery, RI worked to increase opportunities for sustainable small-business development.

RI teamed with the community to promote appropriate zoning, improved enforcement, and the use of best practices to mitigate environmental damage. The program aimed to identify alternative income streams from forest and marine areas, and opportunities for sustainable resource extraction. These various steps could ensure that the Philippines protect their biodiversity, better manage their natural resources and rehabilitate denuded areas.