D’Aboville Foundation and Demo Farm, Inc. (DAF), headed by its president and founder Hubert d’Aboville, celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Alliance Française de Manille last Nov. 13 in the presence of the UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils, the French Ambassador Marie Fontanel, Senator Cynthia Villar and Dr. Neric Acosta.
DAF, a French-led Filipino NGO, has much to celebrate on its 20th anniversary as it embarks on a renewed five-year program centered on Tamaraw Conservation of the critically endangered wild animal species endemic to Mindoro Island. DAF’s principal international partner Re:wild obtained a substantial additional grant from UK Aid’s Darwin Initiative for the period of 2024–2029, with an additional local partner organization Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc.
DAF is guided by its holistic approach in developing and upscaling indigenous community, co-management, sustainable land management and restoration in Tamaraw’s last strongholds in the indigenous Taobuid and Alangan territories located in Mounts Iglit–Baco Natural Park in Mindoro Island. This consequential renewed grant will bring transformational change in the socio-ecological system in all Tamaraw landscapes in Mindoro.
Last Oct. 15, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) signed an agreement with five of the nation’s most respected organizations, each with expertise in wildlife conservation to protect six critically endangered wild animals found in the Philippines. D’Aboville Foundation and Demo Farm, Inc. has been recognized to save the critically endangered Tamaraw, a dwarf buffalo found only in the island of Mindoro.