Devastated by a typhoon, community foresters in the Philippines find little support

The Macatumbalen Community-Based Forest and Coastal Management Association, based in the Philippine province of Palawan, has replanted and managed 1,850 hectares of local forests since 2002.
When Typhoon Rai struck Palawan in December 2021, the community’s forest was devastated, harming not just the ecosystem but also the livelihood of local people, who depend on agroforestry and harvesting of forest products like honey and rattan.
Four months after the typhoon struck, the community organization has been left largely on its own as it attempts to resume restoration and replanting.