BUKLURAN convened elders and leaders from six (6) indigenous peoples’ and community conserved areas members in the Cordillera on March 28-31, 2025, in Banaue, Ifugao. Participants from six ICCAs (Kabugao, Happy Hallow, Tinoc, Balbalasang, Tinglayan, and Balatoc) in the region actively participated in a workshop leading to the creation of a sub-national (regional) network. This move is an additional layer of support for local governance and autonomy and would strengthen policy advocacy for indigenous conservation. The creation of regional bodies would also allow indigenous communities to document and transmit traditional knowledge within their own linguistics and cultural context. The success of ICCAs in the Cordillera region can serve as a model for other regions and could lead to exchanges of effective conservation strategies.
