Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) hosts Vietnam delegates in a knowledge exchange session on its conservation measures
On May 7, 2026, distinguished representatives from Vietnam’s environment sector and WWF-Vietnam engaged in a knowledge exchange on biodiversity conservation and management strategies implemented within lowland forests in the penal reservation and surrounding communities through the Katala Foundation Inc., in close partnership with IPPF, BuCor, key indigenous peoples, DENR, PCSDS, and the Western Command. In this brief engagement, participants gained relevant insights into inclusive community education and innovative conservation approaches such as the wildlife warden scheme, aimed at strengthening the protection and effectiveness of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in their respective country contexts.
“We gather here not merely as individuals, but as a community bound by a shared vision—the protection of our natural heritage and the conservation of the Philippine Cockatoo, our beloved Katala,” declared C/Supt. Edgardo F. Mendoza Jr. During the discussion, Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hau, Deputy Director General of the Department of Agriculture of Da Nang City, expressed particular interest and appreciation for how partnerships between non-governmental organizations and correctional agencies are structured to design and implement conservation-focused initiatives. In response, C/Supt. Mendoza and KFI COO Indira Widmann outlined several collaborative efforts, including joint monitoring activities, the production of conservation-themed merchandise by persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), and reform-oriented programs for PDLs.
The visiting delegation, brought in by WWF-Philippines, witnessed firsthand the strength of multi-stakeholder collaboration and sustained commitment to the conservation of the Philippine Cockatoo. This shared passion for biodiversity conservation, alongside local pride in safeguarding native wildlife, continues to be a vital force in ensuring the survival of threatened species.
