Abstract

Harnessing DNA Diversity for Biodiversity Credits:
A Conservation Strategy for Philippine Native Plant Species

Lerma SJ. MALDIA

Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Banos, lsmaldia@up.edu.ph

 Renowned for its rich and unique biodiversity, the Philippines faces escalating threats from habitat loss, climate change, and overexploitation. Addressing these challenges requires innovative, science-based mechanisms to support effective conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. This paper explores the potential of harnessing DNA diversity, showcasing examples from ecologically and economically important native threatened Philippine forest tree species, as a foundational basis for developing biodiversity credits within the Philippine context. This approach offers a novel strategy to incentivize conservation efforts, with scalable insights for broader regional application. By leveraging genomic technologies to quantify and monitor genetic variation within and among species, this approach enhances the accuracy, transparency, and credibility of biodiversity valuation, enabling the establishment of a measurable and tradable biodiversity credit system. Implementing DNA-based biodiversity credits can serve as a powerful instrument to incentivize the conservation of genetic resources, support sustainable development, and promote equitable benefit-sharing. Moreover, this approach aligns with multilateral commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and regional frameworks such as the ASEAN Biodiversity Strategy, the Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Conservation Framework, and the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Overall, this strategy presents a scalable, science-driven pathway to strengthen biodiversity financing, foster regional cooperation, and advance national and regional biodiversity targets.