Helping Communities Defend the Earth
The Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), Inc. is an environmental non-government organization committed to helping communities uphold their constitutional right to a healthful and balanced ecology.
Mt. Bulanjao in Southern Palawan is a vital biodiversity hotspot, hosting numerous threatened and endemic species, making it a critical conservation priority. The mountain provides essential ecosystem services like water regulation, soil stability, and carbon sequestration, which are indispensable for both ecological health and local livelihoods. However, mining poses severe risks including environmental degradation, water pollution, and the potential displacement of local communities.
Coal-fired power plants pose significant environmental and health risks, including air and water pollution, climate change, and respiratory illnesses. Countries like Germany, the UK, and Canada are phasing out coal in favor of cleaner renewable energy sources, emphasizing the urgent need for Palawan to follow suit to protect its unique ecosystems and public health.
Monocrop plantations, drastically reduces biodiversity and disrupts ecosystem services. It leads to habitat loss, fragmentation, and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases, while also affecting local communities' livelihoods and cultural practices.
Alliances and Projects
ELAC believes in the transformative power of a united community of advocates to tackle and resolve complex environmental issues. By harnessing collective strength, knowledge, and passion, we can drive meaningful change and protect our natural resources for future generations.
Save Palawan Movement
The Save Palawan Movement (SPM) is a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and people's organizations (POs) dedicated to addressing critical environmental issues in Palawan. SPM actively advocates for the protection of Palawan’s unique and vital ecosystems through three major campaigns: the No to Mining campaign, the One Palawan campaign, and the Save Palawan’s Forests campaign. These initiatives aim to combat environmentally destructive practices, promote sustainable development, and preserve the rich biodiversity of Palawan for future generations..
Green Livelihoods Alliance
ELAC is part of the Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA). GLA aims to ensure that tropical forests and forest landscapes are sustainably and inclusively governed to mitigate and adapt to climate change, fulfil human rights and safeguard local livelihoods. It tries to increase the participation of indigenous peoples in policy and decision-making regarding land rights and forest governance and strengthen lobby and advocacy to hold governments and industries accountable for deforestation and human rights violations.
Palawan Women Environmental Defenders Program
The Palawan Women Environmental Defenders (WEDs) Program, seeks to empower women environmental defenders by enhancing their ability to safely and effectively engage in decision-making processes. This program emphasizes the importance of gender-sensitive policy and project development, particularly in the realm of natural resources governance. By providing training, resources, and support, the WEDs program aims to ensure that women's voices are heard and valued in environmental advocacy and governance, thereby fostering inclusive and sustainable management of natural resources.
The issues we face
Mining
Currently, there are ____ mining applications in Palawan. ____ are operational, and ___ are expanding.
There are ___ communities that are being affected, with their livelihood halted and in some major degree stunted.
To date. there are 28,000 trees cut by mining companies.