The Effects of Mining on Indigenous Peoples Life and Health.

Palawan is our only and last ecological frontier, known for its lush primary forests and rich biodiversity. It has 105 out of the 475 threatened species in the Philippines. Based on the IUCN classification, 105 are endangered, and 67 are endemic to the Philippines. Palawan's forest also provides ecosystem services that benefit the vast communities in Palawan and extend to the whole country by acting as a significant carbon sink. Yet, mining operations, monocrop plantations, and ill-planned infrastructure projects have degraded Palawan's forests for the longest time.

The women, youth, farmers, fishers, indigenous peoples, and residents of Palawan once again join hands to call on the national government and local government to save Palawan's forests by upholding laws that are supposed to protect Palawan's natural forests and stop the issuance of permits, clearances, and legal instruments that the continued destruction of Palawan's forests.