Coral Triangle Initiative - Southeast Asia Books Launched!

Today, I'm excited to unveil the project that I'm most proud to have been a part of this year: a set of publications showcasing the work, the people, and the success of the Coral Triangle Initiative/ CTI-Southeast Asia (CTI-SEA) project. Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in partnership with Global Environment Facility (GEF), the CTI-SEA project was a five-year effort that successfully sought out and implemented initiatives that helped coastal communities deal with climate change. These included mangrove forest restoration, seaweed farming, climate-resilient rice planting, and the development of the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme.

I traveled to the beautiful cities of Taytay, Palawan, and Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur to photograph and document the projects, both above and below water. I was fortunate to have met and worked with amazing people who are committed to the conservation and management of our marine ecosystem. Most inspiring were the kids—high school students who carry out their own projects with the guidance of the team.

Conservation photography is what I love doing, and I'm extremely blessed to have these materials as my first commissioned project. Sadly, I wasn't able to visit the Turtle Islands as planned due to security issues, but that would be a case of having my cake and eating it, too. :p