1972

Haribon was established as a birdwatching society. Inspired by the majesty as well as the plight of the Philippine Eagle, which even then was critically endangered, Haribon drew members from nature lovers who wanted to do something about the threatened wildlife of the country.

Haribon undertook the Philippine Eagle project, studying the little known ecology of the Philippine Eagle and looking for the most effective way to conserve one of the world's most magnificent birds of prey.

1983

1984

Haribon was also accredited by the Department of Science and Technology as a science and research foundation conducting floral and faunal studies.

From a nature organization society, Haribon evolved into an organization dedicated to reversing the tide of environmental degradation happening in the country.

It was also the first year that Haribon adopted the “tree-symbol” whose nine leaves symbolized the ecosystems found in the country.

1987

Haribon led the campaign against commercial logging in Palawan, led by then President Maximo “Junie” Kalaw. It was highlighted by the “Boto para sa Inang Bayan” signature campaign, which gathered 1 million signatures against commercial logging. The campaign significantly increased public awareness on the environment and on Haribon as an environmental organization.

A joint Haribon and DENR task force was created to evaluate the protected areas in the country in preparation for the establishment of an Integrated Protected Areas System (IPAS). The results of this project served as key inputs to the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (NIPAS Act).

The Environmental Legal Defense Program was started. It provided legal services, legal research and paralegal training.

1989

DENR, the WWF, and Haribon entered into the Philippine Debt-for-Nature Swap Program, the first debt swap program in Asia. It involved $2 million for conservation work. Haribon administered the first tranch of the swap.

It was used to implement projects in Batangas, St. Paul Subterranean River National Park, El Nido Marine Reserve, Mt. Pulag National Park, and Tubbataha Reef National Park Mt. Isarog, the wildlife trade campaign, and environmental education.

Haribon initiated the Philippine Netsman Program was to train aquarium fishers away from using cyanide fishing.

The Community Based Resource Management Program (CBRM) was initiated covering both forest and marine ecosystems. The first marine sites were San Salvador Island, Masinloc, Zambales and Anilao, Mabini, Batangas. The forest ecosystem site was in Brgy. Magsaysay, Infanta, Quezon.

1990

Haribon led the campaign against the Masinloc Coal-Fired Thermal Plant. Efforts in this campaign led to the proclamation of Oyon Bay as a protected area.

Formation of the Green Forum – the NGO-PO-Church forum addressing broader issues of sustainable development.

A Filipino delegation which included then Haribon president Junie Kalaw and current board member Philip Camara negotiated the second Debt-for-Naiure Swap with the US Senate. It resulted in the establishment of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, providing a permanent endowment to fund Filipino NGO environment initiatives.

1992

Congress passed the National Integrated Protected Areas (NIPAS) Act, which established a system of protected areas in the Philippines. Haribon was involved in developing the principles of this landmark legislation.

Haribon became the Philippine partner of BirdLife International, a global alliance of conservation organizations working to protect birds and their habitats.

Haribon campaigned against a proposed cement plant threatening the pristine environs of Bolinao. The campaign was truly community-based and multi-sectoral, involving communities, NGOs, the church, academe, media, and other groups.

2001

Haribon spearheaded the formation of PAMANA Ka sa Pilipinas, a nationwide alliance of community-based marine protected area managers composed of fisherfolk and local government units. By 2001, PAMANA became an independent organization separate from Haribon.

PAMANA is currently composed of 122 member sanctuary sites.

Haribon and BirdLife International came out with the Threatened Birds of the Philippines, the Philippine Red Data Book compiling the most comprehensive information on the country’s threatened birds.

A culmination of the Red Data Book project, a total of 117 Important Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) throughout the Philippines were identified as areas of global significance for biodiversity conservation. Research on these areas were compiled in the Haribon multi-award winning book, the Key Conservation Sites in the Philippines.

Haribon, with the support of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, launched the “Building a National Constituency for Biodiversity Conservation” Project.

Haribon, with support from the European Union launched the “Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance” project. The endeavor seeks to utilize the recently-approved Local Government Code towards the protection of the country’s forests.

Haribon was one of the major organizers of the Conference on Protected Area Management in the Philippines on November 12-16, 2001 at Davao City.

First launched a tri-media campaign to build a national constituency on biodiversity conservation.

The EU-Funded “Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance in the Philippines “ project was launched. This project adopted a new strategy for biodiversity conservation, that is, allowing the local stakeholders like LGUs to have more responsibility in managing their forest resources by integrating forest management plan in their CLUP.

2002

Haribon built the capacities and capabilities of four academic centers for excellence (ACEs) for biodiversity conservation: Camarines Sur State Agricultural College, De La Salle-Dasmarinas, Silliman University and Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology

PAMANA became independent from Haribon.

Haribon initiates its first project with a component of sustainable livelihoods in Bolinao.

Banka't Buhay 2002: Local coastal issues were lifted up as a national issue, this included DAO17, Institutionalization of fish Warden and establishment of Marine courts which is the initial phase towards Green Courts.

Lobbying for DAO 17 with NFR networks in order to contribute in the decentralization of DA-BFAR to LGUs and the delimitation and delineation of municipal waters which would benefit small fisherfolks.

2003

Haribon launched the Haribon Ambassadors for Conservation composed of celebrities and media personalities

Haribon was one of the organizers of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)-World Comission on Protected Areas, Third Southeast Asia Regional Meeting on April 1-5 2003 here in the Philippines

Haribon implemented Threatened Species Program with support from Critical Ecosystems Program and BirdLife International (2003-2007) to arrest threats to terrestrial species and habitats by ensuring strong local commitment and supporting civil society initiatives for conservation. It supports also field research on threatened species.

2004

Haribon established corporate partnerships (GMA 7, Meralco, Napocor, The Manila Times, EDSA Shangri-la Hotel) to improve the level of awareness and support for biodiversity conservation among the general public.

Haribon obtained publisher status from the National Book Development Board.

Haribon got the first Panibagong Paraan Award for Masinloc.

Integrating Forests Conservation with Local Governance Project (IFCLGP) Conference in Subic

Haribon launched the First National Birdkite Festival at the Global City.

Forged MOA with the DENR as partners for biodiversity conservation

Haribon launched the BOto para sa Inang Bayan Campaign (part 2), a signature campaign to stop commercial logging and mining in the country

Haribon advocated/lobbied for the issuance of DENR memorandum circular 2004-06 which promotes rainforestation as an approach in restoring the tropical rainforest using indigenous species

2005

Start of Rainforestation Organizations and Advocates or ROAD to 2020 Campaign, an environmental conservation movement to restore 1 million hectares of our rainforests using native tree species by year 2020.

Haribon received the Catholic Mass Media Serviam Award Special Citation for institutional category

Third National Congress of PAMANA and partnerships with MNS( Marine Support Network, a network of NGAs(DENR, DA-BFAR) and NGOs (WWF, CI, CBCRM-RC, Siliman U, etc.). This was a congress were small fisherfolks directly engaged the Department of Natural Resources-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR-PAWB) on the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) on how to advance DAO 17, and localizing fisherfolk advocacy.

2006

Catholic Mass Media Special Citation for the billboard "Wealth" installed by Meralco; also garnered a silver medal in the 2006 Araw Values Advertising Award

Haribon spearheaded the National Conference on Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance at Subic , Pampanga

2007

Haribon Assisted in the database that led to the identification and designation of 117 environmental courts in 2008

UNDP-GEF-SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM supported Haribon in the production of Environmental Baseline studies in Cebu, Negros and Panay Islands to provide benchmark data to start building the Cebu-Negros-Panay Landscapes and Seascapes database?MIS and to facilitate the appraisal, validation and implementation of community-based biodiversity conservation initiatives in areas identified as priority sites for SGP funding.

Haribon initiated IBA Montoring System orientation and installation in some Haribon sites, e.g. Sablayan, Occ Mindoro, and Mangatarem, Pangasinan.