Advocacy Through Art – Raising Awareness for Forest Conservation with Forest Foundation Philippines
My conservation journey began in 2018 believing that a genuine love for our country combined with a passion for art as a way to communicate could really make a difference. It all began when I was invited to collaborate with Forest Foundation Philippines to spread the word about why native trees matter so much for our forests. Since then, the mission has grown to include not only native plants and trees, but also the bigger picture: wildlife, biodiversity, forest landscapes, and the people who call them home. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to work with indigenous youth, helping to amplify their voices as they protect their ancestral lands.
Through art-driven campaigns and working together, we’ve seen how changing the way people think can inspire communities not just to protect and care for forests, but also to get involved in bringing them back to life.
I’ve also seen firsthand how art and design have this unique way of bringing native plants, animals, and forest communities into our daily lives. They spark curiosity and pride, turning simple moments into deeper connections with nature. Thanks to the Foundation’s support and expertise, each creation is also grounded in scientific facts and real landscape knowledge, making every piece truly meaningful.
As our campaigns grew, so did the impact they made. Beyond just raising awareness, selling co-created products helped generate extra income, with part of the proceeds going to support local partners and sustainable projects. (You can see what we’ve been able to contribute here.)
From celebrating the incredible variety of Philippine native trees to mapping out our forest landscapes and empowering young voices, these projects invite everyone to care for and protect the nature we all rely on. We hope they also inspire and encourage communities and individuals to come together in protecting our forests and the people and wildlife that call them home. <3

See how our communication campaigns unfolded:
- 2018: Growing Roots: It Started With Trees (#DrawNativeTreesPh)
- 2019-2022: Bringing Native Flora to Daily Life (#ForestBloomsPh)
- 2023: Connecting Landscapes and Communities (#DrawForestLandscapesPh)
- 2025: Co-creating with Palawan Youth (#AMPLYFIEDPh / BioChamps Palawan)
Some aticles and features on this ongoing advocacy:
- Design: Keeping Filipino Native Trees Alive Through Art – The Beautiful Works of Cynthia Arre for the FFP | Adobo Magazine
- Forget cherry blossoms. Stop and draw our own flowering trees. | NoliSoli
- Her Groundwork for the Native Flora and Fauna | Business Mirror
- Arts for Conservation Episode | MUNI on this Podcast
- Promoting Forest Conservation and Heritage Preservation Through Art | DZUP Atin ‘To Interview
- Drawing Native Trees for Conservation – Presentation + Demo | Ang InK
- Cynthia Bauzon-Arre, from ‘big idea’ to Philippine forest conservation projects fueled by design | Adobo Magazine
- Culture Carousel: Cynthia Arre advocates forest conservation through art | The Sunday Times
- Artist Cynthia Bauzon-Arre Goes Back to Her Roots | Rappler
Other projects outside my work with the Foundation:
Deeply grateful to Forest Foundation Philippines for kickstarting my conservation journey, and for their guidance and support all these years. <3