Advocacy Through Art – Raising Awareness for Forest Conservation

It started with a simple belief: that art could help people fall in love with our forests.

Back in 2018, I was invited by Forest Foundation Philippines to help spread the word about native trees, why they matter, and why they need our protection. What simply began as a project about our beautiful trees has grown into something much bigger: a celebration of our wildlife, biodiversity, forest landscapes, and the communities who protect them.

Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of working with indigenous youth in Palawan, helping amplify their voices as guardians of their ancestral lands. It’s been among the most meaningful parts of this journey.

Through art-driven campaigns and collaborations, I witnessed people’s perspectives shift through feedback such as “I now recognize Katmon because of your drawings!” or “Because of your work with FFP, I now know more about our forests.”  Proof that a deeper connection to the environment can inspire people not just to protect what’s left but also help bring forests back to life.

Thanks to the Foundation’s expertise, every illustration is based on scientific and ecological knowledge. That means each piece isn’t just made to be pretty, they are meant to inform, educate, and encourage people to love our natural resources.

And as our campaigns grew, so did their impact. The products we co-created started generating income, and part of the proceeds have supported local partners and conservation projects (you can see the contributions we’ve been able to make here) while the rest goes back into creating more advocacy-driven products.

Since then, I’ve also found ways to bring the advocacy into other projects – whether it’s a creative collaboration or an independent project, and each one has given new opportunities for honoring the Philippines’ biodiversity and cultural heritage. Behind every piece is a mission to help spark wonder, inspire care for our environment, and remind others that every small act of appreciation helps keep our forests alive. <3