La Trinidad, Benguet — While Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) does not yet maintain a standalone policy specifically for identifying and monitoring IUCN Red Listed species, the College has established a framework of environmental governance and community action during AY 2024–2025 that supports the broader protection of habitats and biodiversity in the Cordillera region.
Environmental Legal Partnership
In July 2023, the CCDC College of Law and the Philippine Earth Justice Center formalized a partnership to ensure strengthened delivery of legal assistance aligned to the protection and enforcement of environmental laws and to address environmental justice issues in local communities. This ongoing engagement, active through 2024, provides a legal mechanism through which conservation concerns — including the protection of threatened species and their habitats — can be addressed at the community level.
Waste Management Policy
The College’s Waste Disposal and Landfill Policy, published in 2025, establishes an enforceable framework for sustainable waste management in compliance with Republic Act 9003. By preventing land contamination and promoting proper waste segregation, the policy supports the health of surrounding terrestrial ecosystems that serve as habitats for local flora and fauna.
Reforestation and Habitat Restoration
Through Project SAGIP (Scholars and Grant-in-Aid Beneficiaries Action in Greening Initiative Program), approximately 300 seedlings — including avocado, coffee, mango, and pine trees — were planted at CCDC’s Admirals Farm Park, as documented in a May 2025 site visit by CHED-UniFAST Cordillera. Each financial aid grantee is encouraged to plant at least one indigenous or fruit-bearing tree annually, contributing directly to reforestation and the restoration of habitats that support local wildlife.
Institutional Commitment Under SDG 15
CCDC’s official SDG 15 (Life on Land) framework states that the College “values the diverse ecosystems and wildlife that flourish on land” and promotes learning about forests, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity. The College has also articulated plans to promote biodiversity conservation in its sustainability reporting, indicating an institutional direction toward more explicit species protection measures.
Looking Forward
CCDC’s existing environmental policies and partnerships provide a strong foundation for the future development of a dedicated species monitoring and protection policy. By integrating IUCN Red List considerations into its land management and extension programs — particularly in areas such as Admirals Farm Park and its community engagement sites — the College can further strengthen its contribution to the conservation of threatened species in the Cordillera region.
