Masungi Georeserve wins Water ChangeMaker Award for efforts to protect, restore Marikina Watershed

The Masungi Georeserve Foundation, a conservation in Rizal, has been recognized for its efforts to restore and protect the Upper Marikina Watershed.

Out of over 350 nominees worldwide, Masungi’s project “The Masungi Georeserve Story: Restoring Forgotten Watersheds Through Youth-led Movements” won first place at the Water ChangeMaker Awards for its efforts to protect and restore the watershed from “large-scale threats such as quarrying, land trafficking, and timber poaching” during the Climate Adaptation Summit on Monday.

Global Water Partnership chair Howard Bamsey described Masungi’s efforts as “an inspiring campaign for watershed restoration and reforestation led by the next generation of water changemakers.”

“This award is a precious reminder of why this area we’re protecting deserves a fighting chance,” a Masungi representative said during the awarding ceremony.

Landing on second place was Brazil’s Regulatory Agency for Water, Energy and Basic Sanitation of the Federal District-Adasa and Mexico’s Fondo Mexicano para la Conservacion de la Naturaleza A.C., followed by Bolivia’s Fundacion Natura Bolivia.

In December, Masungi asked for the help of the government in addressing the alleged harassment by “professional squatters” who claimed large tracts of lands in the site. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News