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Our Story
From regional roots to a Philippine organization
The story of NTFP-EP Philippines began long before its formal establishment in 2015. Its roots go back to 2004, when it operated as the NTFP Task Force, the Philippine programme of the Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP), a regional network working with forest-based communities across South and Southeast Asia.
From the beginning, the work centered on supporting Indigenous Peoples and local communities in sustaining forest-based livelihoods, managing forest resources responsibly, and strengthening the relationship between peoples and forests.
As NTFP-EP's work expanded across countries, discussions began in 2011 on establishing separate country organizations to strengthen local governance, program implementation, and organizational sustainability while deepening regional collaboration and advocacy.
In 2013, members and staff agreed during strategic planning to pursue separate registration for the Philippine programme. On January 12, 2015, NTFP-EP Philippines was formally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a non-stock, non-profit organization.
Rooted in relationships, growing together
Today, NTFP-EP Philippines manages and implements its own programs and projects while remaining part of the wider NTFP-EP regional network.
Working alongside Indigenous Peoples, local communities, civil society organizations, and other partners, the organization continues to strengthen non-timber forest product (NTFP)-based livelihoods, advance community rights and forest governance, support community-led conservation, and safeguard cultural knowledge and practices.
Through the years, our work has grown, but our commitment remains rooted in the same purpose: linking peoples and forests in the Philippines, toward futures where communities, livelihoods, cultures, and living forests thrive together.