In 2000, a young master’s student in the Philippines, Lisa Paguntalan-Marte, received what she calls a “transformative” Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) award.
Twenty-six years later, she is the first Filipino recipient of the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity, one of the world’s most prestigious conservation honours.
Now Executive Director of the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Lisa is recognised internationally for her contributions to species conservation, biodiversity policy, community-led conservation, and the rediscovery and protection of threatened wildlife across the Philippines.
Lisa (right) with her fellow MIDORI Prize winner, Alexandra Zimmerman (centre) and AEON Environmental Foundation Chairman, Motoya Okada (left) © AEON Environmental Foundation
A pivotal moment
In 2000, Lisa was nearing the end of her master’s degree and was determined to study the endemic birds of her home island of Negros. Yet resources were scarce, and with limited internet access, there were few opportunities to connect with international experts.
“I saw a poster about the CLP award in my university department,” she recalls. “At first, I didn’t even think of applying because it was a global award and I thought I didn’t have a chance.”
Encouraged by one of her lecturers, Lisa submitted an application proposing to investigate threatened birds in the lowland and montane forests of southern Negros. The project aimed to improve understanding of the island’s endemic avifauna and support conservation action through collaboration with local communities, government agencies and conservation organisations.
The CLP project team in 2000 (L-R): Mery Jean Gadiana, Marisol Pedregosa, Lisa Paguntalan-Marte, Reynaldo Lepangue and Fortunato Catalbas © Marisol Pedregosa
When reviewers’ comments arrived, Lisa was delighted. “The first review came back with lots of comments and suggestions, but I was so happy reading them because they gave me advice and showed I was on the right track.”
Soon afterwards came the news that her proposal had been selected for support.
An opportunity that launched a career
For CLP awardees, funding is only part of the support offered. Lisa says the programme’s training, mentoring and international network proved just as transformative.
As part of the award, she travelled abroad for the first time to attend CLP’s month-long training programme. “The training was my first international trip. I didn’t know anyone. I was very shy. But it developed my confidence, which I really needed at that time.”
The experience exposed her to conservation leaders from around the world and introduced her to skills that would shape the rest of her career, from science communication and media engagement to community conservation and leadership.
Looking back, Lisa describes the experience as a “game-changer”.
A Luzon hawk-owl – one of the many endemic species recorded by Lisa and her team’s surveys in Negros, Philippines, as part of the CLP-supported project in 2000 © Marisol Pedregosa
“It transformed my perspectives from simply generating research data to understanding the conservation side of the work,” she says. “I realised research has to be shared with others, and you need to understand how to communicate it effectively to different people.”
Just as importantly, she gained something she had never had before: access to an international network of experts and peers. “I was just starting my career and hardly knew anyone. Then I found there was this network of people ready to help. Access to information and expertise was the missing piece of the puzzle.”
Conservation impact that continues today
The CLP-funded project itself generated important knowledge about Negros’ threatened birdlife. Surveys recorded numerous endemic species and confirmed the presence of several globally threatened birds. Lisa and her team also recorded the rufous-lored kingfisher, a species believed at the time to be extinct on Negros.
Yet more impact would follow. The partnerships Lisa developed while delivering the project enabled her to continue conservation work beyond academia and build experience in fundraising, partnership development and community conservation.
Lisa caving in search of endemic fruit bats © Godfrey Jakosalem
Over the next two decades, Lisa helped rediscover the Philippine bare-backed fruit bat; developed biodiversity monitoring systems (which are now used by conservation practitioners, government agencies, and citizen scientists); supported the conservation of threatened hornbills and other endemic species; and helped integrate biodiversity planning into local government action across the Philippines.
Many of these achievements can be traced back to lessons first learned through CLP. “A lot happened from that single opportunity,” Lisa reflects.
The Visayan hornbill – one of the threatened endemic Philippine species that Lisa has worked to protect © S.Kieron Tan
Gaining global recognition
In 2026, Lisa’s decades of conservation leadership were recognised by a prestigious MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity. The award, jointly organised by the AEON Environmental Foundation and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
Talking at the MIDORI Prize ceremony in August 2026, Lisa credited her CLP Award in 2000 as one of the encounters that shaped her conservation journey © AEON Environmental Foundation
The award recognised Lisa’s leadership in species conservation, community engagement, biodiversity policy implementation and her contributions to protecting the Philippines’ unique wildlife.
After receiving one of conservation’s most prestigious honours, Lisa remains focused on what she can do next. “The prize gave me renewed energy,” she says. “I keep thinking about how else I can help and make things happen, and how I can give little sparks of encouragement to people who also want to walk along this conservation path.”
Lisa (second from left) with the hornbill monitoring team in Balinsasayao Twin Lakes © JAC Señagan
Investing in the next generation
Indeed, for Lisa, leadership development is a key part of the way forward in conservation. “Conservation will only survive with the next generation of leaders,” she says. “It is immensely important to give emerging leaders the support and opportunities that programmes like CLP offer.”
Reflecting on her own journey, she returns to the significance of her CLP award in 2000. “It inspired me to do so many things. It was everything to me at that time.”
Lisa’s career has contributed to the conservation of several of the Philippines’ endemic species, including the Critically Endangered Sulu racquet-tail © Godfrey Jakosalem / Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc.
Twenty-six years after receiving her CLP award, Lisa’s story shows what can happen when emerging conservation leaders are given the support, confidence, training and connections they need to succeed. A single award to a promising conservationist helped launch a career that has influenced species conservation, environmental policy, community leadership and biodiversity protection across an entire nation.
As Lisa explains: “I never imagined I would reach this point. I am so thankful for that one opportunity that sparked my whole career and contributed to systemic changes that have transformed conservation in the Philippines.”
Lisa (back) setting off with the team on a field expedition in 2000 © Marisol Pedregosa