Upholding Life and Nature

Upholding Life And Nature (ULAN) envisions a just, equitable and inclusive society in a sustainable natural environment. Its mission is to promote community empowerment through law, development, and policy reform.

ULAN's story

ULAN started in 2003 out of a desire by its founders to expressly articulate their human rights values on environmental issues using law and localized development as tools. It was established by human rights practitioners who believed that environmental issues must be discussed in the context of human rights and its broader implications on poverty and injustice. It caters primarily to marginalized sectors that have a direct link to their natural environment such as Indigenous peoples, small farmers and fisherfolk.

ULAN is primarily a legal NGO that provides legal representation to marginalized communities involved in environmental protection, in courts and other administrative bodies. In exchange, the communities are required to engage in climate adaptation work within their communities that ultimately benefits them and other indirect beneficiaries.

By doing so, ULAN has turned around the problem of court delay into a continuing incentive for communities to rehabilitate their natural environment.

Because of this legal representation, ULAN has a stellar record of dismissal of harassment suits against hundreds of community leaders and members who were wrongly accused for various crimes simply for protecting their environment.

What they do

Respect for Disability Rights

In 2012, ULAN began to work on disability issues and has since contributed extensively in promoting PWD sensitivity, inclusive employment, accessibility rights, PWD data management amongst others. It has a policy advocacy component as well and in the last 6 years, ULAN has been successful in promoting respect for disability rights. It is likely the only environmental NGO that also works on disability issues in the Philippines.

Paralegal Training for Bantay-Dagat in Romblon

This will fund the training of community-based marine protection wardens in Romblon who protect one of the richest marine ecosystems in the Philippines from poachers. Their work ensures the food supply of the local communities and protects marine biodiversity from illegal fishing activities.

Reforestation in Tinuy-an Falls

This will fund the rehabilitation of degraded forest lands by the Manobo ancestral communities protecting Tinuy-an Falls. The site has also been identified as a Philippine eagle nesting site.

Supporter donations have enabled ULAN to:

Enable communities to identify their own projects - With climate impacts expected to become more severe in the coming years, adaptation projects are increasingly more important. Support is needed to sustain community adaptation activities, including 1) mangrove rehabilitation 2) marine sanctuary establishment 3) beach clean-ups
Purchase needed equipment and construction materials - e.g. buoys, lookout points
Cover transportation
Engage social media volunteers - ULAN has a very limited social media presence but is open to volunteers who can assist it in the design and preparation of its social media platform. In addition, it has a number of popularized paralegal training materials that it wants to convert into video format in order to make available online, including for 1) social media design 2) social media management 3) video producers

Donate to ULAN