By 2040, urban green and blue spaces in cities accessible to the public increased

To achieve the target of enhancing green spaces and urban planning for human well-being and biodiversity, as outlined by Target 12 and adopted by the Philippines various actions have been identified to attain the target:

Promotion of City Biodiversity Index (CBI) Adoption:

• Develop guidelines and provide technical assistance to cities on the adoption and implementation of the City Biodiversity Index (CBI) (Target 20).
• Conduct training workshops and awareness campaigns to educate local government officials and planners about the importance of biodiversity-inclusive urban planning (Target 20).

Expansion of Green and Blue Spaces:

• Inventory of Green Spaces in Priority Cities
• Establishment/ Designation of green and blue spaces
• Identify potential sites for the establishment or expansion of green and blue spaces in urban and densely populated areas.
• Collaborate with local government units (LGUs), private landowners, and community stakeholders to acquire land and develop green and blue infrastructure projects that can be made accessible to local residents and visitors.
• Prioritize the conservation and restoration of native biodiversity in green and blue spaces to enhance ecological connectivity and integrity (Targets 2 and 3).

Support for LGUs in Achieving Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Indicators:

• Conduct of Urban Biodiversity Assessment and Profiling
• Urban Biodiversity Management Planning
• Urban Biodiversity Management Plan Implementation
• Provide technical assistance and capacity building to LGUs to help them comply with SGLG indicators related to urban green and blue spaces (Target 20).
• Develop resource materials and best practice guidelines to assist LGUs in planning, implementing, and monitoring green and blue infrastructure projects (Target 20).

Development and Implementation of Policy on Blue and Green Infrastructure:

• Adoption and Implementation of Blue and green infrastructure/Sustainable Infrastructure Framework & Roadmap with policy instrument approved 
• Collaboration among national government agencies (DENR, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other relevant agencies to develop a policy on blue and green infrastructure/sustainable infrastructure framework & roadmap.
• Advocate for the adoption and implementation of the policy at the national and local levels, ensuring alignment with existing urban planning and development frameworks.

Public Engagement and Participation (Target 23):

• Engage communities in the planning and design of green and blue spaces to ensure that projects meet local needs and preferences.
• Conduct consultations, surveys, and participatory mapping exercises to gather input from residents and stakeholders on desired amenities and features of urban green and blue spaces.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Compliance of LGUs to Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) indicators on urban  green and blue spaces
• Establish a monitoring and evaluation system to track progress towards increasing the area of urban green and blue spaces.
• Regularly assess the quality and connectivity of green and blue infrastructure projects to ensure they are meeting their intended objectives.

Partnerships and Collaboration:

• Forge partnerships with academic institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector entities to leverage resources and expertise for the implementation of green and blue infrastructure projects (Target 20).
• Collaborate with international organizations and development partners to access funding opportunities and technical support for urban biodiversity conservation initiatives (Targets 19 and 20).

The collaboration of various national government agencies, particularly the DENR, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units (LGUs), will allow the Philippines to make significant progress towards achieving the target of enhancing green spaces and urban planning for human well-being and biodiversity. Coordination and cooperation among stakeholders will be essential for the successful implementation of these actions.