Ecobiz.asia – The Rimba Collective, a long-term conservation finance initiative managed by Singapore-based Lestari Capital, has expanded to the Philippines with the launch of the CultureLand project in South Cotabato, Mindanao.
The project, implemented by Davao-based carbon developer Kennemer Eco Solutions (Keneco), will protect 65,000 hectares of forest, restore degraded land, and empower indigenous communities. It is expected to deliver an estimated 2.74 million tonnes of CO₂ reductions over 25 years while safeguarding habitats for 29 threatened species, including the critically endangered Philippine Eagle.
Beyond environmental benefits, the project will support nearly 60,000 households across 49 villages through sustainable livelihoods, access to education, healthcare, clean water, and stronger indigenous governance aligned with local cultural values.
CultureLand overlaps with the Allah Valley Protected Landscape, creating opportunities for collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).
Michal Zrust, CEO of Lestari Capital, called the initiative a milestone for the Rimba Collective, which now supports conservation of more than 310,000 hectares of forests across Southeast Asia. “We are committed to delivering long-term conservation finance with verified outcomes that companies need to meet their sustainability goals,” he said on Tuesday (Sept 23, 2025).
Keneco CEO Simon Bakker said the project demonstrates how conservation can advance alongside community development. “By protecting forests while strengthening inclusive supply chains and financial access, we are building solutions that are both locally relevant and globally significant,” he said.
The Rimba Collective is a 30-year corporate-backed partnership that channels long-term financing into forest protection, biodiversity conservation, and community welfare. By 2050, it aims to mobilize up to US$1 billion to protect one million hectares of forests across Southeast Asia. ***
