The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has released a statement following Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s public call to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to protect the Masungi Georeserve. DiCaprio, an Oscar-winning actor and prominent environmental advocate, highlighted the threats facing the conservation area in a recent Instagram post.
In his post, DiCaprio narrated the history of Masungi, describing how local communities restored the area after it was heavily deforested in the late 1990s. He praised the conservation efforts that led to the growth of trees, increased wildlife numbers, and greater local involvement in protecting the ecosystem. However, he warned that these successes are now “in jeopardy” due to the DENR’s plans to cancel the agreement that safeguards Masungi from land grabbing activities.
“This cancellation would set back the success of an internationally acclaimed conservation effort and leave the area vulnerable again to mining, logging, and illegal developments,” DiCaprio cautioned. He urged President Marcos Jr. to intervene and uphold the protection of Masungi, also sharing a link to a petition supporting the cause.
In response, the DENR issued a statement emphasizing the legal complexities surrounding Masungi’s operation. “The Filipino people own the area occupied by Masungi Georeserve Foundation, and the operation of the resort venues that charge the public for day tours, meetings, and weddings remains non-compliant with Philippine laws,” the DENR stated.
The Masungi Georeserve Foundation countered this statement on X (formerly Twitter), clarifying, “The Masungi Georeserve is a non-profit conservation initiative run by the MGFI, a non-stock, non-profit Foundation duly registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Masungi is therefore not a resort, which is built for the primary purpose of entertainment and profit.”
The award-winning Masungi Georeserve, located in Baras, Rizal, is renowned for its conservation efforts and is home to 400 species of flora and fauna, including the rare Jurassic Plant found only in Luzon.
