Zonta District 17 Area 4 declares commitment to protect the Sierra Madre Mountains

The Zonta Clubs of District 17 Area 4 formally declared their commitment to protecting and preserving the Sierra Madre mountain range, emphasizing its critical role in biodiversity, community well-being and climate resilience.

In their statement, the clubs highlighted the alignment of this commitment with the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park Act and the Magna Carta of Women, asserting that every woman has the right to participate fully and equally in environmental stewardship and decision-making.

The Sierra Madre serves as the country’s strongest natural barrier against extreme weather events and houses vital watersheds that supply millions of Filipinos. Its degradation—from deforestation to destructive development—threatens food security, displaces indigenous communities and disrupts cultural traditions. Women, particularly those in vulnerable and indigenous communities who manage natural resources and rely heavily on the land, face disproportionate risks when these ecosystems are damaged.

Zontians underscored that environmental decline also heightens social instability, often leading to increased gender-based violence as resources become scarce and communities are forced to relocate. Empowering women as leaders in conservation, they stressed, is both a matter of justice and an effective strategy for climate resilience, given the wealth of traditional knowledge held by women environmental stewards.

Supporting the conservation of the Sierra Madre, they noted, aligns with the mission to advance women’s empowerment, eliminate violence against women and strengthen women’s leadership in climate-related decision-making. The clubs emphasized their solidarity with women environmental defenders who stand on the frontlines of protection efforts.

“Let us protect Sierra Madre,” they concluded. “Together, we work toward a just, inclusive and sustainable future for all. Together, we build a better world for women and girls—because a better world for women and girls is a better world.”