YEREVAN, ARMENIA | 21 October 2026 — Tagbanwa youth leader Monitte O. Lantas from Narra, Palawan, was recognized as one of three recipients of the Irene Dankelman Young Ecofeminist Award during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17). The award recognizes young women advancing biodiversity conservation, gender equality, and environmental justice.
The award was presented to Monitte by Dr. Anush Nersesyan, Leading Researcher and Head of the Department of Conservation of Genetic Resources at the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.
For Monitte, the recognition is not hers alone. “I accept it with a grateful heart, not only for myself, but also for the community, my fellow Indigenous youth,” she shared in her acceptance speech, acknowledging the women and Indigenous elders who have guided her work.
“I accept it with a grateful heart, not only for myself, but also for the community, my fellow Indigenous Youth.”
Monitte O. Lantas receives the Irene Dankelman Young Ecofeminist Award from Dr. Anush Nersesyan, Leading Researcher and Head of the Department of Conservation of Genetic Resources at the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, during CBD COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, on October 21, 2026. (Photo: Aram Saloyan for WECF)
Monitte serves as President of the Nagkakaisang Kabataang Katutubo ng Narra (NKKN) and Secretary of the Ugnayin National Indigenous Youth Network Philippines (UGNAYIN PH).
Formed in 2021, NKKN began as a small group of Indigenous youth organizing volunteer coastal clean-ups, tree planting, and community outreach. The group has since expanded its conservation and advocacy work, supporting Indigenous elders in documenting community processes and mobilizing young people to protect their environment.
Through Nature’s Heartbeat, NKKN is now leading a youth-led mangrove restoration initiative in Narra, Palawan. The group has planted more than 2,000 mangrove seedlings, bringing together Indigenous youth and community members to help restore coastal ecosystems.
“What matters even more is the collective action behind every seedling planted,” Monitte emphasized.
Beyond restoration, Monitte and NKKN have participated in community mobilizations against destructive mining, contributing alongside Indigenous communities, civil society organizations, and local advocates to the campaign for Palawan’s 50-year mining moratorium. Her leadership also extends to Indigenous women’s participation in environmental decision-making, community education on reproductive health, and addressing early marriage among young people.
Monitte, indigenous youth from NKKN, participate in mangrove restoration activities in Narra, Palawan (Photo: NKKN)
For Monitte, these struggles are deeply connected. “Our forests, rivers, mountains, and seas are part of who we are. They carry our stories, our traditions, our identity, and the wisdom of ancestors,” she told the gathering.
Nominated by NTFP-EP Philippines, Monitte’s recognition brings international attention to the collective efforts of Indigenous youth and women protecting their ancestral territories and biodiversity.
She ended with a message encouraging other young Indigenous leaders to begin taking action, regardless of age or resources:
“We do not have to wait until we have enough funds, until we are old enough to start.”
The award was established and organised by Women Engage for Common Future (WECF), the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature Netherlands National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN NL), and Both ENDS.
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Read the official announcement from WECF and the award organizers here.
