Kristoffer Noriel Ordoñez

Imaginast, Sierra Madre Conservation Society

About Kristoffer Noriel Ordoñez

I’m a field-based conservationist and institutional founder working at the intersection of ecology, governance, and knowledge systems in the Philippines.

For over 15 years, my work has involved biodiversity research, trail and landscape exploration, community-integrated conservation, and long-term engagement with Indigenous Peoples and local governments. I’ve worked on species rediscovery, reforestation and carbon forestry, conservation field surveys, and governance-oriented mountain initiatives across Luzon and Mindoro.

Rather than focusing on single projects or short funding cycles, my work centers on a broader question: how societies recognize, translate, and govern ecological reality in biodiversity-rich but institutionally fragmented contexts.

In 2024, I co-founded the Sierra Madre Conservation Society (SierraPH), where I initiated four interlinked programs:
Found Nation, a counter-archive for forgotten and long-undocumented species
The Sierra Madre Trail Program, a governance-first framework for ethical movement through mountains
SierraCon, a knowledge summit connecting science, society, and climate resilience
The League of Indigenous Peoples Innovators (LIPI), an institutional incubation platform for Indigenous-led governance innovation

Increasingly, my work explores how cultural memory, art, and ethics shape which species are seen, remembered, or forgotten, and how these forces influence conservation priorities and public understanding.

Across these efforts, my focus is on building durable structures that allow ecological knowledge, Indigenous authority, and conservation practice to endure beyond individual projects, personalities, or funding cycles.

Which category below best describes the type of organisation you currently work for/or run?

Charity/Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)

Areas of expertise

Communication and marketing Education & training Fundraising Partnerships and collaboration development Project/programme management Research

Would you be willing to be approached and share your lessons learned in your area(s) of expertise with our community?

Yes

Would you like to be added to the calendar invitation for our monthly WildHub Socials?

Unsure, I would like more information about these socials

Are you currently signed up for one of our WildTeam training courses? Please select "No" if you are not signed up, or choose the course you are registered for below.

1. No, I am not signed up for a WildTeam training course

Intro Content

Introduction

Sa ngalan ng Sierra Madre

"We've wounded this mountain. It's our duty to close her wounds. It's the least we can do to show our gratitude for all the wealth she's given us. If you guys don't want to help me, I'll do it alone." - Howard (The Treasure of Sierra Madre, 1948)

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Recent Comments

Hello, Tara. You piqued my interest. I'll send an email. Thank you.

Thank you for these, Frank, though I keep getting a "There has been a critical error on this website." message every time I click the hyperlinks. I tried searching via Google and if I click the link through there, the same error message shows up.

Signed up! Thanks, @Loretta Andrade!

Hi Grace. SMNT's on the back pedal at this time, making sure the local government units and agencies are onboard. We're also hoping to get funding soon so we can have people working on it fulltime. 

Thank you, Chrissy. See you around. :)

Thanks, Lara. Nice to meet you. 

I may not get the terms right at this time but based on my experience, I believe it works best both ways if we defer to their right to self-determination. At first, I thought having good intentions was good enough. Sure, for starters definitely, but you just can't proceed with laying your plans as you see fit. They need to be informed, involved, and indispensable. They have to own the project of their own volition and see the gains from their perspectives. 

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