From Seedling to System Change: How Indigenous Youth Are Using Tech to Protect Ancestral Lands

In the lush mountains of Mindanao, Philippines, a group of Indigenous youth, equipped with mobile phones, maps, seedlings, and a strong sense of purpose, are reshaping how their communities think about the environment, land, and the future. These young changemakers are participants of the Community Empowerment for Racial and Environmental Justice in the Asia-Pacific Region (R&E) project, a youth-focused initiative implemented by Education Development Center (EDC).

R&E was launched to equip youth from ethnic minority communities in Indonesia and the Philippines with the knowledge, skills, and agency to move their communities toward environmentally safe and sustainable practices. Here we describe one of the project outcomes, a geotagged forest map, drawn by the next generation of forest guardians.

Where Tech Meets Tradition

At the heart of this movement is the Dulangan Unified Youth Organization (DUYOG), a group of Higaonon youth in Misamis Oriental who received training in nursery management and geotagging. Through a partnership with World Spectrum Consultancy, Inc., and mentoring support from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), these youth developed digital maps of native trees they planted, each carefully logged with GPS coordinates and lovingly named. Each tree was adopted by a “Tree Parent,” who took on the responsibility of caring for it, reinforcing a long-term commitment to the environment.

The group also conducted participatory hazard mapping, enabling the community to visualize flood-prone zones and better prepare for environmental risks. In doing so, these youth blended digital tools with Indigenous knowledge—a perfect intersection of tech and tradition.

“It is very important for us, the elders in the Dulangan Tribe, that our culture and efforts continue,” shared Datu Mancalamag, a tribal elder. “Our youth, through DUYOG, have taken the path.”

From Community Action to Policy Integration

With the support of MENRO, the Dulangan youth’s reforestation plan was formally adopted into Opol’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP). In just five months, their sales of native seedlings raised over 12,875 PHP to support ongoing activities. But beyond financial returns, the initiative reinforced a culture of stewardship and systems thinking among young people who previously had little access to such tools or platforms.

“Our engagement has been truly transformative,” said Gemima Lopez, project coordinator from World Spectrum. “It directly addresses the pressing needs of our community and empowers the youth to take charge of their futures.”

The Bigger Picture: Scaling with Intention

The Dulangan youth’s project was part of a broader effort under the R&E framework called Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Solutions (EESS). EESS projects are designed to address local environmental and economic challenges through youth-driven solutions.

Now, this approach is set to evolve and expand under a new initiative called Virtual First Job 5.0 – Empowerment through Data-driven Green Entrepreneurship (VFJ 5.0 – EDGE), implemented in partnership with DTI RAPID.

While inspired by R&E, VFJ 5.0 – EDGE is not a copy-and-paste expansion. Youth will co-design new green entrepreneurship projects focused on improving local supply chains—whether in sustainable farming, eco-tourism, or circular economy models—based on the unique needs of their communities. What remains constant is the commitment to youth leadership, local relevance, and systems thinking.

From Roots to Reach

What began with 500 seedlings and a forest map has grown into a model of youth-led environmental action and policy influence. These youth are showing how Indigenous knowledge and digital innovation can build upon each other for the greater good. Their journey reminds us that when youth are trusted with tools, mentorship, and purpose, they do more than grow forests—they grow systems of change.

Join Us

We invite donors, government partners, and civil society organizations to:

• Support youth-led environmental and entrepreneurship initiatives grounded in cultural identity and local context
• Invest in building digital skills for sustainable development
• Collaborate on co-designed, community-driven solutions through partnerships such as VFJ 5.0 – EDGE

Together, we can ensure that the seeds planted today grow into thriving ecosystems of green entrepreneurship, sustainable agriculture, and data-driven economic empowerment.

To join use, please email Timothy Haskell (thaskell@edc.org) or Sattiya Langkhapin (slangkhapin@edc.org) to explore collaboration opportunities or to learn more about our work with youth and sustainable development in Southeast Asia.