As the Asia-Pacific region prepares for the 2025 APEC Leaders’ Meeting in South Korea, an unlikely ambassador emerges from the Philippine rainforests: the wide-eyed Philippine tarsier. Measuring just 10-15 centimeters, this nocturnal primate has become a symbol of environmental stewardship in one of APEC’s most biodiverse member economies.
Listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, the tarsier’s survival story offers insights into sustainable development challenges facing APEC members. The Philippine government established the 167-hectare Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Bohol, combining conservation with eco-tourism – a model gaining attention across the Asia-Pacific.
With APEC 2025 expected to address green growth initiatives, environmentalists highlight the tarsier’s habitat preservation as a microcosm of regional cooperation. “Protecting species like the tarsier requires cross-border knowledge sharing,” says Dr. Maria Santos, a Manila-based conservation biologist. “APEC’s platform could accelerate such environmental partnerships.”
The sanctuary’s success in balancing ecological protection with community engagement aligns with APEC’s 2025 theme of Creating Resilient and Sustainable Futures. As delegates prepare to discuss climate action, this tiny primate reminds us that economic progress and environmental preservation must evolve hand-in-hand.
