CSP student Clint Gallaron is now a National Geographic Explorer! He has been awarded a National Geographic Society Grant that aligns with his capstone project centered around elevating the voices of the Indigenous Tagbanwa community in the Philippines in marine conservation. The objective of his project, “Empowering Stories of the Tagbanwa’s Ocean Stewardship in Busuanga Island,” is to collaboratively formulate guiding principles for establishing an Indigenous Marine Managed Area. This initiative seeks to uplift Tagbanwa’s long-standing relationship with its ocean territories through the innovative use of community-based photography and storytelling. The Marine Conservation Action Fund of the New England Aquarium also supports this project. Clint is part of the 2024 CSP class graduating this June.
Clint says, “I was surprised and happy when the National Geographic Society approved my project with the Tagbanwa of the Philippines. It’s a meaningful acknowledgment of the project’s potential impact in empowering Indigenous People. It also underscores the fact that there’s more work ahead to uplift Indigenous voices in discussions about nature conservation and climate policy. Personally, being chosen as a National Geographic Explorer is just the beginning of a journey for me. I’m eager to see the future opportunities and partnerships that may unfold with the National Geographic Society.”