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A recent smear campaign against the Masungi Georeserve, a beloved wildlife reserve in the Philippines, has been uncovered by the BBC. This nature reserve, supported by environmentalists, celebrities such as Greta Thunberg and Leonardo DiCaprio, and climate change advocates, has become a target of misinformation and attacks on social media platforms.
The Masungi Georeserve, located east of Manila, is renowned for its lush rainforest, gravity-defying limestone cliffs, and climate change replanting initiatives. However, despite its global recognition and popularity among ecotourists, the reserve has been facing threats from illegal loggers, land grabbers, and quarrying businesses that seek to exploit its resources.
In recent months, nearly 100 bogus Facebook profiles and websites have been spreading false information about the reserve and its guardians. These accounts, which were found to be connected to a public relations consultant specializing in “reputation management,” aimed to create dissent and confusion among the public regarding the conservation work being done at Masungi Georeserve.
The smear campaign intensified after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) proposed discontinuing the reserve’s reforestation contract, which had granted control over 2,700 hectares of land to the Masungi Georeserve Foundation. This move sparked backlash from environmentalists, celebrities, and social media users who voiced their support for protecting the reserve and its valuable ecosystem.
Despite facing online attacks and real-world violence – including the shooting of two forest guards in 2021 – the Masungi Georeserve Foundation remains committed to its mission of preserving the natural beauty and biodiversity of the area. The foundation’s spokesperson, Billie Dumaliang, highlighted the importance of their work as environmental defenders and the necessity of safeguarding the reserve against external threats.
The BBC’s investigation into the smear campaign revealed a network of false social media accounts and websites that were actively spreading misinformation and undermining the efforts of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation. These accounts used deceptive tactics to amplify negative content about the reserve and discredit its conservation initiatives, targeting both local officials and celebrities who supported the cause.
In response to the BBC’s findings, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, removed many of the fake accounts and sites involved in the campaign. However, the individuals behind these accounts remain unknown, with suspicions raised about their ties to local politicians, industry groups, and other vested interests that may be seeking to exploit the reserve’s resources for financial gain.
Despite the challenges posed by the smear campaign and ongoing threats to the Masungi Georeserve, its supporters remain resilient and hopeful for the future. The dedication of the foundation’s staff and the outpouring of support from environmentalists and celebrities worldwide demonstrate the importance of protecting and preserving precious natural habitats like the Masungi Georeserve. As Billie Dumaliang aptly stated, every sunset and unobstructed landscape at the reserve serves as a reminder of the urgent need to safeguard this special place for future generations.
