John Carlo R. Santos
- Project name: Co-developing situational anti-poaching strategies to protect the Mindoro dwarf buffalo in Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park
- Project site: Mindoro, Philippines
- EDGE species: Tamaraw, Bubalus mindorensis
- Active: 2025 - ongoing
Biography
John Carlo R. Santos (Carlo) is a Protection and Law Enforcement Officer at the D’Aboville Foundation and Demo Farm Inc. in Mindoro, Philippines. With a background in wildlife studies and environmental science, he brings a strong interdisciplinary approach to conservation. His research spans spatial monitoring, biodiversity assessments, and socio-ecological investigations, with a particular focus on large mammals and indigenous knowledge systems.
Carlo has contributed to several national and international conservation initiatives, including the design of a range-wide Tamaraw monitoring system and the application of crime prevention science to reduce wildlife threats. His commitment to species protection is matched by his belief in community collaboration. Through the EDGE Fellowship, he aims to further develop his skills in facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and project leadership, enabling him to co-create culturally sensitive conservation strategies in one of the Philippines’ most important protected areas.
EDGE Project
Carlo’s vision is a future where tamaraw populations are safeguarded through inclusive, community-driven protection strategies rooted in understanding and respect for indigenous practices.
His EDGE Fellowship project will generate the first comprehensive understanding of tamaraw poaching by the Buhid indigenous communities in Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park. Using tools from wildlife crime prevention science, he will work with local actors to map out the drivers and opportunities that lead to poaching, and co-develop strategies that reduce threats to tamaraw while respecting the cultural context.