Masungi Georeserve: Filipino conservationists targeted by online smear campaign - BBC World Service

Summary

In this video script, environmental activists Ann and Billie Dumaliang fight to protect the Masungi Georeserve in the Philippines, a lush rainforest area threatened by illegal logging, land grabs, and quarrying. Despite their efforts, they face an intense smear campaign online, with fake social media accounts spreading disinformation and defending the government’s decision to cancel their preservation contract. After global attention from figures like Leonardo DiCaprio, the Dumaliangs uncover a shadow network of PR consultants and fake accounts manipulating public opinion. The sisters remain undeterred in their mission to safeguard Masungi, inspired by their progress in reforestation and the growing wildlife sanctuary.

Takeaways

• 😀 Leonardo DiCaprio's Instagram post about the Masungi Georeserve sparked a public debate, drawing attention to environmental concerns in the Philippines.
• 😀 DiCaprio accused the Philippine government's environment department of putting the Masungi Georeserve at risk, which the department denied, thanking him for his concern.
• 😀 The online reaction to DiCaprio's post included a significant number of comments from accounts with suspicious profiles, raising questions about their authenticity.
• 😀 The Masungi Georeserve, located east of Manila, was heavily reforested over two decades by Ann and Billie Dumaliang, whose father initially developed the land.
• 😀 Despite the environmental success of the Masungi project, it faces ongoing threats from illegal loggers, land grabbers, and quarrying companies looking to exploit the land.
• 😀 The Dumaliang sisters have been confronting a smear campaign online, with disinformation coming from official channels, as well as fake social media accounts.
• 😀 The Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) wants to revoke the Masungi Foundation's contract for preserving the reserve, citing constitutional issues.
• 😀 A group of fake Facebook accounts systematically spread pro-DENR content and criticized the Masungi Foundation, suggesting coordinated disinformation efforts.
• 😀 These fake accounts shared misleading ads and posts, often with stock images or generic profile pictures, and were quickly created to amplify anti-Masungi messages.
• 😀 The person behind the campaign of fake accounts was identified as Ben Pablo, a public relations consultant specializing in reputation management, although he denied involvement with the DENR or any political figure.
• 😀 Despite facing online harassment, the Dumaliang sisters remain committed to their cause, drawing strength from the visible success of their reforestation efforts and their dedication to preserving the Masungi Georeserve.

Q & A

What is the significance of Leonardo DiCaprio's post about the Masungi Georeserve?

Leonardo DiCaprio's post highlighted the need for protecting the Masungi Georeserve in the Philippines, which gained widespread attention due to his large following on Instagram. The post also brought attention to the accusations against the Philippine environment department for allegedly putting the reserve at risk.

What role do Ann and Billie Dumaliang play in the Masungi Georeserve project?

Ann and Billie Dumaliang are responsible for running the Masungi Georeserve, a nature conservation project their father started over 25 years ago. They are leading efforts to reforest and protect the area, transforming it from a barren land into a lush sanctuary for wildlife.

What challenges has the Masungi Georeserve faced over the years?

The Masungi Georeserve has faced threats from illegal loggers, land grabbers, and quarrying companies. Additionally, the reserve has had to contend with online smear campaigns that spread disinformation and misrepresented the project's goals and efforts.

How did the Philippine government respond to the Masungi Georeserve's conservation efforts?

The Philippine government's environment department initially signed a contract with the Masungi Georeserve Foundation to protect and reforest 2,700 hectares of land. However, there has been controversy as the current government seeks to cancel the contract, citing constitutional concerns about the long-term land allocation.

What was the nature of the online smear campaign against the Masungi Georeserve?

The smear campaign involved the creation of fake Facebook accounts that posted comments supporting the environment department while attacking the Masungi Georeserve. These accounts were linked to misleading ads and content aimed at undermining the reserve's reputation.

What did the analysis of Facebook accounts reveal about the smear campaign?

The analysis of the Facebook accounts revealed that many of the accounts involved in the smear campaign had random profile pictures, were created within hours of each other, and were focused exclusively on content related to the environment department or discrediting Masungi Georeserve. These accounts were later removed by Meta for engaging in deceptive activity.

Who was identified as the person behind the anti-Masungi campaign?

Ben Pablo, a public relations consultant specializing in reputation management, was identified as the person behind the anti-Masungi campaign. He bought Facebook ads promoting misleading content about the reserve, and was linked to promoting political figures such as Senator Imee Marcos.

What role did Meta (Facebook's parent company) play in the situation?

Meta responded to the findings of the smear campaign by removing nearly 100 fake accounts and pages that were engaged in deceptive and spammy activity. These accounts had amplified content to make it appear more popular than it was, violating Facebook's policies.

What was the Philippine environment department's response to the accusations of involvement in the smear campaign?

The Philippine environment department denied any involvement in the smear campaign, stating that it did not engage in social media activities aimed at negatively influencing public opinion about the Masungi Georeserve. They also emphasized their commitment to transparency and fairness in their communications.

Despite the challenges, what keeps Ann and Billie Dumaliang motivated in their conservation efforts?

Ann and Billie Dumaliang remain motivated by the progress they've seen at the Masungi Georeserve. They are inspired by the lush forest that has emerged from their reforestation efforts and the knowledge that their work is preserving a vital natural space for wildlife and future generations.