Monitte Lantas is a young Tagbanwa Indigenous leader from Narra, Palawan, and President of Nagkakaisang Kabataang Katutubo ng Narra (NKKN), one of Nature’s Heartbeat’s local partners in the Palawan landscape. Through her work, she helps Indigenous young people take an active role in protecting their territories and shaping the future of their communities.

Young people leading conservation

Through NKKN, Monitte Lantas helps lead youth-driven mangrove conservation and restoration, while building young people’s skills in environmental monitoring, mapping, leadership and advocacy. Her work combines community-based conservation with advocacy for the rights and meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples.

Monitte Lantas also supports initiatives focused on the rights and wellbeing of women and children. She works to strengthen women’s participation in environmental governance and helps ensure that the perspectives of Indigenous women are represented in community decision-making.

A Nature’s Heartbeat partner in Palawan

NKKN is a landscape partner in Palawan within Nature’s Heartbeat. The partnership reflects a principle at the heart of our programme: conservation is stronger when local and Indigenous organisations have the resources and space to lead efforts in their own territories. Their knowledge, priorities and leadership are essential for lasting, locally-led conservation.

Monitte Lantas’s award is a well-deserved recognition of her commitment, and of the vital role Indigenous women and youth play in protecting biodiversity and advancing environmental justice.

Nature’s Heartbeat also congratulates the other winners of the 2026 Irene Dankelman Young Ecofeminist Award: Sarah Adongo from Witness Radio in Uganda and Yemi Knight founder of AnchorBridge Environmental in Barbados. We thank WECF for recognising and supporting the next generation of ecofeminist leaders.