Wovoka is proud to announce that Celestine Marie “Tin” Dalida officially joined us as Chief Operations Officer (COO) in November 2023! Tin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from the Ateneo De Manila University and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Before serving as COO, she was Wovoka’s Senior Carbon Development Associate and led the pipeline of the company’s carbon projects in the Philippines.
Previously, Tin served as Operations Manager in the Carbon Commodities Group working on the renewables and electric vehicles sector. She is also an active member of the technical research groups at the Marine Science Institute at the University of the Philippines Diliman doing blue carbon conservation projects involving mangroves and seagrass environments.
Being one of the few researchers in the emerging field of blue carbon, Tin shares a few stories about her work and what excites her the most about working at Wovoka. Get to know Wovoka’s newest Chief Operations Officer by reading the interview story below!
For many people, pursuing a career in climate is not common, especially in the Philippines. When asked what sparked her interest in climate-related work, Tin went back to her college experience and interests as she was growing up.
“Since I grew up in the city, I do not have access to a lot of nature. Instead, it’s by watching National Geographic which exposed me to nature and wildlife. I also went to a science high school which fueled my inquisitive nature. Still, it was only during college when I was studying Environmental Science that my passion for the environment began.”
In 2013, Tin was one of the only fifteen students in their batch who chose Environmental Science as a major. “I always wanted to do something that most people do not want to pursue. I saw that there was a lack of interest in environmental-related work during our time and so I thought, ‘If I won’t go for it, who will?’ Luckily, more and more people are paying attention to the climate crisis now when we need it the most.”
Among the few environmental scientists in the country, there is an even smaller number of scientists whose research is focused on blue carbon systems. Blue carbon refers to organic carbon sequestered in coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrass areas. The global consensus is that blue carbon systems are crucial natural resources that can significantly contribute to the road to net zero.
For Tin, her interest in blue carbon started over six years ago when she experienced long hours in the field, technical laboratory work, and community engagement. “Since 2017, my work primarily involved quantifying how much carbon is stored in specific mangrove and seagrass areas. This line of work involved a lot of field and lab work. Some days I’ll be freediving to collect seagrass samples and encountering sea snakes along the way. Some days I’ll just be in the lab for 12 hours straight processing my soil samples. It is a mixture of adventure and routine and that is what hooked me into research work. I loved it then and I still love it now.”
While her interest in blue carbon materialized with her exciting research experience, the positive societal impact of her research is what kept her going. “I love what I do because it reminds me of how much I do not know about the world so this is always going to be a continuous learning process. I also believe that this is the best way to bridge science to people and to make a difference — however cliche that sounds.”
Furthermore, Tin reflected on how carbon research can help address climate problems. “I have always believed that we can manage only what we can measure. When we know just how much good or damage a certain thing can do, we increase our chances of successfully tackling it,” she added.
Currently, the company has a pipeline of restoration projects in the Philippines and a lot of groundwork will start early next year. Tin finds motivation in Wovoka’s initiatives in the Philippines.
“I am very much looking forward to bringing a restoration project to fruition. We're charting new territory in the country, so we're figuring things out as we progress. Yet I am optimistic that with a talented team like Wovoka, we will significantly enhance our ability to overcome these challenges and complexities. Hopefully, we can also serve as a role model and help others make impactful projects as well.”
In addition to the work being done in the Philippines, she also believes that Wovoka is capable of expanding its operations to the whole of Southeast Asia. “Southeast Asia is so beautiful and our natural resources have so much carbon potential. I am hopeful that we can develop high-quality projects that will protect and restore our environment. After all, these projects will benefit the community.”
In the coming months, Wovoka is set to launch the second phase of our carbon project in Camarines Norte. We are also planning to conduct feasibility studies on new project opportunities in the Philippines by mid-year. Tin will be leading a growing team of scientists dedicated to the early-stage development of carbon credit projects for the voluntary carbon market.
Our goal is to collaborate with land managers in the Philippines who are keen on transforming degraded land into thriving ecosystems, supported financially by net zero corporations from abroad. We are confident that our local Filipino team can develop some of the most integrity-driven projects in the international voluntary carbon market. This initiative will bring the benefits of climate-focused finance to communities in our home country.
Are you interested in leveraging carbon finance to restore local ecosystems? Reach out to tin@wovoka.io to learn how our team can assist you in this endeavor.
