Community Projects and Conservation
Alongside his work as a driftwood sculptor, James Doran-Webb has established community and conservation projects in Cebu, Philippines. His long-term commitment to planting and nurturing trees is joined by projects supporting local livelihoods and the restoration of coastal habitats.
Following Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in November 2013, James established Bangka Relief to help fishing families rebuild their livelihoods. This work led to Bantayan Crafts, while his ongoing environmental initiatives include 80,000 Trees and the developing In Pursuit of Harmony mangrove conservation project.
80,000 Trees
In 2013, James embarked on a programme of planting and nurturing indigenous Philippine trees in the denuded hills of Cebu. Called 80,000 Trees, the project remains an ongoing commitment to restoring landscapes while supporting the local communities who care for the trees.
Planting has taken place across three principal areas of Cebu: the hills above Oslob, Dap Dap west of Cebu City, and Daanbantayan in the north of the island.
Approximate figures reported in James's Winter Journal 2026.
Volunteers supporting the 80,000 Trees project in Cebu, Philippines.
The project favours indigenous species that would once have grown naturally in these landscapes. Planting broadly comprises 30% fruit-bearing trees, intended to provide future income for local stakeholders; 30% timber trees, which may eventually be harvested with the permission of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); and 40% heritage trees, intended to remain permanently protected.
Local stakeholders are supported through monthly stipends based on seedling survival. James also hopes to expand planting into other areas of denuded timberland and allocate resources to mangrove restoration. His commitment to the original goal of 80,000 trees remains unchanged.
Publications supporting 80,000 Trees
All proceeds from James's publications Animalier and Winter Journal 2026 go towards the 80,000 Trees project, helping to support the planting and nurturing of trees in Cebu.
Bangka Relief
In the days following Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in November 2013, James established Bangka Relief to help fishing families recover their livelihoods. Over the following year, the programme repaired small fishing outriggers on Bantayan Island and built new boats for fishermen in Tacloban.
James designed a small boat known as the “V”tab, with a V-shaped hull made from sustainably sourced Douglas fir and locally supplied Santa Clara plywood. Components were cut and prepared in his Cebu workshop, then sent to Tacloban for assembly using jigs he had developed. This approach allowed boats to be built efficiently from sustainable materials.
Historical results reported by James in his Winter Journal 2026, following Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
As this emergency boat programme drew to a close, James turned his attention to helping women in fishing communities build longer-term livelihoods. That work developed into Bantayan Crafts.
Bantayan Crafts
Bantayan Crafts was established to empower women on Bantayan Island, off the northern coast of Cebu, following the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. After James's Bangka Relief work helped fishing families rebuild their livelihoods, he turned his attention to creating opportunities for the women of those communities.
Working with a group of women in Sillon, James developed and launched a range of 50 gifts and souvenirs using storm debris and natural materials. The women brought their own creativity and skills to the project, producing professionally packaged pieces presented on custom-made point-of-sale displays. James used his contacts to introduce the collection to hotels, tourist destinations and transport hubs around Cebu.
Milestones described by James in his Winter Journal 2026.
Bantayan Crafts handmade gifts presented on custom-made display racks.
Presenting the Bantayan Crafts collection in Cebu.
By March 2015, Bantayan Crafts was providing 35 women with a steady income. Over the following decade, the enterprise produced more than 20,000 handmade pieces. As James reports in his Winter Journal 2026, the project continues to support its core group of women-makers on Bantayan Island, with their creativity and resourcefulness at the heart of its success.
In Pursuit of Harmony
Marine conservation and mangrove restoration in Cebu, Philippines
James Doran-Webb's In Pursuit of Harmony brings together his sculptural work and his commitment to protecting the natural environment. Centred on his vision for a monumental breaching-whale sculpture, the developing initiative aims to restore mangrove habitats near his workshop in Cebu and create opportunities for local communities to participate in their conservation.
In his Winter Journal 2026, James describes an initial planting of 300 mangrove seedlings and an ambition to expand the work over the following five years.
Initial planting and future ambitions described in James's Winter Journal 2026.
Conservation and community involvement
James also envisages regular coastal clean-ups and the possibility of elevated walkways and sustainable eco-tourism. These longer-term proposals are intended to support environmental education, community participation and local livelihoods as the conservation initiative develops.
Sculpture supporting conservation
The monumental breaching-whale sculpture remains a planned future work. James has already created a maquette as part of developing the artistic concept, and he intends sales of maquettes to help support the marine conservation initiative.
Discover the Maquette of In Pursuit of Harmony in the Gallery
Other Charities Supported
Alongside his own community projects, he supports a number of other charities through donations of his work.
Donor Family Network
James has supported this charity since 2012, primarily through donations of his work at their annual charity auctions. This charity does wonderful work raising awareness of the importance of organ donation and consoling those who have lost loved ones. James was overjoyed to be honoured as a Patron of Donor Family Network early 2022.
Please visit https://www.donorfamilynetwork.co.uk/
Captivating.Org
Captivating.Org is very close to James’ heart. Their mission is to facilitate the education of girls from underprivileged families. James has supported their annual auction with sculptures since 2018. In 2020 he made a Pheonix which raised some $15,000.00 in the Shenzhen auction. You can see a video of the making of the Pheonix here;
Please visit https://captivating.org/
Hope and Homes for Children
James also donates every year to this wonderful charity that works tirelessly to find alternatives to orphanages.
Please visit https://www.hopeandhomes.org/what-we-do/
Other Charities
James also donates work to other worthy causes. Here are examples of the results of his donations:
2019… Tubod Art Fair, Cebu…. $4,000.00 for university art grants for underprivileged kids
2020… Art4Front Line, Cebu… $3,500.00 to assist with PPE in the first days of the Pandemic
2022… Ukrainian refugee fund, Cebu… $2,500.00 raised