Sylvatrop, The Technical Journal of Philippine Ecosystems and Natural Resources 13(1&2): 31-50 A new future for the Philippine crocodile, Crocodylus mindorensis Merlijn van Weerd 1 and Jan van der Ploeg 2 1 Centre of Environmental Science, Leiden University PO Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands 2 Cagayan Valley Programme on Environment and Development (CVPED) EIC building, ISU Campus, Garita, Cabagan, Isabela 3328, Philippines E-mail: vanweerd@cml.leidenuniv.nl, vanderploegjan@pacific.net.ph The Philippine crocodile, Crocodylus mindorensis, is considered to be the most severely threatened crocodile species in the world and is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. Previously widely distributed throughout the Philippine archipelago, C. mindorensis is now thought to be restricted to Mindanao, Negros and Luzon. A widely used population estimate of 100 non- hatchling individuals underlines the critical status of the species, although both distribution and population size estimations were not based on sound field data. A previously unknown population was discovered in the foothills of the Northern Sierra Madre in 1999, sparking hope that C. mindorensis might occur in other, similarly unsurveyed localities. However, in most known localities, crocodiles have become extinct during the last 30 years. Killing of crocodiles seems to be the major cause of the decreasing number of this species. In Northeast Luzon, a community-based conservation approach was adopted with the aim of reaching sustainable co-habitation of crocodiles and local people. This is currently the only in-situ project for the species. The lessons learned from this project could be beneficial to a larger effort to conserve the Philippine crocodile in the wild. THIS PAPER REPORTS THE DISCOVERY OF SEVERAL REMNANT POPULATIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE CROCODILE, Crocodylus mindorensis in Northeast (NE) Luzon and the subsequent efforts for the conservation of this species in the wild. It also summarizes the known information on C. mindorensis and identifies the main challenges for a successful conservation approach. The activities that will be carried out during the years to come under the Crocodile Rehabilitation Observance and Conservation (CROC) project are outlined. Keywords: Philippine crocodile, Crocodylus mindorensis, Philippines, Luzon, Northern Sierra Madre, Community-based conservation, crocodile sanctuary