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| Makiling Botanic Gardens | |
|---|---|
| Name | Makiling Botanic Gardens |
| Type | Botanical garden |
| Location | Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines |
| Area | (approx.) 114 hectares |
| Created | 1954 |
| Operator | University of the Philippines Los Baños |
| Status | Open to public (limited access) |
Makiling Botanic Gardens
The Makiling Botanic Gardens is a botanical research and conservation site located on the slopes of Mount Makiling near Los Baños, Laguna. Established as part of university initiatives, it functions as a nexus for plant taxonomy, forest ecology, and germplasm preservation linked to regional and international networks. Its grounds host living collections, experimental plots, and outreach facilities that support collaborations with institutions across Asia and global conservation programs.
The garden's origins trace to initiatives by the University of the Philippines Los Baños and forestry missions associated with the Bureau of Forestry and postwar rehabilitation efforts influenced by agricultural planning from the Philippine Commonwealth. Early campaigns involved researchers connected to the UP College of Forestry and Natural Resources, the International Rice Research Institute, and scholars from the University of California, Berkeley and Harvard University Herbaria. Mid-20th century projects incorporated expertise from the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United States Department of Agriculture, and regional botanical institutions such as the Leyte Academic Center and Mindanao State University. Over decades the garden adapted to policy shifts tied to the National Integrated Protected Areas System and partnerships with NGOs including Conservation International and the World Wide Fund for Nature. Prominent botanists and alumni associated with the site have held positions at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Korea Forest Research Institute.
Situated on the northern and western foothills of the stratovolcano Mount Makiling, the gardens occupy montane and lowland zones contiguous with the Makiling Forest Reserve and near the Laguna de Bay watershed. Elevation gradients link habitats from 100 m to over 1,000 m above sea level, creating microclimates influenced by the Sierra Madre-adjacent wind patterns and monsoon regimes like the Amihan and Habagat. Soils derive from volcanic parent material similar to deposits found around Taal Volcano and Mayon Volcano; hydrology connects to tributaries feeding into the Paete River basin and the broader Philippine Mobile Belt. The garden’s location affords proximity to the Los Baños Hot Spring geothermal activity and to academic clusters including the Philippine Science High School campus and facilities of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Living collections emphasize native and economically important taxa drawn from the Dipterocarpaceae, Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, and Orchidaceae families, and include species documented in regional floras such as the Flora Malesiana and inventories by the National Museum of the Philippines. Experimental collections house representatives of Coffea arabica, Theobroma cacao, Cocos nucifera, and multiple Mangifera indica cultivars, reflecting collaborations with the Philippine Coconut Authority, the Bureau of Plant Industry, and germplasm banks like the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute. Specialized orchid collections link to ex situ conservation programs with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. Ethnobotanical plots showcase medicinal and traditional crops featured in studies by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development and projects with the Asian Development Bank. Seed orchards and arboreta mirror species lists used by the World Agroforestry Centre and align with checklists from the IUCN Red List assessments for Philippine endemics.
The garden functions as a field station for ecological studies by the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, UPLB, the Institute of Plant Breeding, and the National Crop Protection Center. Research themes cover forest restoration inspired by casework with the United Nations Environment Programme, invasive species monitoring informed by protocols from the Convention on Biological Diversity, and climate vulnerability assessments comparable to studies by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Conservation breeding and seed banking activities are coordinated with networks such as the Botanic Gardens Conservation International and regional initiatives led by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity. Longitudinal plots support peer-reviewed studies published in journals affiliated with the Philippine Journal of Science, the Asian Journal of Biodiversity, and collaborations with teams from the University of Tokyo and the Australian National University.
Facilities include research laboratories associated with the Institute of Biological Sciences, herbarium deposits integrated with the UPLB Museum of Natural History, propagation houses modeled after those at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and a visitor center used for exhibitions parallel to programs at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila cultural collaborations. Pathways and signage follow standards promoted by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre for protected landscapes, and safety and access protocols reflect guidelines from the Philippine Red Cross and local Los Baños municipal government ordinances. Guided walks, interpretive trails, and demonstration gardens are staged for groups from institutions like the University of the Philippines Diliman, the De La Salle University, and the Ateneo de Manila University.
Educational outreach partners include the Department of Science and Technology, the Commission on Higher Education, and local schools such as the Los Baños National High School. Programs range from hands-on botany modules inspired by curricula at the Philippine Science High School to agroforestry training in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and livelihood workshops linked to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Community-based conservation projects involve indigenous knowledge exchanges with groups associated with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and civic engagements with NGOs like Haribon Foundation and the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society.
Operational oversight is provided by administrative units within the University of the Philippines Los Baños in coordination with regulatory agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and legal frameworks influenced by statutes enacted in the Philippine Congress. Strategic planning and funding streams draw on grants from agencies including the National Research Council of the Philippines, international donors like the World Bank, and partnerships with private stakeholders such as agro-industrial firms and regional conservation trusts. Collaborative governance models have involved memoranda of understanding with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and academic exchange agreements with the Seoul National University and University of California system campuses.
Category:Botanical gardens in the Philippines Category:Los Baños, Laguna