For. Angela A. Limpiada, University Extension Associate II
The Mount Makiling Forest Reserve ASEAN Heritage Park (MMFR AHP), through the Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG), continues to serve as a vital hub for education and research at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
As part of the University’s living laboratory, the MBG provides an ideal venue for academic courses and fieldwork activities. Classes such as Forest Taxonomy, Forest Engineering and Surveying, and Watershed Management are regularly held within the gardens, along with various courses in Ecotourism.
“Mount Makiling serves as our big classroom,” faculty members note, emphasizing the value of learning directly from the forest environment.
One such course is NRC 130: Nature-based Leisure and Outdoor Recreation, taught by Dr. Frechie Belle Lo. The class maximizes the gardens’ natural setting, allowing students to gain deeper knowledge of ecotourism and outdoor recreation while experiencing firsthand the calming and inspiring atmosphere of the MBG.
With the support of guided tours, visitors and students alike can truly enjoy learning while experiencing the beauty of nature, making the Makiling Botanic Gardens a unique space where education, research, and recreation come together.
By integrating biodiversity and education, the MBG continues to highlight the importance of conservation while supporting UPLB’s mission of nurturing future environmental leaders.
Photos by: AALimpiada & FBLo
