Dr. Manuel L. Castillo and Forester Emer C. Gestiada won Popular Vote Poster for the entry entitled “Spatial Distribution of Zingiberaceae in the 2-hectare Long Term Ecological Research Plot in the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR) ASEAN Heritage Park” at the the 7th International Symposium on Plant Family Zingiberaceae entitled “Gingers for Life” from 16 to 23 August 2015 at the Empress Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Dr. Castilo is a professor at Forest Biological Sciences in College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños and former Deputy Director of Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems and Forester Gestiada is a University Researcher at Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems.
The three-day symposium formed part of the birthday celebration of Thailand’s Mother of Biodiversity Preservation, Her Royal Majesty Queen Sirikit and the Conservationist Princess, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The symposium was organized by the Botanical Garden Organization of Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Among the symposium’s objectives is to establish a global strategy for conservation and sustainable use of ginger as ginger play an important part of Thai culture. The event served as a venue for exchanging knowledge and forming linkages among the hundreds of scientists, researchers and enthusiasts of the plant Order Zingiberales attending the symposium.
The participants toured the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Chiang Mai, known to shelter the largest collection of living gingers followed by a 3-day field trip at the Phu Hin Rongka.
