During a week-long academic program at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), a delegation from Can Tho University in Vietnam visited the Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG) on May 13, 2026. The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics (DAAE), College of Economics and Management (CEM) in UPLB, organized the guided tour. Forester Alexis Fajardo welcomed the delegation, which consisted of 28 participants, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members, and university officials from Can Tho University, who were accompanied by faculty representatives from the DAAE.
The visit highlighted discussions on how trees and other plant species in the themed gardens provide direct and indirect benefits as part of MBG’s ex situ conservation initiatives. Forester Fajardo emphasized that biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management maintain the provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services of forests. Participants also explored MBG’s role in promoting environmental education and sustainable natural resource management. Furthermore, the activity strengthened institutional collaboration and created opportunities for academic exchange and future research partnerships between UPLB and Can Tho University. (Article and photo by For. Alexis Fajardo)