Newsletter: Leveraging technology, empowering local communities to help protect Sierra Madre and Mt. Makiling

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(L-R) UPLB University research associate Arthur Umali, UPLB-CFNR dean Marlo D. Mendoza MDM, and GCash head for sustainability CJ Alegre, during the ceremonial planting of Dillenia philippinensis (Katmon), an endemic species, in a joint initiative promoting biodiversity conservation and environmental stewardship

The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) is partnering with GCash, the leading Philippine finance super app, through its GForest program, to address environmental threats like illegal forest conversion and accelerate the restoration of degraded lands within the Mount Makiling Georeserve and the Sierra Madre mountain range. The strategic partnership aims to protect and reforest 250 hectares of land within the two land grants managed by UPLB by planting at least 130,000 forest and fruit trees during the first phase, and another 25,000 seedlings for urban and roadside planting in parts of Mount Makiling Georeserve by 2029.

Newsletter: Investigating the role of bird perches in reforestation

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

Reforesting damaged forests is crucial for fighting climate change and protecting wildlife. One common way to do this is by planting trees, but this can be expensive and labor-intensive. A cheaper and more effective approach is Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), which can involve the use of bird perches to attract fruit-eating birds that can help spread tree seeds and speed up the natural regeneration of the forest.

A Philippine green pigeon (Treron axillaris) is seen eating a fig, the seeds of which will be dispersed the next time the bird defecates. Researchers are looking at the potential role of artificial and natural bird perches in this dispersal process towards restoring degraded forests.(Photo credit: Jelaine Lim Gan)

Researchers from the University of the Philippines - Diliman College of Science Institute of Biology (UPD-CS IB), the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, and the UK’s Newcastle University aim to embark on a systematic review and meta analysis of previous studies and observations to figure out how well artificial and natural perches work in increasing seed dispersal and seedling growth on degraded areas.

GCash goes green with new feature GCash Forest

07/13/2019 11:04:48 PM

As contrasting as some may look, modernization can co-exist with environmental concerns. GCash is just one of the many examples of this.