Solid waste management is considered a pressing global issue calling for an immediate response from the government and its people. The Philippines has a continuously rising amount of waste and is expected to further increase in the succeeding years. As reviewed, associated problems with solid waste management in the country include an increasing amount of solid waste, weak law implementation, scarcity of sanitary landfills, and improper disposal. The ultimate solution existing in the country is the RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which highlights the practices of segregation, proper disposal, and waste diversion. The importance of envisioning a trash-free Philippines and encouraging people’s participation and awareness is also emphasized. Another possible solution to solid waste management is valorization which can also address other environmental problems such as the depletion of natural resources. These solutions enumerated will only be possible with the presence of good governance, active participation of the people of the country, and the cooperation of all constituents and agencies in the Philippines.

Invasive alien plant species (IAPS) pose one of the most significant threats to native biodiversity. Swietenia macrophylla, or big leaf mahogany, is among the most threatening invasive plants in the Philippines. This article aimed to formally document the presence of S. macrophylla along the edges of Mt. Banahaw de Nagcarlan, a protected area on Luzon Island, Philippines. The study also sought to identify the management strategies being implemented by various government institutions to address big leaf mahogany and other invasive plants. A total of 1591 individuals of S. macrophylla were documented in mixed land-use areas and roadsides. These were found to have been introduced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 1991 as a reforestation species. Fortunately, no individuals were observed beyond the buffer zone towards the protected area. The identification of management strategies for big leaf mahogany and other IAPS revealed that there is no established approach specifically addressing the presence of S. macrophylla at the site. However, some institutions advocate for the conservation of native plants through tree planting activities and educational campaigns. Furthermore, no collaborative efforts were observed among stakeholders and institutions. The results of this study highlight the urgent need to manage the S. macrophylla population. Planning and enforcement of strategies require collaborative efforts among stakeholders to prevent its entry into the protected area and ensure the preservation of native biodiversity.

Tree species play a very important role in storing and sequestration of carbon by preventing the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as greenhouse gases. Carbon stock assessment is a useful tool in estimation of the importance of an area in terms of its carbon storage capacity. Trees with at least 5cm-diameter at breast height were recorded from 27 plots with a total area of 10800 square meter. A total of 139 species with 2239 individuals were identified with a total of 306.48 t ha(-1) carbon content based on the live trees' aboveground and belowground biomass. Regression analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between tree carbon stock and basic parameters namely, species richness, species abundance, and elevation. Ecologically important species, particularly the Philippine endemics and threatened, yielded a total of 172.65 t ha(-1). Among the species found within the area, Xanthostemon philippinensis Merr. (Myrtaceae) had the highest carbon stored of 68.60 tons. The study revealed that the ultramafic forest in Sitio Dicasalarin, Baler, Aurora, Philippines is a critically important area with tremendous carbon storage capacity mainly contributed by the endemic and threatened species as found.

The study aimed to assess the students’ extent of knowledge and identify their perspectives towards biodiversity and its protection and conservation. A total of 268 randomly selected students at Aurora State College of Technology were involved in the study. Survey questionnaires were used to obtain data and information which were subjected to statistical tests. The students had a moderate knowledge level on biodiversity with a mean score of 6.65 out of 10 items (SD = 1.50). Their perspective on biodiversity was leaning toward its protection and conservation, with a mean score of 7.2 out of 10 items (SD = 1.29). Factors affecting the students’ knowledge were gender (p = .003) and academic department (p = 0.003). Females and those associated with the Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences and Department of Industrial technology were found to have more knowledge than the others. Males, on the other hand, were found to have more positive perspectives towards biodiversity. Knowledge and perspective had a weak correlation with r = 0.39. Students were not well-aware, but were in support of the Philippines’ biodiversity-related laws, which could help shape their mindset and actions towards biodiversity conservation and protection. Thus, the college administration must revisit the curricula of all degree programs and ensure that students from each degree program are environmentally educated, emphasizing biodiversity conservation. Keywords: Biodiversity education, Biodiversity conservation, Biodiversity protection, Knowledge, Perspective

Forest and tree cover loss decreases the ecosystem services that they may provide such as food and livelihood, protection from calamities, oxygen to breathe, and storing of carbon. This study assessed the diversity, species composition, and carbon stock potential of trees located in Aurora, Philippines. Two areas were surveyed to represent preserved and developed ecosystems. The preserved ecosystem was represented by the ultramafic forest in Baler, Aurora, whereas the developed ecosystem was represented by the urbanizing portion of Dipaculao, Aurora. The sampling site in Baler included 27,400 m² plots and the site surveyed in Dipaculao had a total of 72.72 hectares of developed area. Results showed a higher tree diversity in Baler (H′ = 4.096) than in Dipaculao (H′ = 3.278). Species composition assessment also revealed a higher number of ecologically important species in Baler. Ecologically important species in Baler included 100% natives, 34.5% endemics, and 20.86% threatened. Dominant species in Baler were the native, endemic, and threatened Xanthostemon philippinensis Merr. and the native Teijsmanniodendron ahernianum (Merr.) Bakh. On the other hand, the developed ecosystem had 54.4% native, 4.41% endemic, and 11.76% threatened species. Dipaculao was dominated by introduced and invasive species such as Swietenia macrophylla King and Gmelina arborea Roxb. ex Sm. For the tree carbon stock assessment, a tremendous difference was found wherein the preserved ecosystem had 272.28 tons/ha carbon whereas the developed ecosystem had 16.28 tons/ha carbon. This study revealed ideal forest ecosystem characteristics in preserved forests with high diversity, the presence of many important species, and a large amount of carbon stock. This calls for immediate action from the government to continuously protect the natural forests and prioritize proper land use planning and the right choice of species to be integrated with developed areas to improve the ecosystem’s capacity to provide vital ecological services.

Floristic Composition, Diversity, and Ecology for Conservation of Lower Agno Watershed Forest Reserve, Mountain Province, Philippines