Much of the Philippines is hilly and mountainous, with 52 percent of its total land area of 30 million hectares, equivalent to 15.8 million hectares, officially classified as forestland administered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Read more

The Philippine government established a system of protected areas—ranging from large natural parks, to landscapes and seascapes, to wildlife and marine life sanctuaries—for conservation and management of the ‘last remaining representatives’ of Philippine habitats and ecosystems. Read more

Water is an essential element to our everyday existence. Its role is vital in the sustenance of all life forms, as well as in agricultural, industrial, households, recreational and environmental activities. As population continues to rise, so does the demand for fresh water too. Water is a major factor ... Read more

Mangrove forest is also known as the “rainforest of the sea.” It grows well in tropical countries, including the Philippines. Mangroves are an important part of the coastal and marine ecosystem that includes the seagrass and the coral reefs. Of the world’s more than 70 mangrove species, around ... Read more

Candaba Swamp in Pampanga is an important staging and wintering area for ducks and other threatened waterbirds. As part of the East Asia-Pacific Migratory Flyway, the Philippines has 117 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) covering 32,302 square kilometers that act as refuge for as many as 115 globally threatened ... Read more

The total land area of the Philippines is about 30 million hectares, half of which is classified as forestlands, 47% as alienable and disposable lands, and the remaining 3% as unclassified forestlands. Read more

The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) fits a lot of superlatives as a bird of prey: one of the world’s largest, tallest, most beautiful, and most powerful birds. However, it is also one of the rarest and most critically endangered. Read more

Because all of its parts have immense use for man, the pili tree is fast gaining fame as the “tree of life”, next to the coconut tree.

Pili belongs to the Canaruim genera of the Burseracea family. It is believed that there were 53 species of the Canaruim genus that used to thrive in the Philippines, Read more

Wetlands are areas that are permanently or seasonally saturated by water, enough to support vegetation that can adapt to saturated soil conditions. The science of wetlands is known as paludology. February 2 of every year is celebrated in the Philippines and rest of the world as Wetlands Day to highlight ... Read more

The 34-square kilometer Apo Reef in Occidental Mindoro is the second largest contiguous coral reef in the world and the largest in the country. It is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Read more

When the Spaniards came to colonize the country, our land was bursting with lush forests, occupying around 90 percent of the total land area of 30 million hectares. Forest trees then comprised of more than 2000 species, majority were indigenous or endemic to the country. Read more

Mts. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL) is site of the famed mystic mountain Mt. Banahaw. The MBSCPL straddles the provinces of Laguna and Quezon in the Southern Tagalog Region. Read more

The Philippine duck (Anas luzonica) is the country’s only endemic duck. It is classified as “vulnerable” under the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Read more