Permanent plots monitoring in Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve: its support to University Biodiversity Researches

A. C. Luna

Date

2014

Abstract

Permanent Field Laboratory Areas (PFLAs) were developed in view of the need for permanent plots that will generate data useful in the understanding of the dynamics of a tropical forest ecosystem. This was affirmed during the discussions among the heads of Los Baños-based forestry research institutions, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) and the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR) University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The establishment of PFLA was initially funded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to CFNR as a Center of Excellence in Forestry Education with support provided by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). The institutionalization of PFLAs allowed the conduct of centrally coordinated activities in the establishment, development, use and maintenance of a network of permanent field laboratory/demonstration areas in Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve (MFR). The output from PFLAs will also provide time series data of the biophysical aspects of watersheds that will enable scientists a better understanding of the dynamics of tropical forests. The PFLA responds to the larger and long-term objective of actively using MFR as a training laboratory in producing highly capable and well-grounded graduates of forest and natural resources management. The PFLA project brings total of six permanent plots established within the MFR. Accomplishments and studies conducted in the PFLAs include gridding, tagging and basic mapping, basic structure and plant diversity assessment, carbon stock assessments, profile diagram and regeneration studies, soil characterization, inventory and GIS mapping and data basing, forest gaps effects on foliage and soil insect diversity, survey and census of ground lizards and endomycorrhizal fungal diversity. Sixteen practicum and research reports and two undergraduate theses were produced by students of the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources (IRNR) and Department of Forest Biological Sciences (FBS) in 2004 to 2010. The PFLAs will continue to be laboratory/field site for instructional and research programs of the College and other interested units in the university.

Language

English

Document Type

Article

Pages /Collation

14 leaves

En – AGROVOC descriptors

FORESTS; FOREST MANAGEMENT; FORESTATION; FORESTRY OPERATIONS; FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT

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