Department of Biology faculty represented the University of the Philippines Baguio in the recent update of terrestrial and integrated Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the Philippines
Assoc. Prof. Aris Reginaldo, Assoc. Prof. Liezel Magtoto, and Asst. Prof. Arvin Jet Marcaida of the Department of Biology, UP Baguio, represented the university in the recent update of terrestrial and integrated Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the Philippines, reinforcing their commitment to biodiversity conservation. The updating of terrestrial and integrated KBAs of the Philippines is being led by the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines, Haribon Foundation, UP Institute of Biology’s Biodiversity Research Laboratory, and the Institute of Biology Alumni of UP Diliman, through the generous support of Forest Foundation Philippines, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, and Wildlife Conservation Society Philippines. photos (c) Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land); SDG-17 (Partnership for Goals)
New paper out entitled “Water quality of Balili River before, during and after COVID: lessons learned and ways forwards for tropical river remediation”
Congratulations to Prof. Romeo M. Dizon, and MS CaRE graduate Fernie D. SitSit for their latest publication on the water quality of Balili River before, during, and after COVID-19! Their study, spanning from 2018 to 2023, examines how the pandemic influenced river water quality and what happened afterward. Findings reveal that while water quality improved during lockdowns, pollution levels increased again post-COVID, though not as severely as pre-pandemic levels. The research highlights the role of natural purification processes in tropical rivers and suggests ways forward for sustainable river remediation and water management. This study contributes to ongoing efforts to achieve SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and provides valuable insights for conservation initiatives. Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-024-10151-0 We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-04 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
New paper out entitled “Biodiversity and conservation assessment of the non-marine mollusks of the Batanes Group of Islands, Philippines”
Congratulations to Prof. Zenaida G. Baoanan, PhD, and her co-authors on their new publication, “Biodiversity and conservation assessment of the non-marine mollusks of the Batanes Group of Islands, Philippines,” in the Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology! This study explores the unique non-marine mollusks of the Batanes Islands, identifying 41 species and highlighting the need to protect these fragile ecosystems. The research shows the importance of conservation efforts to safeguard the rich biodiversity of these islands. Read the full paper here: http://asbp.org.ph/…/PJSBv18-04_Batomalaque-et-al-2025.pdf We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-04 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
New paper out entitled “Identifying direct threats to an inland wetland and its avifauna: the case of Canarem Lake, Central Luzon, Philippines”
New Publication Alert! The Department of Biology is proud to share the latest research publication by Prof. Zenaida G. Baoanan, Prof. Wesley S. Gagarin, and MS CaRE student Emmanuel B. Lacadin. Their collaborative study, titled “Identifying direct threats to an inland wetland and its avifauna: the case of Canarem Lake, Central Luzon, Philippines,” sheds light on the challenges facing Philippine wetlands, particularly the agricultural town of Victoria, Tarlac, where Canarem Lake is located. This significant research explores how direct human pressures, such as farming, fishing, and recreational activities, threaten the biodiversity of this vital wetland and its bird populations. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study combines surveys, focus group discussions, and triangulated data analysis to identify and prioritize conservation actions. Read the full paper here: https://www.journalofnaturestudies.org/files/JNS23-2/22-41_Lacadin_Direct%20Threats%20Inland%20Wetland.pdf We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-04 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
Did You Know? Glass
Be aware! Did you know that glass decomposes longer than plastic? For more details, read about this trivia from the pubmat above. This is a reminder from the Biological and Chemical Waste Committee of the College of Science. #ClearChoices We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action)
Application for the Master of Science in Conservation and Restoration Ecology (MS CaRE)
Application for the Master of Science in Conservation and Restoration Ecology (MS CaRE) is now open! Please see our publication material for important dates, requirements, and relevant links. If you have inquiries, please forward them to mscare.upbaguio@up.edu.ph See you, environmental warriors! We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
The Department of Biology, College of Science holds a public forum entitled “Baguio City’s Biodiversity Greenprint: A Policy Review on Urban Ecologies for Sustainable Conservation and Innovative Governance”
A Public Forum on Biodiversity, Sustainability, and Urban Governance The Department of Biology, College of Science hosted a public forum entitled Baguio City’s Biodiversity Greenprint: A Policy Review on Urban Ecologies for Sustainable Conservation and Innovative Governance, last October 11, 2024. This event is part of an ongoing collaborative research project led by Asst. Prof. Arvin Jet B. Marcaida, Ph.D., and funded by the Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP-CIDS), University of the Philippines. The project aims to create a sustainable ecological governance blueprint through policy reviews and active community engagement. The forum featured two insightful speakers, Dr. Zenaida G. Baoanan, Ph.D., UP Scientist and professor at UP Baguio, shared her expertise on biodiversity conservation, urban planning, and how sustainable governance can shape the city’s future. She highlighted the importance of protecting Baguio’s natural spaces while adapting to urban growth. Atty. Rhenan G. Diwas, head of the Baguio City Environment and Parks Management Office, followed with a presentation with the city’s long term vision- Baguio 2043: A Livable, Inclusive, and Creative City. He outlined the city’s strategies being put in place to achieve this goal while prioritizing green and inclusive development. This open exchange of ideas was vital in helping shape Baguio’s future ecological policies, ensuring that the city’s growth is both sustainable and inclusive for everyone. Photos by University of the Philippines Baguio Facebook Page We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
Students present their poster at International Symposium & 41st Annual Meeting of the ASBP
A heartfelt recognition to the dedicated team from the Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio for their exceptional contributions to the International Symposium & 41st Annual Meeting of the Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines (ASBP), held last May 29-31, 2024, at Northwestern University, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. Congratulations to Mark P. Villarubia (presenter and graduating student of the BS Biology program (Area of Concentration: Ecology and Systematics), Sophia Reign M. Guerrero, Bianca Gail Y. Cura, and Arvin Jet B. Marcaida, PhD (Thesis Adviser and Assistant Professor of Biology, College of Science, UP Baguio) for their insightful poster presentation titled “A Preliminary Assessment of Species Account, Conservation Status, and Microhabitat Association of Anurans with New Locality Descriptions in Baguio City.” Congratulations as well to student presenters Chantal Margaret Liporada, Dominique Opel Orgas, Sofia Ysabel Dang-aoen, and Frances Randolf Logan, and their thesis adviser Assoc. Prof. Liezel M. Magtoto, PhD, for their poster presentation entitled “Macrofungi in Montane Pine Forests in Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet.” In addition, we are thrilled to recognize Ms. Chantal Margaret Liporada for being awarded the Best Illustration in the Botanical Illustration Workshop with Amorphophallus adamsensis (which is a species endemic to the Philippines and discovered and characterized by Assoc. Prof. Magtoto and department colleagues) as model specimen for the workshop. We are proud of your achievements and the significant impact of your research on the scientific community. We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
DB Faculty earns an International Publication Award for his collaborative research work entitled “Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Assessment within the Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes”
Asst. Prof. Deign Frolley C. Soriano, of the Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio has earned an International Publication Award (IPA) for his collaborative research work entitled “Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Assessment within the Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes”! This research article highlights the importance of monitoring critical landscapes and seascapes in the country such as the Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes. The study uses remote sensing technology to evaluate the environmental quality of these areas, which are vital biodiversity hotspots in the Philippines. It emphasizes the need for rapid and cost-effective assessment methods to gather crucial information for the conservation, protection, and management of ecosystems in the country. The paper was a collaboration with N. Doyog, R.I. Lumbres, and L. Talkasen of Benguet State University and has been published in the Philippine Journal of Science, Volume 152, Issue 5, pages 1753–1767. Check out the paper here: https://doi.org/10.56899/152.05.18 Congratulations, Asst. Prof. Soriano! We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
DB Faculty receives two International Publication Award (IPA)
Prof. Zenaida Baoanan received not just one but two International Publication Awards (IPA) for her recent scientific outputs. Her first IPA resulted from her collaboration with the University of Hawaii at Manoa during her postdoctoral research on cone snails, conducted under the Fulbright-Philippine Agriculture Scholarship Program for Advanced Research in Agriculture. The second IPA is an output from her Cordillera Studies Center Faculty Research Grant with Prof. Karen Ballada, formerly of the Department of Biological Sciences and currently a faculty member at DMMMSU, Bacnotan Campus. Access the papers here:–https://doi.org/10.3390/md21020061–https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03969-5 We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being); SDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-15 (Life on Land)