Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. It encompasses variation in the ecosystem, species, and the

genetic make-up of these organisms. In the Philippines, there are about 8,000 species of flowering

plants and about 4,500 species of non-flowering plants including algae, fungi, hepatics, mosses, and

ferns found scattered in diverse habitats from marine fresh waters to various types of terrestrial

habitats. Of these, an estimated 30-40 percent are endemic to the country and found nowhere else in

the world.

These plants are found in diverse habitats from marine and freshwaters, to various types of terrestrial

habitats including the mangrove forests to the lowland primary forests, to the sub-alpine vegetation in

the highest mountains of the country.

STATUS OF PLANTS IN THE WILD 

Through the years man has utilized and exploited the natural habitats of native plants for his basic and

other needs. Forests, where most of the diversity of plants occur are indiscriminately logged, burned,

and cleared at such an alarming rate. In fact, the Philippines is considered as one of the "10 hotspots of 

the world". Many of forest products like rattan, and resin are continuously harvested without provision

of replenishing the stock. At the pace that the habitats are being destroyed or altered, it is feared that

many plant species would have perished before the end of the century.

 

 

WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT PLANTS? 

Plants forms an important link in the chain of life. They do not only provide us with the basic necessities

of life but they also provide medicine, energy, and other products that enhance and improve our way of 

living. We must therefore protect and save the plants that protect and save us. Without plants we

cannot possibly live.

Activities 

* Conducting research and field surveys to identify and gather information about critical plant sites as

well as rare, endemic, and endangered plants of the Philippines.

* Coordinating with various government agencies, private companies, consultancy groups, industry,

conservation organizations, schools and universities, tourism agencies, etc. on projects and activities

which pertain to plant diversity, conservation, and related fields.

* Providing answers to inquiries of teachers, students, and the general public about plant diversity, local

flora, critical plant sites, and rare and endangered Philippine plants.

* Publishing newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, posters, and popular publications about plant diversity

and conservation.

* Managing a specialized library on biodiversity publications for public use.

* Conducting training courses for school teachers, students, National Government Organizations

(NGOs), Government Organizations (GOs), and conservation organizations about field survey, herbarium

and laboratory techniques in plant inventory and conservation, plant identification, and other related

topics.

Resources 

# Over 200,000 dried, identified, and systematically filed plant specimens collected from the Philippines

and abroad, known collectively to botanists.

# A specialized library on biodiversity, plant conservation, taxonomy, geography, etc.

# Computerized databases on plants of the Philippines, their current botanical name, distribution,

ecology, pertinent literature, etc. and on publications on biodiversity research in the Philippines.

# Competent staff trained in conducting research on rare and endangered plants, and conducting

training courses in plant conservation techniques, herbarium curation and herbarium management.