Bridging people and plants in Metro Manila

Last month, city dwellers escaped the heat by gathering under the shade of trees in one of the few remaining green spaces in Metro Manila.

Participants gathered for a native tree walk led by the Haribon Foundation in the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City on March 21, also the International Day of Forests.

The event, guided by Forester and GIS Specialist Ralph B. Guzman, served as a practical classroom for urbanites looking to reconnect with the country’s shrinking biodiversity.

The walk is part of a series of initiatives aimed at addressing a growing disconnect between urban residents and the natural environment.

While the Philippines is recognized globally for its high level of endemicity – where approximately 50% of plant species are found nowhere else on earth – this richness often goes unnoticed in the concrete landscape of Metro Manila.

Growing disconnect between people and plants

A hurdle in environmental conservation is what experts call “plant blindness.”

Diwa Castillo, Strategic Partnership Specialist at Haribon, observed that many people struggle to distinguish between different types of vegetation.

“It’s a phenomenon where people have a tendency to see all plants as just a ‘green blob,’” Castillo explained during the session.

“All plants seem the same, which is a shame because we have incredible plant biodiversity. Many Filipinos simply don’t know what we have.”

This inability to recognize specific species makes it harder to advocate for their protection. When a forest is viewed merely as a blur of green, the loss of a specific, culturally significant tree like the Katmon (Dillenia philippinensis) – known for its edible fruit used as a souring agent in sinigang – would be felt less acutely by the public. It is considered Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Shrinking green spaces

The urgency of these walks is backed by a stark reality revealed in recent geospatial analyses. A 2025 study found that 90% of the City of Manila’s land cover remained stagnant between 2018 and 2024, with less than 2% of the area transitioning as new green areas.

While the DENR-NCR reported a 47% increase in green space cover from 2021 to 2024 based on satellite assessments, officials have noted that these figures still require ground verification to determine if the growth represents high-quality, accessible public space.

In Quezon City, for instance, a 2026 GIS-based analysis revealed a significant “usability gap”: while 16.25% of the city’s land is officially allocated for parks and open spaces, only 2.25% is actually usable for the general public. One of these places is where Haribon conducts its tree walks: the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center.

Green spaces and public health

This lack of accessible green space directly threatens urban livability and public health. Without prioritized urban greening, it is estimated that 11 million Filipinos will be exposed to “danger” level heat indices – exceeding 42°C – by 2030, a number that could surge to 74 million by 2050 according to the National Adaptation Plan of the Philippines.

To combat the Surface Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, conservationists are advocating for the “3-30-300” rule: a standard ensuring every resident can see three trees from their window, lives in a neighborhood with 30% canopy cover, and is within 300 meters of a quality park.

Native trees are the backbone of this resilience; they do more than provide shade – they act as biological cooling systems and noise buffers that are vital for a city’s long-term survival.

The wonder of Philippine trees

Participants in the walk learned to identify trees that carry deep cultural and ecological significance. Trivia shared during the sessions highlighted the alagaw tree (Premna odorata) which has long been used by Manobo communities in Agusan del Sur to treat colds.

Meanwhile you can find it on a menu too, served as a vegetable wrap in restaurants like Crescent Moon Cafe in Antipolo.

Participants also got to know the ilang-ilang tree (Cananga odorata), whose yellow flowers have long been used as ingredients for international luxury perfumes such as Chanel No. 5.

Another memorable tree is the colorful bagras, also known as the “rainbow tree” (Eucalyptus deglupta). After a fresh rain, its peeling bark can reveal various colors including green, orange, and violet.

It is native to Mindanao, but possibly because of its visual appeal it can be found in other areas such as the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati and in Quezon City, inside the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center.

A walk toward conservation

For Haribon, the tree walk is a bridge.

By teaching people how to identify species and understand their “cultural why,” they hope to turn passive observers into active stewards. The process is simple: identify, understand the ecological benefit, and recognize the tree’s role in the larger Philippine forest, which has dwindled from 70% cover a century ago to just 24% today.

“Hopefully, this bridge between the person and the trees helps them appreciate native plants in their wilder habitats,” Castillo shared.

“It starts here in the city, but it leads back to the watersheds and protected areas we are trying to conserve.”

Join the movement

As Metro Manila continues to expand, the need for informed, nature-conscious citizens is greater than ever. We invite you to step out of the “concrete jungle” and join our regular activities.

Whether it is a native tree walk in a local park, or urban birdwatching activities, there are numerous ways to contribute to a city’s resilience. By learning to see past the “green blob,” residents can play a direct role in protecting the future of the Philippines’ natural heritage.

Schedule your organization for a tree walk by emailing partnerships@haribon.org.ph, or visit the page below for more details.

NATIVE TREE WALKS