6 minute read
Biodiversity in the City
What began with casual bird walks around the Ateneo campus turned into a shared passion for Ateneo’s rich greenery and wildlife. The Ateneo Wild began as a humble initiative between Abigail Favis and Trinket Constantino back in 2010. Over the years, The Ateneo Wild has grown into a larger community, drawing in many new faces eager to learn about the campus’s biodiversity.
In 2017, The Ateneo Wild received funding from the Faura fund, which allowed them to expand by purchasing binoculars and hosting events. The Ateneo Wild grew even more in 2018 when they began to utilize social media platforms to showcase Ateneo’s diverse ecosystem. This helped not only encourage appreciation for nature but also cultivate a stronger community within Ateneo. Moreover, The Ateneo Wild’s impact had gone beyond the walls of Ateneo, as UP Wild was later founded in inspiration of the former.
The Ateneo Wild also boasts the fact that it is mostly grounded in citizen science, wherein they rely on everyday people to help catalog different species and organisms found on campus. Such collaboration allows valuable data to reach the administration, which guides the decisions on managing green spaces and highlighting the need for biodiversity in urban areas.
The Ateneo Wild is driven by the main goal of building a comprehensive biodiversity inventory for the Ateneo campus. It also aims to use this data to influence management strategies and policies on campus green spaces. Lastly, it hopes to encourage more people to connect with nature and raise awareness of urban biodiversity.
They aim to ensure that future generations grow up environmentally aware, recognizing the value of nature beyond aesthetics. The Ateneo Wild’s advocacy is especially important in highly urbanized spaces like Metro Manila, where green spaces are often overlooked.
“I didn’t know we had this!”
The Ateneo community’s response to The Ateneo Wild has been overwhelmingly positive. Many people are surprised by the biodiversity on campus, and according to Favis and Constantino, this curiosity and support significantly validate their advocacy. This enthusiasm has led to more involvement from the community, with The Ateneo Wild being approached by various organizations, administrative offices, and even faculty members, all eager to collaborate on new initiatives.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, The Ateneo Wild continues to work on exciting projects. They have published books like “Wild City: A Photo-graphic Guide to Amphibians, Mammals, and Reptiles in Metro Manila”, which recently won Best Book in Science at the 42nd National Book Awards. Additionally, their wildlife-inspired coloring books, showcasing the creatures found around campus, are available at the LS bookstore and can also be purchased online via platforms like Lazada and Shopee.
In addition, one of their most exciting ongoing initiatives is the citizen science program, through which they also offer workshops. It invites everyone in the community to contribute to the biodiversity inventory by reporting sightings of plants and animals around campus. They also host monthly nature walks, offering a more hands-on way for the community to engage with nature.
Wild Facts
Ateneo is home to an incredible range of species: with at least 100 species of birds, 95 native trees, 65 types of butterflies, as well as snakes, bats, and frogs. Some species are especially unique to the environment, such as the paradise tree snake, which is typically found in forests. There have also been surprising discoveries, like freshwater crabs in Ateneo’s waterways! (Well, we are quite far away from the sea.) Also found was a black palm cockatoo – likely an escaped pet.
One of the group’s most popular social media posts was about the discovery of Cordyceps, a fungus that is not only fascinating but also unknown to many. This discovery, among others, highlights The Ateneo Wild’s mission: it is not about finding the rarest or cutest species but rather about raising awareness of all the species our campus can support.
Get Involved
Whether you are a student, faculty member, or just a nature enthusiast, there are plenty of ways to get involved with The Ateneo Wild. Join their monthly nature walks, which are a great way to explore the campus’s greenery and wildlife firsthand. Or contribute to their citizen science efforts by reporting your observations and findings to help them build a more comprehensive biodiversity inventory. You can also follow them on social media for daily updates and insights into Ateneo’s growing ecosystem.
In a world where urbanization often disconnects us from nature, The Ateneo Wild stands as a reminder of the importance of preserving green spaces—not just for our physical health but for our mental well-being, too. So why not take a moment to explore the nature around you? You might be surprised by what you find.
Got a campus wildlife sighting? Get in touch with The Ateneo Wild through Facebook or Instagram: @theateneowild You can also reach them through theateneowild@ateneo.edu
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Text: Althea Mycka Ella Bong
Photos: The Ateneo Wild, Janina Castro, Covy Angeles
About the header image: The Coppersmith Barbet is one of the resident birds found on campus. This individual with a beakful of Salisi (Ficus bejamina) was on its way to feed its chick!
