Nov-Dec 2012
U.P. News 5
Photo by Mariane Kay Torres
Baguio forests still support endemic species of mammals: Remaining forest cover in the city provides a habitat for the Large Luzon Forest Rat, among others Aris Reginaldo Green themes: A Luzon-endemic rat, New projects Bullimus luzonicus luzonicus, commonly known as the Large Luzon take off Forest Rat, was again captured at the Camp Joy Hay Forest Reserve during a two day-field trip of a group of students from UP Baguio. This rat, together with two other Philippine mammal endemics (Rattus everetti and Apomys musculus musculus,), was first documented in 2008, through a study that sought to determine the diversity and ecology of mammals in the city. The Large Luzon forest rat has a total length of 4050 cm, with distinct white coloration of the last 1/3 of its tail. It is known to occur only in the forests of Luzon. Endemic species of small mammals are generally sensitive to habitat disturbance but this particular species is one of those that can tolerate moderate disturbance. The students were very lucky to catch one individual because of the relatively low number and wide home range of this species. A recent study conducted by students of UP Baguio sought to determine the extent and patterns of distribution of mammal species documented in John Hay in 2008. The study involved sampling of other pine forests in the city but no endemic species were documented. The absence of the endemic species in other pine forests of Baguio City indicates that the degree of disturbances (both anthropogenic and natural) limits their existence. However, the patch of forest in John Hay or the Eco-Trail area as others commonly know it, differs from any other pine forests of the city because of its relatively thicker understory vegetation, thus possibly providing good habitat for the existence of mammals like the Large Luzon Forest Rat, and limiting human activities which may disturb them. It was here that the Bullimus individual rat
Prof. Aris Reginaldo and the team of UP Baguio students who captured Bullimus luzonicus last August
was captured. The captured animal was immediately released back to the forest after it was examined, identified, and reported to CJH Development Corporation. The field trip was part of a class requirement of Terrestrial Ecology, a course which is taken by students taking BS Biology. Their recent paper, “Small non-volant mammals in forest patches of Baguio CityLuzon, Philippines,” discusses the ecology of the endemic mammals of the forest of John Hay in full. In the paper, three other species of small mammals, namely Rattus exulans and Rattus tanezumi and Suncus murinus, all pest species, were also reported. murinus In the forest of John Hay, R. tanezumi and S. murinus were observed and found to be common, indicating that the area, despite its conditions, is also disturbed. The researchers are yet to find out the real effect of the existence of the both the pest and endemic species in John Hay. Continuous protection of the area and minimizing human-induced disturbances may do two things – limit the proliferation of the pest species and favor the existence of the other.
On the other hand, the two pest species documented there, together with R. exulans exulans, were all observed at the UP Baguio campus, the other site studied. During the time of sampling, areas of the campus with standing trees still had thick understory vegetation, especially between the KA and HKP buildings. All three species were found to be abundant and the conditions favored their existence. The published paper is an undergraduate thesis problem which Prof. Celia Austria and Prof. Aris Reginaldo advised on and spearheaded in 2008. The students were Vonnete Ballesteros and Princess Gonzales. They were also joined by some utility workers of the campus during the field work. Because they employed a standard methodology of capturing mammals and since the data generated is very important in mammalian studies in the country, Reginaldo decided to start writing the draft in 2009. This inspired him to do another study in Mt. Sto Tomas, Tuba Benguet to further explore the diversity and ecology of small non-flying mammals (rodents and shrews) in the Southern Cordillera.
Matching policy with action, the UP Baguio (UPB) administration, spearheaded by Chancellor Raymundo Rovillos and Vice-Chancellor for Administration Jessica Cariño, has gone full swing on greening projects. One of these is the mini-agroforestry farm situated near the UPB Residence Hall, where 40 avocado, 10 guayabano, 10 langka, and 10 mango trees were planted to comprise the first crop of fruit trees. Cash crops will also be raised. A medicinal garden has been established on a 100 sq.m. area leading to the Human Kinetics Department. The garden is planted with adelfa, akapulko, comfrey, damong maria, gepas, guava, ikmo, kalachuchi, kuchay, lagundi, luyang-dilaw, oregano, rosal, rosemary, sabila, sampaguita, takipkuhol, tanglad, tarragon, tsaanggubat, yacon, yerba-buena and yellow bell. The plants were provided by the Ecosystems Research and Development Services (ERDS), the research unit of the Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesCordillera Region. Grassland with a total area of 3,118 sq. m. at the back of the Residence Hall has been allocated for a tree plantation. 608 narra seedlings have been planted. Narra is deeply rooted, fixing nitrogen from falling leaves, serving as windbreak and sequestering harmful carbon from the atmosphere. An arboretum has been established in the twin properties in Sabkil, Itogon with an approximate total area of four hectares. Brushing, liberation cutting, layout and lining, staking and holing activities were conducted in five consecutive weekends in the past semester, followed by planting of 1,213 seedlings of premium tree species: narra, ipil, supa, molave, kamagong, dao, dungon, yakal, white lauan, kalumpit, bitaog, balitbitan, bani, talisai, bagras and agoho.
UP Baguio drafts Green Campus Policy The UP Baguio (UPB) administration, in consultation with its constituents, has formulated a policy statement that will further institutionalize the tradition of environmental consciousness at UPB. The policy articulates current and future measures for the integration of environmental protection in the curricular, research and outreach programs of UPB. For instruction, in 2011 UPB carried out
the Unit-based Sustainability Assessment Tool in six of the nine academic departments. Results showed that Colleges at UPB have incorporated sustainability in courses and instruction. Offered at the College of Social Sciences, for instance, are: Social and Development Studies (SDS) 265: Community-Environment Relations; Social Anthropology (SA) 165: Human Ecology;
and Philosophy 27: Philosophizing on Being Human. At the College of Arts and Communication, environmental awareness is integrated in curricula, readings and assignments; in Fine Arts, for one, the use of recycled materials, and other ecologically sound media is likewise encouraged. At the College of Science, environmental concer ns such as climate chang e,
Monorail’s maiden trip <page 1
run of the all-Philippine-made project, which started construction six months previous to the maiden trip. Earlier test runs had been conducted, they said, at 10-12 kph speeds. Montejo said the AGT could go up to 45 kph. The monorail was the first of its kind to be installed in any university campus in the country. The prototype in UPD serves as basis for research that will determine if a full-scale AGT loop is
viable. Montejo said in two months, the system would be fully automated. The maiden trip only served to show that the system works. Montejo said various LGUs had already expressed interest in the project, which is five times less the cost of an AGT if the technology and equipment are to be imported. A team from the College of Engineering and UP’s National Center for Transportation Studies are still conducting
evaluations. Supervising the maiden trip were members of the project management and engineering design team of Brian Rasco (civil works); Ryan Roldan (electrical); Elljay Mutuc, Georg e Garcia, and Joseph Raymond Avarez (mechanical); and Jesus Tanchuco III and Franz Libao (electronics). All are graduates and students of UP College of Engineering.
biodiversity conservation, nutrient cycling or biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem management, and pollution are among the issues integrated in course syllabi of Science, Technology and Society; Geology 11; Natural Science courses and Biology. Research at UP Baguio has long been marked by environmental concerns. The agro-ecosystems (AES) framework has directed Cordillera Studies Center researches on upland communities, as backed by the Ford Foundation. CSC has also been designated as the Area Research and Training Center (ARTC) of the Population and Development Program of the NEDA. Colleg es have also focused on environmental concerns, like the College of Science’s research proposal on a rainwater harvesting system. For Extension Service, UP Baguio’s major involvement is in the Balili River Revitalization Coalition that aims to reverse the degradation of the Balili River and its tributaries spanning Baguio and La Trinidad. (Culled from “Policy Statement on Managing UP Baguio as a Green Campus” Campus”)