QCU to Host Native Tree Conservation and Environmental Learning Hub

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Quezon City University (QCU) will soon serve as the home of a new native tree conservation and environmental education initiative following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Quezon City Government and the San Beda College Alumni Foundation, Inc. on July 28, 2026, at Quezon City Hall.

The partnership supports the National Greening Program through the establishment of Gardens of Native Trees and Living Museums of Native Trees on the Quezon City University campus. The initiative aims to promote the preservation and appreciation of Philippine native tree species while strengthening biodiversity conservation, environmental awareness, and experiential learning.

As the project’s implementation site, Quezon City University will provide students, faculty members, researchers, and community partners with a living laboratory for learning and research on native tree biodiversity. The initiative also complements the University’s sustainability agenda and reinforces the ongoing work of the Center for Urban Agriculture and Innovation in developing nature-based solutions that support education, urban resilience, and environmental stewardship.

Under the agreement, SBCAFI will provide the planting design, source and transport native tree seedlings and saplings, install educational tree markers, and conduct technical training, workshops, and regular monitoring. The foundation will also lead the implementation of the program by sharing its expertise in native tree biodiversity.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Government will prepare the project sites, assign personnel for implementation and maintenance, facilitate monitoring activities, and support training and educational programs to ensure the long term success of the initiative. Informative markers identifying each native tree species including its scientific name, ecological classification, distribution, and ecological significance will transform the site into an interactive learning space for students and visitors.

The agreement, which has an initial term of three years, highlights a collaborative approach in which each partner contributes its expertise and resources toward the successful implementation of the program.

The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Hon. Ma. Josefina G. Belmonte, Quezon City Mayor and Chairperson of the Quezon City University Board of Regents, and Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, President of the San Beda College Alumni Foundation, Inc. Serving as witnesses were Dr. Theresita V. Atienza, President of Quezon City University, and Ms. Imelda Sarmiento, Program Director of the Native Trees Project of SBCAFI.

The partnership further strengthens Quezon City University’s commitment to sustainability by transforming its campus into a dynamic learning environment where instruction, research, extension, and community engagement contribute to biodiversity conservation and the development of greener, more resilient communities.

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