Proposal:

 A Proposed Forest Research Institute and Training Facility

- focus on native philippines trees,

Filipinos worldwide are shocked and saddened by recent devastating floods

and landslides, by the death, suffering, and economic problems brought upon
their countrymen by recent typhoons. Distant memories of the roar of
chainsaws and the crashing of trees resurface in my mind. It was the summer
of 1973. We heard these while camped for a month on Mt. Apo in an area
designated as a National Park.

Forests are supposed to help prevent floods and soil erosion. So these recent
events should not just horrify and sadden. Among other things, they should
cause people to wonder how much forest the Philippines once had and how
much remains. Although there is a large body of literature concerning
deforestation in the Philippines, data from all the years before 1946 have been
difficult to find. Apparently, Spanish forestry records in Manila got burned in a
fire in 1897 and American records were destroyed during the fighting in
1945. Thanks to a recent article by Greg Bankoff (Journal of Historical
Geography 33: 314-334, 2007), the following picture emerges: During the
early phase of Spanish colonization in the 16th century, 90 percent of the total
land area was said to be forested and the population consisted of less than a
million people. In 1903, there were 7.6 million inhabitants and 70 percent of
forest cover remained. By 1950, the population had risen to 20 million and
forest cover had gone down to 50 percent. So the islands lost 20 percent of
forest cover during three centuries of Spanish colonial rule, lost another 20
percent during the half-century of American and Japanese occupation, leaving
50 percent cover for the newly independent, postwar Republic.

ince independence from the Americans, the population has grown almost five
times to more than 90 million Filipinos. Forest cover is down to about 20
percent or less of total land area. Given how little remains, the Philippines
competes with countries such as Burundi, Togo, Honduras and Nigeria for the
title of ‘world’s highest rate of percent loss of forest cover.’ If the current rate
of deforestation is maintained, no forest cover is expected to remain within the
next decade. More than 10 million hectares of virgin forest, present at the time
of independence, will have been completely lost.
Read more at https://www.philstar.com/business/science-and-
environment/2009/12/03/528500/philippine-deforestation-national-
spoliarium#T8Croa0LwUFVGo9B.99
A 96-page book holds the key for local governments and other stakeholders to understand the need to
preserve Cebu’s biodiversity.

“The State of Cebu’s Biodiversity,” written by Lisa J. Paguntalan, Myrissa Lepiten-Tabao, Philip Godfrey
Jakosalem, Al Orolfo and Ariel Rica, contains information on wildlife and plant species that stress the
importance of preserving Cebu’s biological diversity.

It also provides a summary of the issues that threaten the existence of these species and the efforts—some of
them successful, others not so—which were undertaken through the years to protect what serves as Cebu’s
natural heritage.

Paguntalan said during the book’s launching last Monday that “The State of Cebu’s Biodiversity” also highlights
the importance of Cebu’s remaining forests that serve as habitat for species, some of which are classified by
the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as critically endangered or
those that face extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Forests

A 1998 survey by wildlife biologists led to the discovery of natural secondary forests apart from Tabunan in
central Cebu. These forests are Nug-as in Alcoy, Mt. Kapayas in Catmon and Carmen, Mt. Lantoy in Argao, Mt.
Lanaya in Alegria and Mt. Kambulagsing in Malabuyoc.

These forests are the home of 15 endemic bird taxa, which include four threatened species, namely the
critically endangered Cebu Flowerpecker (scientific name Dicaeum quadricolor), the endangered Black Shama
(Copsychus cebuensis), the endangered Cebu Hawk-owl (Ninox rumseyi) and the Cebu Brown Dove
(Phapitreron frontalis).

“The presence of these four threatened endemic species makes the (Cebu) island an important global Endemic
Bird Area and an Important Bird Area according to BirdLife International,” the authors wrote.

Birds play an important role in the ecosystem. They help in plant reproduction as they are considered
pollinators or seed dispersers. Some bird species are important to the survival of other species while predators,
such as raptors, keep the population of other animals healthy.

Massive deforestation in Cebu drove to extinction several endemic species, such as the Philippine Cockatoo
(Cacatua haematuropygia) and the Philippine Leafbird (Chloropsis flavipennis).

Mammalian species, such as the Visayan Spotted Deer, Visayan Warty Pig and the Cebu Pygmy Buffalo, have
also disappeared from Cebu island. An endemic fish, a species of goby (Sicyopus cebuensis), also became
extinct.

Discuss need/problem: because of Rapid Urban Development and the effects of climate
change, forests are dwindling and due to this more disasters like landslides and flooding
are getting more prominent, endemic species are losing their natural habitats, and an
overall decreased quality of life for both humans and animals.

This proposal aims to bring awareness to this problem and hopefully bring a sustainable
solution through architecture.
Client:
 Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Region VII

User:
 Students esp. under Environmental Studies and other courses related to botany
and forestry
 Government researchers
 Interested public

Site Location:
 Talamban, Cebu City

Objectives/Aims:
 To make a training facility and/or workshop area for budding nature
conservationists
 To have a specialized area where researchers can partake on studies regarding
forestry, small-scale forest ecosystems; plant and soil studies, etc.
 To have hands-on interactions and exhibitions and/or showcase technologies for
the public interested in forestry and conservation
 Protection of forest environment and ecology

Design Concept:
 Integrated Environmentally Conscious and Friendly Design

- Water conservation
- Energy efficiency
- Alternative energy sources
- Insular concrete?
 Woodland Architecture
- Design that blends to the environment; make use of organic/sustainable
materials; earthly colors