The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) is steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding terrestrial ecosystems, halting land degradation, and protecting biodiversity across forests, wetlands, and drylands. By bridging academic scholarship with grassroots stewardship, the University respects and integrates Indigenous knowledge while promoting sustainable land management. PUP translates this ecological commitment into tangible impact across four core pillars: Research, Education, Institutional Action, and Policy & Waste Governance.
Protecting terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity supports SDG 15: Life on Land, particularly through ecosystem conservation, habitat restoration, sustainable land management, biodiversity protection, and prevention of land degradation. Research on nature-based solutions promotes the restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, while studies on native plant species support sustainable bioprospecting and biodiversity conservation.
Environmental sustainability planning, indigenous stewardship, and traditional landscape management further integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into development and conservation.
These areas contribute to terrestrial ecosystem protection, biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, sustainable land use, and ecosystem-based development, advancing SDG 15: Life on Land.
Protecting terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity supports SDG 15: Life on Land through biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, habitat restoration, ecosystem protection, and sustainable use of natural resources. Research on Mangifera indica and Garcinia mangostana promotes sustainable bioprospecting and the conservation of native plant species without habitat destruction. Integrating biodiversity and ecosystem values into planning and development also strengthens ecosystem conservation, indigenous stewardship, terrestrial habitat restoration, and sustainable landscape management.
Advancing biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, sustainable resource use, and ecosystem-based planning contributes to the protection of terrestrial ecosystems and supports SDG 15: Life on Land.
Protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems supports SDG 15 through biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, habitat restoration, and land degradation reversal. Nature-based solutions promote ecosystem restoration and sustainable resource use while strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards.
View all PUP Scopus Publication: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1IlfCKA2HmYBtj1VdI0Xa5Onbr3PBXHSA/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111253540786016308703&rtpof=true&sd=true
Reflecting our institutional commitment to advance sustainable land stewardship, our University supports and organizes events aimed to promote conservation and sustainable utilization of the land, including forests and wild land. The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) actively supports and organizes diverse events and programs aimed at promoting land conservation, sustainable land utilization, and biodiversity protection. These initiatives span academic conferences, hands-on afforestation projects, and research-backed conservation programs, including the 5th Annual Tourism Conference ("Urban Legacities") which advocated for green infrastructure and sustainable urban land use, practical community-led tree-planting activities at the PUP Alfonso campus, and the "Roots of Pride" bamboo planting event in Mulanay that utilized Thai bamboo propagules for local reforestation and habitat restoration. Furthermore, the university drives institutional and scientific preservation through initiatives like the Indigenous Flora Catalogue and Ex-Situ Conservation Initiative by the Research Institute for Science and Technology (RIST), the official proclamation and unveiling of PUP's first Heritage Tree (Ficus religiosa L.), and forums such as "Nature Needs Her: Women Rising for Biodiversity Conservation" that bring together female scientists and practitioners to advance ecological restoration.
Held on January 30–31, 2025, the 5th Annual Tourism Conference, titled “Urban Legacities,” was organized by the College of Tourism, Hospitality and Transportation Management (CTHTM) to advance UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land through the promotion of sustainable land use and green infrastructure in urban tourism. The event brought together students, tourism planners, and researchers for dynamic discussions and exhibits focused on urban ecology, ecosystem services, and the responsible transformation of cities into livable spaces that successfully balance urban development with nature conservation.
To promote sustainable land management, habitat restoration, and active conservation efforts, the PUP Federation of Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants—alongside university officials and students—conducted a tree-planting activity at the PUP Alfonso campus on March 5, 2025, contributing to broader afforestation and forest conservation initiatives.
Celebrating Pride Month with a bamboo planting and afforestation initiative, PUP Mulanay partnered with the University Student Government and GEMS to plant 50 Thai bamboo propagules for local habitat and ecosystem restoration, with support from Mayor Aris Aguirre, LGU officials, and campus faculty and staff. Each bamboo symbolizes growth, resilience, and hope, echoing the spirit of Pride as the community stands together for equality, acceptance, and a greener future.
The Research Institute for Science and Technology and PUP Herbarium team—alongside faculty researchers from the Mulanay and Ragay campuses—concluded flora fieldwork on March 31, 2025, to gather baseline data for a biodiversity and ex-situ plant conservation project targeting threatened and endemic species. The team aims to recommend local government policies for in-situ conservation through indigenous flora microreserves or bambusetums.
The Research Institute for Science and Technology led the ceremonial launch of the Ficus religiosa (Balete) as PUP’s first proclaimed heritage tree, drawing strong commitments from university leaders toward nature and biodiversity conservation.
Co-hosted by the Research Institute for Science and Technology (RIST) and the Gender Equity, Diversity, and Social Inclusion Office (GEDSIO) at Bulwagang Bonifacio, NALLRC, PUP, the half-day forum “Nature needs HER: Women rising for biodiversity conservation” brought together leading female scientists, conservation practitioners, and students to highlight and celebrate the essential role of women in environmental protection and ecological restoration initiatives.
The University actively drives sustainability through targeted academic curricula and student-led initiatives. Efforts are seen through engagements like, the campus NSTP—established under Republic Act No. 9163—that aligns outreach projects with land restoration, tree planting, and community-level organic farming initiatives, as well as, Sustaining the Future: Innovative and Eco-friendly Practices in Philippine Agriculture an Agricultural Seminar that champions eco-friendly innovations toward sustainable Philippine Agriculture hosted by PUP Mulanay Agribusiness Society. More recently, PUP Mulanay Agribusiness students, BSAM 4 Leads Seminar on Crop Diversification for Local Farmers. By integrating these practical fieldworks and curriculum-based initiatives, the institution continues to bridge academic scholarship with grassroots action that ensures both students and local farmers carry out sustainable development strategies for the future generations, providing sustainably farmed food in and outside the campus.
Public outreach is a core pillar of the university's sustainability efforts. On November 29, 2025, the PUP Mulanay Agribusiness Society hosted the seminar "Sustaining the Future: Innovative and Eco-friendly Practices in Philippine Agriculture" at the PUP Mulanay Training Center. The program focused on resource management and soil conservation, providing local farmers with actionable tools for climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable land use.
Building on prior outreach efforts, agribusiness students spearheaded a January 16, 2026 seminar titled "Branching Out: Exploring New Horizons in Crop Diversification". The event brought together local farmers to tackle agricultural challenges, positioning crop diversification as essential for sustainable land management and ecosystem recovery. These sustained initiatives reinforce the university's mission to merge academic scholarship with tangible environmental stewardship.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) demonstrates an active institutional commitment to maintaining and extending existing ecosystems, safeguarding local biodiversity, and protecting vulnerable habitats through targeted botanical research, official herbarium indexing, and community-led environmental initiatives. Specifically, the university advances ex-situ conservation and ecological preservation through projects like the cataloging of indigenous flora in its Mulanay and Ragay campuses, the official indexing of the PUP Herbarium with 2,450 accessioned specimens, and hands-on community wetland restoration drives such as the coastal cleanup in Naic, Cavite.
Research Institute for Science & Technology - PUP Herbarium’s research project concluded its data gathering in November 2025, successfully compiling and screening regional plant species for its upcoming book output. Authorized under Special Order No. 3462, s. 2024 issued by the PUP Office of the President on July 2, 2024, the book layout is currently undergoing editorial review, with public printing and launching slated for October 2026 during the university's founding anniversary. Through these rigorous documentation efforts, the university champions ex situ conservation, protects endangered plant species, promotes native biodiversity, secures threatened taxa, and enhances overall habitat conservation.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines actively advances the conservation, restoration, and long-term protection of threatened ecosystems through rigorous botanical documentation and scientific preservation. A major milestone in this institutional commitment is the official recognition of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Herbarium (PUPH) as part of the Indexed Herbaria in the Philippines, securing its status as one of only 27 internationally indexed herbaria nationwide. Serving as a critical repository for plant diversity and ex-situ conservation, PUPH reached 2,450 accessioned plant specimens as of May 2026. Announced during its 10th anniversary celebration on June 22, 2026, this official indexing reinforces the University's direct contributions to safeguarding native flora, mapping threatened species, supporting regional conservation planning, and maintaining long-term terrestrial ecosystem stability.
See more: Explore the updated map of herbaria across the Philippines!
Authorized under Special Order No. 6870, s. 2025 issued to the PUP College of Science, a wetland coastal cleanup outreach activity was conducted at Brgy. Labac, Naic, Cavite on November 21, 2025. Project volunteers successfully collected a total of 245.33 kilograms of waste, which was formally reported to the LGU Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office of Naic, Cavite. This hands-on intervention directly supports wetland restoration, promotes aquatic conservation, combats habitat degradation, drives effective environmental pollution control, and fosters robust community-based conservation through active ecosystem management and regional habitat protection.
Documentations can be viewed at Kalingang Latian and the PUP College of Science Kalingang Latian: A Wetland Clean Up Drive
Building on previous successes, the Research Institute for Science and Technology and the Department of Biology carried out a meaningful environmental effort at the Las Piñas–Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) on February 14, 2026. Alongside rows of native bakawan, volunteers participated in a guided educational walk and coastal cleanup that yielded 174 kilograms of trash from this vital protected wetland. By combining ecological education with direct fieldwork, the initiative advances wetland protection, supports habitat restoration, mitigates environmental threats, drives species conservation, and strengthens landscape-level stewardship.
Documentations can be viewed at: Kalingang Latian: Love for Wetlands and at February 2026 RED Newsletter
The university drives direct ecosystem enhancement through initiatives such as "Trees 4 Sustainability 2024: PUNO ang SOLUSYON!", a flagship tree-planting project spearheaded by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Extension Management Office. This collaborative campaign actively promotes ecosystem restoration, supports habitat protection, drives reforestation programs, enhances native biodiversity, encourages active tree planting, facilitates environmental management, prioritizes nature conservation, strengthens ecological sustainability, fosters regional habitat restoration, and advances long-term biodiversity conservation through community engagement and hands-on environmental stewardship.
The PUP Research Institute for Science and Technology (RIST) presented a key report on riparian ecosystem conservation to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office in General Nakar, Quezon Province, where led by RIST Director Dr. Armin S. Coronado, together with the Center for Environmental Technology and Science Chief Ma. Eleanora Calapatia–Salvador, the research focused on the Binuang and Tinipak Rivers, highlighting their ecological importance and proposing community-driven conservation strategies to support river restoration, drive riparian conservation, advance habitat protection, promote aquatic conservation, enhance ecosystem management, strengthen water conservation, encourage sustainable river management, prioritize ecosystem recovery, foster environmental management, and secure long-term biodiversity conservation. Complementing this, students and faculty collaborated to assess priority riparian plants and monitor water quality through phytoplankton studies, aiming to promote local participation in protecting these vital ecosystems while aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals to actively promote native plant species, advance ecosystem monitoring, support environmental education, enhance biodiversity protection, drive ecological integrity, foster conservation planning, strengthen community-based conservation, prioritize natural resource management, and accelerate regional ecological restoration efforts. See more from PUP RIST Enhances Environmental Partnership with General Nakar LGU
Through these initiatives PUP continues to expand its environmental scope by bridging scientific research, habitat protection, and community engagement. By maintaining recognized repository standards, documenting native flora under threat, and restoring vital aquatic and terrestrial habitats, the institution ensures that its faculty, researchers, and students remain active leaders in ecological restoration, sustainable management, wildlife habitat preservation, environmental education, and long-term biodiversity stewardship.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines actively fulfills its commitment to terrestrial ecosystems and environmental conservation by offering targeted educational programs, including the DOST-SEI STRAND-N Master of Science in Biology program featuring advanced ecological assessments, student- and curator-led technical workshops like R U Ready?: Data, Ethics & Eco-Vibes focused on spatial habitat protection, specialized departmental courses in Conservation Biology and Plant Environmental Dynamics, and community-focused public outreach initiatives like Specimens to Sustainability from the PUP Herbarium to promote plant diversity and ex situ conservation. Ultimately, these diverse academic offerings and community programs reinforce the institution's ongoing dedication to safeguarding natural habitats and promoting long-term ecological sustainability.
The faculty members teaching Plant Biology courses from the Department of Biology developed instructional materials in 2025 to aid the teaching of Conservation Biology and Plant Environmental Dynamics starting this Academic Year 2025–2026. Both courses feature comprehensive topics on terrestrial ecosystems and ecology, alongside methodologies for safeguarding biodiversity across agricultural, tourism, and built environments. These academic modules reinforce plant conservation, promote native biodiversity, support sustainable forest management, drive effective conservation planning, enhance habitat degradation mitigation, cultivate ecological sustainability, facilitate wildlife conservation, and prioritize species protection.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) has joined the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute's (DOST-SEI) Science and Technology Regional Alliance of Universities for National Development (STRAND-N) consortium. This partnership opens up STEM graduate scholarship opportunities, including the Master of Science in Biology (lateral entry) program, with three MS Biology students already accepted. The curriculum features an Advanced Ecology course that explores biotic and abiotic interactions using bioinformatics and cutting-edge biodiversity assessment tools for both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
See more from: PUP : Sintang Paaralan excels in DOST-SEI's STRAND-N graduate scholarships
View news article: https://www.pup.edu.ph/news/?go=jKkLReB7fs8%3d
BS Biology’s Plant Track students from Class Kamagong organized their final output for Bioseminar, a two-day lecture-workshop held on January 12–13, 2026, at the Accenture Room, PUP Main Building. Together with PUP Herbarium curators, they trained third- and fourth-year Plant Biology students in R Software, a programming language widely utilized by ecologists and field botanists worldwide for ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, and spatial habitat protection. This program advances critical competencies in species conservation, improves ecological research, strengthens environmental management, boosts professional biodiversity protection, and empowers future practitioners in ecosystem assessment and wildlife management.
View program at R U Ready?: Data, Ethics & Eco-Vibes for the Next Generation of Plant Biologists and see more at Falling in love with R
On June 19–20, 2026, curators and student researchers from the Research Institute for Science & Technology – PUP Herbarium organized a two-day program featuring lectures, workshops, herbarium tours, plant photography activities, exhibits, and fellowship opportunities designed to deepen participant appreciation of plant diversity. This initiative highlights vital practices in ex situ conservation, advances ecosystem recovery, expands scientific documentation, encourages active community-based conservation, accelerates restoration projects, improves habitat connectivity, supports biological diversity, and fosters long-term nature conservation.
See more from: PUP Herbarium's 10th Anniversary PUP Herbarium 10th Anniversary celebration, Day 1 10th Anniversary of the PUP Herbarium (PUPH)
Day 1 activities: Herbarium Specimen Preparation Workshop Herbaria in Shaping a Sustainable Future Herbarium Workshop Munting Likha
Day 2 activities Plant Photography Herbarial Creativity
The university's educational scope extends to atmospheric and climate sciences through specialized coursework that addresses global and regional environmental challenges. Applied Meteorology and Climate Change analyzes atmospheric patterns to predict climate shifts and develop local adaptation strategies (SDG 13), while Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Action focuses on the socio-economic impacts of natural hazards, training students to formulate robust disaster preparedness frameworks. These subjects reinforce environmental conservation, advance ecological sustainability, support climate resilience, enhance habitat protection, improve ecosystem assessment, promote sustainable land management, drive natural resource management, and foster comprehensive environmental planning.
Rounding out its multi-disciplinary sustainability framework, the institution offers specialized courses addressing food security and aquatic resource management. Food Systems & Sustainable Dining teaches the lifecycle of food production, sustainable consumption, food waste reduction, and the "slow-food" concept (SDG 12), while River Engineering—a multi-disciplinary elective—trains students in the sustainable management of water and river ecosystems, covering flood control and ecologically balanced hydraulic structure design (SDG 14). These programs actively advance wetland restoration, support riparian forest preservation, enhance aquatic conservation, promote sustainable agriculture, drive effective river management, strengthen water conservation, improve ecosystem health, and secure biodiversity protection.
View: Courses that Teach Climate Science and/or Environmental Science
The University cements its dedication to environmental education, promotes multi-sectoral biodiversity conservation, drives regional ecological restoration, enhances sustainable management, and prepares future generations to champion holistic environmental stewardship across local and national communities.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) actively extends its educational programs and community outreach to promote sustainable land management for agriculture, rural capacity building, and climate-resilient ecosystem management. Through initiatives like indigenous-led riverside biodiversity documentation in General Nakar, gender-responsive organic farming training for cooperatives in Ragay, and wetland conservation and coastal rehabilitation programs in Bansud, the institution equips farmers and local stakeholders with essential knowledge for environmental stewardship and long-term agricultural sustainability.
PUP’s College of Science – Department of Biology organized an extension program that determined the knowledge of the riverside communities composed largely of the indigenous people called the Dumagat-Remontado in General Nakar, Quezon. They shared the plants that they encountered in the riverbanks and how they used these for livelihood, and as medicinal and food resources. While the faculty and student extensionists from PUP enhanced more their traditional knowledge with science-based conservation of plants and their environment, and how they could properly photo-document and communicate their knowledge to tourists that will boost ecotourism in their locality, the initiative actively supports sustainable land management, promotes soil and water conservation, advances agricultural conservation, enhances ecosystem management, drives environmental protection, strengthens ecological integrity, facilitates crop production optimization, encourages sustainable farming, prioritizes nature conservation, and fosters long-term land conservation across local agricultural landscapes.
PUP Ragay Campus implemented the second year of its extension program titled, “Project GROWTH: Gender-Responsive Organic Workforce for Transformative Harvests” on January 28–30, 2026. Members of the Ragay Organic Farmers Cooperative received hands-on training in integrated and sustainable agriculture, inclusive enterprise development, and gender-responsive business practices. This initiative actively advances sustainable land management, promotes organic farming, supports agricultural expansion, enhances soil conservation, drives effective rural development, strengthens community forestry, improves crop diversification, and fosters robust sustainable agricultural practices through continuous extension services and stakeholder empowerment.
See more from January 2026 RED Newsletter and March 2026 RED Newsletter
On July 23–24, 2026, PUP’s Research Institute for Science & Technology (RIST) presented research and extension proposals in Bansud, Oriental Mindoro. Partnering with the PUP Bansud campus, LGU Bansud, and its MENRO, the initiative advances wetland conservation, coastal rehabilitation, biodiversity mapping, and the rewilding or cultivation of beach flora on coastal areas of Bansud, strengthening community resilience and sustainable development. This collaborative effort directly supports wetland restoration, advances habitat protection, improves coastal management, drives ecosystem recovery, enhances biodiversity conservation, promotes natural resource management, fosters regional environmental planning, and strengthens comprehensive climate resilience.
See more from Research and Extension Initiative for Climate-Resilient Wetlands in Bansud, Oriental Mindoro
By implementing targeted farmer training initiatives, empowering local agricultural cooperatives, and engaging in collaborative coastal and environmental restoration projects, the institution cements its unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable development, fostering multi-sectoral environmental education, driving long-term soil conservation, supporting ecological integrity, and preparing rural communities for a sustainable agricultural future.
The university offers institutional outreach and educational programmes like, Salin-Kaalaman Tungo Sa Kaunlaran: Empowering Communities for Sustainable Tourism and Heritage Preservation in the Ifugao Rice Terraces and Kalingang PUP: Kalingang Pampang at Ugnayang Pangkabuhayan sa pangangalaga ng Saribuhay ng mga Kailugan ng General Nakar to local and national communities, focusing on the sustainable management of land for tourism, cultural heritage preservation, and ecotourism development. Through community-based extension projects in indigenous riverside areas and capacity-building workshops within UNESCO-listed landscapes, the University equips local residents, indigenous groups, and tourism stakeholders with the necessary tools to balance visitor management, environmental conservation, and long-term terrestrial stewardship.
Designed to protect vital cultural landscapes, the 2024–2026 Tourism Extension Program equips partner communities in Batad, Ifugao, with tools for sustainable land management and participatory planning. Featuring high engagement from local residents and women within the UNESCO-listed Rice Terraces, the initiative champions eco-tour guiding, cultural heritage preservation, biodiversity safeguards, and enduring environmental stewardship.
Launched in 2024 and currently in its second phase, the PUP Biology Department's outreach initiative validates the traditional wildlife knowledge (for food, medicine, and livelihood) of the Dumagat-Remontado indigenous community in General Nakar, Quezon. As part of this effort, BS Biology Animal Biology students conducted animal diversity assessments in Barangay Minahan Norte (November 2025) and Barangay Pagsangahan (January 2026) to educate locals on conservation and extinction prevention.
This outreach initiative integrates traditional knowledge with science-based management, fostering robust ecotourism development, supporting wildlife conservation, enhancing community-based conservation, promoting sustainable tourism, driving biodiversity protection, encouraging indigenous community empowerment, facilitating environmental education, improving habitat protection, ensuring wildlife management, and advancing long-term nature conservation.
See more: KALINGANG PUP https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H4JtXcMbT/ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BSLW1Phwf/ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EqxHAbo3W/
Through community-based extension projects in indigenous riverside areas and capacity-building workshops within UNESCO-listed landscapes, the University equips local residents, indigenous groups, and tourism stakeholders with the necessary tools to balance visitor management, environmental conservation, and long-term terrestrial stewardship.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines maintains a comprehensive policy framework dedicated to ensuring the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems associated with the university, particularly forests, mountains, and drylands. This commitment is formally enacted through institutional executive orders and strategic partnerships, including Executive Order No. 40 (Series of 2025), which integrates the Sustainable Development Goals into the university framework with explicit commitments to biodiversity research and community-based conservation under SDG 15; Executive Order No. 41 (Series of 2025), which establishes a comprehensive sustainability and waste management policy to minimize environmental degradation; Executive Order No. 15 (Series of 2026), the "PUP Biodiversity Policy," which sustains the ecological integrity and climate resilience of all campuses and neighboring ecosystems; and a collaborative Memorandum of Agreement with the Local Government Unit of General Nakar, Quezon Province, implemented via the Research Institute for Science and Technology and the College of Science – Department of Biology to conduct vital riparian ecosystem and conservation studies.
See more from TINGNAN l Pakikipagpulong at... - General Nakar, Quezon | Facebook and MOA & other legal documents related to this partnership
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) maintains a comprehensive institutional policy and framework to identify, monitor, and protect IUCN Red List species, endangered species, and vulnerable native flora whose habitats may be affected by university operations. Through a formal partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) under Memorandum Order No. 01 (Series of 2009)—which implements the Heritage Tree Program—PUP preserves significant campus flora (such as its oldest Ficus religiosa tree), promotes urban biodiversity monitoring, and drives public educational campaigns for long-term terrestrial ecosystem and wildlife management.
See more at: MOA Signing
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) systematically ensures that local biodiversity is systematically included into all institutional planning and development processes, including the construction of new buildings and campus infrastructure projects. Bounded by its institutional policy Executive Order No. 40 (series of 2025) and driven in close coordination with physical planning offices and research institutes, the University mandates rigorous pre-construction environmental impact assessments before any land development begins. For instance, pre-development tree inventories and specialized ecological reports are systematically conducted for major capital projects (such as the Athlete’s Village) to evaluate, safeguard, and properly manage native flora and heritage trees. These technical safeguards are further enriched through community-led awareness programs like the Sintang Lakbay Tour, guaranteeing that environmental stewardship is embedded across every phase of campus expansion.
In October 2026, the Office of the Vice President for Student Services together with the Physical Planning and Development Office (PPDO) requested the Research Institute for Science & Technology (RIST) to perform an inventory of trees in the proposed construction site of the Athlete’s Village, which is in proximity to the University’s heritage tree. A report was submitted in November 2026 by RIST to the PPDO detailing proposed trees that can be moved or should not be cut, with a recommendation that the PPDO should request from the DENR for a permit to cut if it would largely affect the overall design of the Athlete’s Village.
Through this proactive assessment, the university actively drives species conservation, ensures environmental planning, protects endangered plant species, promotes urban biodiversity, enhances forest management, prioritizes ecosystem recovery, supports conservation planning, and secures responsible landscape restoration alongside modern campus construction.
View the report here
The PUP Center for Environmental Studies, in partnership with 350 Pilipinas, the Renato Constantino Foundation, the Research Institute for Culture and Language (RICL), the Research Institute for Human and Social Development (RIHSD), the PUP Department of History, the PUP College of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment (CADBE), and the National Service Training Program Office (NSTPO), organized the Sintang Lakbay: Siklistang Sinta Environmental and Historical Bike/Walk Tour on April 22, 2024, as part of the University’s 120th Anniversary festivities and Earth Day celebrations. Centered on the theme “Towards Inclusive and Pro-People Mobility, Sustainability, and History-Conscious Community,” the event serves as a means to promote climate action while advancing biodiversity conservation, supporting nature conservation, enhancing habitat protection, promoting urban biodiversity, driving environmental protection, strengthening ecological integrity, encouraging sustainable land use, prioritizing ecosystem management, facilitating green infrastructure, and advancing long-term ecological sustainability in response to growing environmental concerns.
A MOU was signed between 350 Pilipinas and PUP where an agreement was inked centering on “the preservation, conservation, and revitalization of the environment and reduction of its carbon footprint and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).” By formalizing this strategic collaboration, the university actively promotes ecosystem restoration, advances resource conservation, supports habitat preservation, enhances environmental planning, drives carbon footprint reduction, strengthens climate resilience, encourages responsible land conservation, prioritizes ecosystem recovery, facilitates sustainable development, and secures long-term terrestrial conservation across all institutional development and planning activities. See from PUP: Partners hold Sintang Lakbay Tour for Earth Day.
See from PUP : Partners hold Sintang Lakbay Tour for Earth Day
Through these PUP bridges infrastructure expansion and environmental accountability by embedding biodiversity protection directly into its physical planning and construction workflows. Through mandatory executive policies and site-specific pre-development tree inventories, the institution ensures that campus growth coexists harmoniously with environmental sustainability, advanced habitat protection, comprehensive biodiversity conservation, and long-term ecological stewardship.
The university maintains a comprehensive policy framework designed to reduce the impact of alien, exotic, and introduced species to ensure campus safety and balanced ecosystem management. This includes structured management protocols and public awareness campaigns, highlighted by the KabaliCat program launched in partnership with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). The program implements a "No Petting, No Feeding Policy" alongside regular administrative seminars, such as Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR), to regulate human contact, safeguard native fauna, control animal populations, and foster long-term ecological sustainability on campus.
To ensure the safety and welfare of both the PUP community and its resident cats, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) partnered with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) via a Memorandum of Agreement to launch the KabaliCat program. This initiative enforces a strict "No Petting, No Feeding" policy to prevent risky interactions between humans and animals.
The university actively collaborates with local communities, government agencies, and cultural institutions through key programs such as Nakar Saribuhay: A Legacy of Biodiversity and Ethnobiology in General Nakar, Quezon Province, which focuses on community-based conservation and indigenous empowerment through a renewed MOA with the local government unit; the Mobile Museum Boxes Sierra Madre partnership with the National Museum of the Philippines, which brings scientific exhibitions and botanical education directly to regional communities; and the Heritage Tree Program established via an MOA with DENR-NCR to identify, study, and conserve historically significant campus trees while championing urban greening and biodiversity management.
Through this active regional collaboration, the university and local stakeholders advance community-based conservation, support indigenous community empowerment, promote biodiversity conservation, drive ecosystem management, enhance habitat protection, foster nature conservation, secure natural resource management, prioritize species protection, facilitate environmental education, and strengthen long-term terrestrial ecosystem preservation.
See more from February 2026 RED Newsletter and MOA Signing.
PUP and the National Museum of the Philippines forged a strategic partnership for botanical research, highlighted by the MOA signing for the "Mobile Museum Boxes Sierra Madre" project. This collaborative initiative brings scientific exhibitions and botanical education directly to regional communities, fostering a deeper appreciation for local ecology. By combining institutional resources with community engagement, the partnership actively promotes scientific documentation, advances environmental education, supports biodiversity protection, enhances ecosystem recovery, drives habitat conservation, fosters nature conservation, accelerates conservation planning, improves native species awareness, encourages ecological sustainability, and strengthens regional conservation actions.
See more from: PUP and National Museum of the Philippines Forge Partnership for Botanical Research, Bringing Science Closer to Communities: MOA Signing of PUP and NMP!, and April 2025 RED Newsletter
DENR–NCR and PUP–Manila formalized a partnership under the Heritage Tree Program to identify, study, and conserve historically significant trees across campuses. The MOA reinforces shared goals in urban greening, biodiversity protection, and community-based conservation, integrating environmental advocacy into education and nurturing sustainability for future generations. Through this inter-agency collaboration, the institution champions heritage tree preservation, drives urban biodiversity management, enhances species conservation, supports environmental management, promotes ecosystem management, accelerates conservation planning, secures habitat protection, advances nature conservation, and reinforces long-term ecological integrity.
See more at: MOA Signing, RIST MOA Signing, and August 2025 Newsletter
The university maintains water quality standards and guidelines designed to protect ecosystems, wildlife, and human health by rigorously managing effluent and runoff through 32 concrete septic tanks, building-level treatment facilities, hazardous waste handling manuals, and compliant public sewer connections with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). Furthermore, these integrated initiatives drive comprehensive pollution control and long-term water resources preservation across the institution.
The university maintains structured sanitation and wastewater systems comprising 32 concrete septic tanks and building-level treatment facilities that safely treat sanitary wastewater and discharge effluent into public sanitary lines managed by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), while dedicated stormwater drainage channels surface runoff to prevent flooding and protect surrounding water bodies.
Complementing this, a specialized hazardous waste manual regulates the collection and storage of laboratory washings, while the Physical Planning and Development Office approved the site layout for a new Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to enhance regulatory compliance.
Through these integrated systems, the institution actively advances water conservation, supports aquatic conservation, promotes environmental management, strengthens pollution control, enhances ecosystem management, drives environmental protection, secures ecological integrity, facilitates sustainable development, prioritizes nature conservation, and fosters long-term water resources preservation.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) implements a continuing, institution-wide plan for plastic waste reduction and marine pollution prevention through the Bring Your Own Reusables (BYOR) Campaign under OVPA Office Memorandum No. 4, Series of 2024, and the phased prohibition of identified single-use plastics under OVPA Office Memorandum No. 20, Series of 2024. These measures promote source reduction, reuse, sustainable consumption, and responsible waste management to minimize plastic waste, plastic litter, plastic debris, and marine litter.
The BYOR Campaign encourages students, employees, visitors, concessionaires, and contractors to use reusable food containers, utensils, tumblers, and mugs, reducing disposable plastic consumption at source. The single-use plastic policy further restricts specified plastic and polystyrene products and promotes reusable, biodegradable, and sustainable alternatives, supported by green procurement and stakeholder education. Implementation is supported by monitoring, enforcement, environmental education, research on alternatives, and recognition of successful initiatives. PUP further sustained the program through OVPA Office Memorandum No. 12, Series of 2025, extending the prohibition on single-use plastics from Thursday to Sunday, and OVPA Office Memorandum No. 13, Series of 2025, implementing the Plastic Free August Campaign.
Additionally, Procurement Advisoy No. 1, Series of 2026.pdf , alongside Executive Order No. 25-University Green Procurement Guidelines.pdf and Procurement Advisory No. 7_Green Public Procurement.pdf these advisories and guidelines establishes strict waste reduction protocols, bans on single-use plastics, and sustainable purchasing criteria to minimize campus-generated waste. By integrating environmental criteria into institutional purchasing and operational workflows, the university actively supports environmental management, advances pollution control, promotes resource conservation, enhances ecosystem management, drives environmental protection, strengthens and overall encourages sustainable development, prioritizes ecosystem conservation standards.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) enforces comprehensive institutional directives governing the safe classification, storage, handling, and disposal of hazardous materials, chemical substances, infectious waste, and e-waste across all campus facilities. Downstream hazardous waste management is operationalized through the Guidelines on Chemical and Hazardous Wastes (issued by the OVPA – Property and Supply Management Office) alongside OVPA Office Memorandum No. 18, Series of 2024, which institutionalizes a four-way source-separation scheme grounded in Republic Act No. 9003,. Under this framework, designated yellow waste bins isolate infectious and biohazardous items—such as laboratory chemicals, medical waste, and used PPE—for scheduled collection under strict safety protocols. On the procurement side, Executive Order No. 25, Series of 2023 andProcurement Advisory No. 1, Series of 2026 mandate sound chemical management by restricting hazardous compounds (e.g., EDTA, APEO, heavy metals) in campus cleaning agents and enforcing packaging take-back schemes and extended producer responsibility (EPR) for electronic equipment suppliers. All downstream transport, treatment, recovery, and final disposal of chemical, biological, and electronic waste are executed strictly through DENR-accredited treatment facilities to ensure full environmental compliance and prevent ecosystem contamination.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) maintains a robust portfolio of publications and documentation highlighting its active contributions, institutional initiatives, and community-driven projects aligned with global sustainability standards. To explore the university's comprehensive commitments, ongoing projects, and strategic milestones dedicated to advancing each of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), browse the sections below:
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) regularly publishes and communicates its institutional progress, research output, and administrative milestones aligned with SDG 15 through official university publications. As documented in the institutional evidence catalogue below, PUP highlights its active contributions towards the advancement of Life on Land.
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Applicant Student Faculty Member or Employee Researcher or Extensionist Alumni Campus Life Sustainable Development Goals Back to Homepage