Enviromental Resource Management Center

In response to the Pastoral Letter released by the Catholic Conference of the Philippines on Stewardship of the Earth's Resources, the De La Salle University System, has included among others, stewardship of God's Creation Ministry Action Plan (MAP) 1999-2001.

De La Salle University-Dasmariñas' (DLSU-D) committment to this call was realized through the creation of the Environmental Resource Management Center, an office that is responsible for the university's environmental programs and advocacy. The different programs of the center seek to make the university an "ecology learning center" to the communities both inside and outside the campus.

The De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Botanical Garden

RATIONALE

The garden is primarily a facility for biological research and education. Its living collection of wild and cultivated plants function also for the conservation of plant diversity, enjoyment, and benefit of the student's populace, and that of the public.

The garden will also enjoy a special relationship with the Biological Sciences Department (BSD) as it will provide the latter the necessary research support facility such as a reference collection of dried preserved plants (voucher specimens) herbarium and a modest greenhouse/laboratory unit.

The living collections of the garden will be divided among a general collection of trees, shrubs, climbers, herbs and a number of specialty collections. All of these will reflect the specific interest and needs of the university and of the Biological Sciences Department namely palms, wild orchids, medicinal plants and various ornamental plants.

While endangered or rare plants are to be represented, their collection and conservation will be given greater emphasis in the future.

The practicality of utilizing the garden's collections cannot be underestimated. Specific projects, which can be conducted in the garden by the university staff and students, may include phenological studies of select taxa, phytochemical screening in selected families and various medicinal plants, plant growth analyses and ecological studies.

The garden's phenological data and other records will be compiled electronically.

THE CONCEPT

Just as in any recognized botanical garden around the world, the plants at the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Botanical Garden will be arranged in a particular systematic manner. It will be designed, to serve the following purposes:

1. Scientific Research. The Botanical Garden will serve as a center where plants are collected and grown for botanical research, breeding studies, plant exchange and experimentation of economically or ornamentally important plants. It will serve as a repository of plant specimens (living or otherwise), which will be constantly maintained and expanded where scholarly research, and publications will be produced.

2. Educational Function. The Botanical Garden is aimed to stimulate public curiosity and interest about plant life and their importance to human being. Laboratory work could be done within the Garden. Animals and insects can also be observed and studied in the Garden. Lectures, demonstrations, seminars, special exhibition and guided tours will be made available in the Garden.

3. Aesthetic and Recreational Function. The Botanical Garden will serve as a place where visitor can enjoy the beauty of nature. The different species of trees, ferns, ornamental plants together with the various forms of insects and animals will enhance the beauty of the Garden.

4. Conservation Function. The Botanical Garden will also function as a repository for representative specimens of Philippine endemic and endangered species.

5. Public Service. Identification service to the inquiring public may be rendered sale of plants and special exhibition by plant specialists may be done in the Garden.

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