Misamis University Champions Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation in one of the ASEAN Heritage Parks in the Philippines

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Misamis University Community Extension Program

Misamis University Champions Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation in one of the ASEAN Heritage Parks in the Philippines

Misamis University (MU) exemplifies the integration of higher education, research, and community engagement in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land) by sustaining and expanding conservation efforts in the Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park (MMRNP), a nationally and globally significant ecosystem recognized as Key Biodiversity Areas, Important Bird Area in the Philippines, 29th ASEAN Heritage Parks, Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Man and Biosphere Reserve. Since 2005, MU has actively participated in the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), a governing body of the park, chairing the Subcommittee on Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) and committee under Republic Acts 9304 and 11083. Through this leadership, the university has guided research on biodiversity and extension programs, led the development of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) frameworks for the conservation and management of MMRNP, and produced IEC materials, both funded by DOST-PCAARRD and DOST-PCEEIIRRD, to support environmental awareness and the sustainable management of MMRNP. MU also has committee members on Research, Infrastructure, Water Resource, and Community-Based Program.

Since 2010, MU has developed and maintained the official Mt. Malindang website at mt.malindang.mu.edu.ph, which has engaged over 138,000 visitors, connecting communities and stakeholders worldwide to conservation knowledge.

In line with its vision of holistic ecosystem stewardship, MU recently expanded its PAMB membership to the Baliangao Protected Landscape and Seascape (BPLS) and the Bagumbang–Malaubang Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (BMMSFR), both a landscape and seascape in the province of Misamis Occidental, to further engage protected area management. These roles enhance community-based management of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems, advancing “ridge-to-reef” conservation strategies that protect biodiversity, water resources, and local livelihoods.

Through these initiatives, Misamis University demonstrates a model of academic leadership in sustainable ecosystem management, bridging research, policy, and community action — a commitment that positions MU as a rising institution in global sustainability and biodiversity rankings.