Sunday, June 4, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Lifestyle Wellness & Environment

Back to our roots: How Ayala Land is leading a Philippine ecological revolution

Renee FopalanbyRenee Fopalan
August 21, 2016, 7:00 pm
in Wellness & Environment
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

August 19, 2016 – From food, to art, and fashion, the "support local" movement has continuously gained ground in the Philippines. Such efforts have also crossed over to urban planning. One development at a time, Ayala Land has taken the lead in introducing native trees to the emerging landscapes.

Little do Filipinos know that most of the plants they see around are not native to the Philippines.Ayala Land Sustainability Manager, Anna Gonzales, shared that early landscaping practice in the country was influenced by trends and looks from abroad, particularly the United States. Exotic or foreign trees such as Acacia, Bougainvillea, and Fire Trees, among many others, made their way into urban gardens and parks as these were more familiar to designers and planners. The demand for these plants, coupled with scant knowledge on the use of Philippine plants for landscaping resulted in the lack of general appreciation and utilization of our native species in urban areas.

The fight for Filipino foliage

“It would be great if more people knew about the Philippines’ very unique ecosystems," Gonzales bared. "A lot of plants and animals co-evolved in our islands separate from others, and because of that we have more than 6,000species of plants and trees found only in the Philippines."

Dita trees at Serendra in Bonifacio Global City.

This abundance of endemic and native selections has given Ayala Land the chance to opt for native trees whenever possible. As "locals", native vegetation needs little or no special integration to the Philippine topography. The different species, after all, co-evolve with the land, making them resilient to natural and manmade impacts.

"The advocacy for native trees is our way of assuring the sustainability and continuance of life that is appropriate for the Philippine environment. These native trees provide food and shelter to other life forms such as birds, bats and insects," said Gonzales on the benefits of using native trees. "It's a two-way street: we're protecting the environment but the environment will also protect us. That's why it’s important to understand what kind of plants, trees and animals are actually keeping our ecosystem in balance and to find out how to support them in our developments."

Interestingly, Filipinos may not always be aware of what native trees are.

Native trees lining up the streets of Bonifacio Global City.

"Most of what we think that are native are not," said Gonzales. “What’s a good clue to finding out what is native? Many towns and places are named after native trees: Antipolo, Balete, Betis, Cupang, Calumpang, Calumpit, Talisay."

Numbers don’t lie

Landscaping in large-scale developments by Ayala Land utilizes 60 to 80 percent native trees and plants. In Nuvali alone, one of ALI’s 19 sustainable estates spread across key growth areas nationwide, there are 60,000 native trees planted, and the trend continues in their other projects all-throughout the country. The plants involved include 75 indigenous tree species from 38 plant families.

Its active partnership with various organizations, including the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, has helped Ayala Land boost awareness on native tree use. Additionally, the company also collaborates with Filipino scientists and architects to identify the best native plants to use in urban landscapes. The sustainability of these efforts, meanwhile, is assured through the establishment of native plant nurseries right within the said communities.

Bignay tree in Nuvali.

Industry recognition

Such efforts did result in industry recognition. The Philippine arm of Urban Land Institute (ULI), a nonprofit research and education organization founded in 1936, recognized Ayala Land for "Excellence in Health and Sustainability" in its 2016 Healthy Places Awards. The organization, which recognizes developers who use innovative design strategies to promote healthy living, cited Ayala Land's Anvaya Cove, which has integrated native tree propagation and other biodiversity programs in its development.

Gunning for a greener generation

The battle to sustain a thriving native ecosystem, however, is not the only purpose of introducing native trees to Ayala Land developments. The other more significant reason to plant them is to improve the lives of people who live in it.

Tibig is one of the native tree species cultivated in Ayala Land’s own tree nurseries.

“Emerging studies are showing that humans are healthier and happier when amid other life forms, an experience that is also provided by landscapes. Whether they realize it or not, their body responds positively to greenery,” added Gonzales. “There is the biophilia hypothesis, which says that intuitively, people feel affinity toward living things."

 “As pioneers, as planners, we work towards creating communities where people can live healthy, thus, live well. And planting native trees, for one, keeps these communities sustainable and beneficial not only today but in the coming years,” Gonzales said.

Tags: Ayala LandPhilippine ecological revolution
ADVERTISEMENT
Renee Fopalan

Renee Fopalan

Related Posts

Trending student named ‘Drink Water’ chooses something more than water

byManila Standard Lifestyle
March 13, 2023, 1:30 pm
0
8
Trending student named ‘Drink Water’ chooses something more than water

Drink Water Rivera is just a regular guy who loves hydration. A Filipino university student who knew, from the day...

Read more

APO La Salle celebrates 51 years of servant leadership

byManila Standard Showbiz
March 1, 2023, 8:50 pm
0
8
Vital Dome expands local network with BGC chiropractic clinic

There are few things in the world more powerful than friendship. Truly, the bond among like-minded men and women lasts...

Read more

10 healthier mental well-being tips for the Lunar New Year

byManila Standard Lifestyle
January 25, 2023, 6:00 pm
0
8
10 healthier mental well-being tips for the Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year is an ideal time to become better versions of ourselves. This may manifest through exercise, a...

Read more

Idyllic sanctuary for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles

byManila Standard Lifestyle
January 15, 2023, 7:20 pm
0
8
Homegrown coffee chain brand expands in the Middle East

Flaunting breathtaking vistas, a plethora of recreational opportunities, and posh residential enclaves, Hamilo Coast is, without a doubt, an oasis...

Read more

Why going ‘clean’ can be better for your skin health and the environment

byManila Standard Lifestyle
December 28, 2022, 8:00 pm
0
15
Why going ‘clean’ can be better for your skin health and the environment

For many skincare gurus today, effectiveness is no longer the strongest barometer in choosing what goes into their daily beauty...

Read more

No holiday skin stress

byManila Standard Lifestyle
December 21, 2022, 7:50 pm
0
36
Helping MSMEs achieve success one gift at a time

Look your best with bright and bouncy mochi-mochi skin Everything’s coming up merry and bright for the holidays this year...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Indian officials seek cause of train crash that killed at least 288
  • Nepali guide rescues climber from Everest death zone
  • Three Chinese astronauts return safely to Earth
  • Air strike injures 20 in residential area of Ukraine city: official
  • Pentagon says concerned over China’s ‘increasingly risky’ actions in Asia
  • Atayde calls for passage of adolescent pregnancy prevention bill
  • Kim’s sister slams UN meeting on North Korea’s spy satellite launch
  • China defence minister warns against ‘NATO-like’ alliances in Asia-Pacific

Advertisement

Latest News

Atayde calls for passage of adolescent pregnancy prevention bill

byThe Standard
June 4, 2023, 10:37 am
0
8
Atayde calls for passage of adolescent pregnancy prevention bill

IT IS time to fast track the passing of a measure that seeks to prevent the adolescent pregnancy in the...

Read more

Kim’s sister slams UN meeting on North Korea’s spy satellite launch

byAFP
June 4, 2023, 10:30 am
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong slammed the UN Security Council for holding a "most...

Read more

China defence minister warns against ‘NATO-like’ alliances in Asia-Pacific

byAFP
June 4, 2023, 10:00 am
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

China's defence minister warned against establishing "NATO-like" military alliances in the Asia-Pacific region on Sunday, saying they would plunge the...

Read more

‘Unsafe’ action by China near American ship in Taiwan Strait: US

byAFP
June 4, 2023, 9:30 am
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

A Chinese Navy ship maneuvered in an "unsafe manner" near an American destroyer transiting the Taiwan Strait, the US military...

Read more

12 dead from asphyxiation in Venezuelan gold mine

byAFP
June 4, 2023, 9:00 am
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

Twelve people have died from asphyxiation in a shuttered gold mine in southeastern Venezuela, a local official told AFP on...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App