A concrete jungle like Metro Manila can never have enough green spaces. Besides offering a much-needed escape from the urban sprawl, green spaces provide many benefits for the city and its residents. They are essential for combating climate change, improving public health, providing ecosystem services, and boosting the economy, among other things.
La Mesa Ecopark is one of Metro Manila’s most important green spaces. This urban oasis is part of the 2,700-hectare La Mesa Watershed, considered as the ‘lungs’ and the last ecological frontier of the Philippines’ National Capital Region. Since its reopening on June 29th, CCIPH has been recognized for its efforts in identifying various animal and plant species in the area, including rare, threatened, and endemic ones! However, documenting species diversity in the ecopark is just one aspect of our work.
By conducting a High Conservation Value Area (HCVA) Assessment at La Mesa Ecopark, CCIPH sought to establish ecological baselines, identify biodiversity threats (notably invasive species in the area), and understand its ecosystem dynamics. The endgame is to provide the management with valuable information so they can make informed decisions regarding the proper rehabilitation and restoration of this precious green space.
