SURROUNDED by Manila’s dense urban sprawl, UST remains an unexpected green refuge, where migratory and endemic wildlife continue to survive despite the city’s pollution.
Experts attribute this resilience to the University’s mature trees, small habitat pockets, and long-running conservation efforts that have allowed a rising diversity of birds and plants to persist on campus.
Veteran birdwatcher Adrian Constantino said migratory bird species are commonly seen throughout the metropolis, from UP Diliman to La Mesa Ecopark, during the migration season, which runs from October to April, and UST has consistently been among these regular stopover sites.
“‘Yong migratory birds, during winter time, they travel to warmer countries like the Philippines to escape the harsh winter, and also primarily because of food. So UST, with its lush greenery, will provide food and shelter for migratory birds,” Constantino told the Varsitarian.
He said birds entering the Philippines follow the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, which makes Metro Manila an unavoidable passage on their southward journey.
Aside from the medium egret, species recorded on campus include the pygmy woodpecker (Yungipicus maculatus), red-bellied pitta (Erythropitta species), and several heron species. These birds use UST’s trees, open fields, and botanical garden as resting and foraging sites as they move across the city.
Asst. Prof. Russell Venturina of the Department of Biological Sciences also reported sightings of other endemic species, such as the Philippine pygmy woodpecker and the wood-breasted pitta.
He said the combination of grassland areas and mature tree canopy in UST provides a temporary haven for these animals before they move on to their next location.
Campus biodiversity
A 2019 plant survey recorded more than 2,000 individual trees on the UST Manila campus, comprising 45 native and endemic species and 53 introduced or exotic species.
Among the trees found in the University are the dita or blackboard tree (Alstonia scolaris), atis (Annona squamosa), fire tree (Delonix regia), Indian catmon, gakakan, ylang-ylang, and narra, many of which serve as food sources, nesting sites, or shade trees for birds and other wildlife.
The towering dita inside the UST Botanical Garden is believed to be one of the oldest trees on campus, said Asst. Prof. Melanie Arbias of the Department of Biological Sciences.
“Isa sa pinakamatandang puno natin sa UST, kapag babalikan mo ‘yong old pictures ng UST, ay ‘yong Dita sa Botanical Garden, isa siya sa pinakamatanda, if not, siya ‘yong pinakamatanda,” she said.
Dita trees are also present in Benavides Park, the Grandstand and Parade Grounds, and the grounds beside the Santisimo Rosario Church.
Venturina said green spaces such as UST play an essential ecological role by regulating temperature, filtering pollutants, and providing habitat for wildlife.
“Ang laki ng ginagampanan ng green spaces when it comes to air purification, with regards to the amount of pollution that continuously piles up because of transportation and other industrial sectors,” he said.
Maintenance and conservation efforts
Both experts stressed that consistent care, supported by adequate water, sunlight, and monitoring, is vital to sustaining the University’s flora and fauna.
“Ang pinakamahirap kasi sa isang green space ay ‘yong maintenance, and I think UST hasn’t failed yet with regards to maintaining these green spaces that we have, because this lasted even when I was in college,” Venturina said.
The Facilities Management Office (FMO) manages tree maintenance on campus, a task where it collaborates with the College of Science. According to Arbias, College of Science Dean Rey Donne Papa, established a committee to guide the FMO on campus greenery and advocate for the planting of native and endemic species.
Part of this initiative includes the UST Manila Campus Tree Database, which lists 42 tree species currently documented.
Despite these efforts, wildlife on campus remains vulnerable to threats such as human disturbance and climate change.
“Sa UST campus, ang threat lang talaga is ‘pag may naisipan na, halimbawa, building na itatayo, so may isasakripisyo kang mga puno,” Arbias said.
Constantino added that climate change disrupts fruiting seasons and weather patterns, affecting food availability and flight conditions for migratory birds.
Coexisting with campus wildlife
To help maintain UST’s biodiversity, Arbias urged the Thomasian community to avoid domesticating or feeding wildlife.
“Halimbawa sa birds, ‘wag tayong mag-offer ng food para lang lumapit siya sa atin sa table at para maganda ‘yong picture natin. Hindi siya magandang practice,” she said.
Arbias said genuine conservation begins with deeper appreciation and awareness.
“‘Yong tunay na conservation, mag-uumpisa muna siya doon sa [kung paano mo] na-aappreciate [kung] gaano siya kaganda, [at] gaano ka-importante ang [biodiversity]. As Thomasians, mas pataasin pa natin ‘yong level ng appreciation natin, mas pag-aralan pa nating mabuti ‘yong plants and animals para mas ma-appreciate pa natin sila,” she said.
