About Us

A Vision for Mother Earth: A leading institution in Northern Philippines geared toward responding to the needs of community's diminishing ecosystems, and a steward of the different ecological systems of the region. It envisages as a regional hub - the center for biodiversity research & conservation, restoration ecology, and environmental concerns.

A Mission for Humanity: To uplift the wellbeing of the Ilocano people through sustainable management and use of its natural resources, and to respond to the environmental needs to mitigate the disastrous effects of calamities and the changing climate.

History

History of the Center for Biodiversity Conservation, Restoration Ecology & Environmental Concerns (CBCREEC)

At the turn of the century, Northwestern University in Laoag City embarked on a journey of excellence by subjecting itself to the rigorous standards of the Anglo-Japanese American (AJA) Registrars Inc. The university became the first educational institution in the province to earn the International Standard Organization (ISO) 9001/1994 certification, later upgraded to ISO 9001-2000. This achievement marked the beginning of NWU’s commitment to quality standards and environmental stewardship.

In the early 2000s, NWU's outstanding performance led to its deregulated status, compliant with the 9001:2000 quality standards set by AJA-UKAS for quality management. This period also saw the university envisioning a future as a green institution by 2020, emphasizing sustainability programs, smart infrastructure, and environmental management.

In 2004, under the leadership of Col. Ben Nicolas, NWU began conceptualizing a green movement. Proposals included forest establishment on campus, natural open spaces, and the acquisition of new expansion sites for sustainable development and research. This vision led to the development of the Payas Botanical Project in San Nicolas, about 8 kilometers from the university. including 2 Ha property in Nalbo and 21 Ha Agroforestry and Ecological Research Station in Piddig.

The Payas Garden Project, initiated by former research director Isidro Esteban in 2004, aimed to transform 7.8 hectares of idle land into a botanic garden. The project, supervised by garden consultants Mrs. Evelyn Nicolas and Ms. Evelyn Baraoidan, involved extensive planning and development, including road networks and various green spaces. The garden became a training ground for the University Center for Research & Development and the Community Extension Center, with the Integrated Agriculture Development Division assisting in operations.

In August 2006, the botanical project began in earnest, with a revised master plan to meet the university's research and community extension needs. The Ecosystem Management & Development Office (EMDO) was created to oversee the project, incorporating botanical details, and recruiting skilled personnel. By 2007 it became an official member of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) with the code NUEBG. Systematic collections were established, housing 1,200 species from plant expeditions and acquisitions. It salvages typhoon affected plants and animals and are conserved ex situ for research and education purposes. The garden opened to the public in July 2010 and accommodated the first taxonomy class of the University of the Philippines Manila.

The extensive research on Northwestern Luzon's vegetation resulted in a voluminous collection of botanical materials, including a herbarium of about 15,000 specimens. This collection led to the garden's accreditation as a registered member of the Index Herbariorum in New York, USA, in 2016. The garden also features a mini Museum of Natural History, showcasing the region's biodiversity.

Recognizing the threats posed by climate change and super typhoons, NUEBG personnel received training at the Millennium Seed Bank in 2018 to prepare for seed conservation initiatives. The garden now focuses on tissue culture for non-bankable seeds and plans to use cryopreservation in future endeavors.

Today, NUEBG has achieved 100% conservation efficiency for all narrow endemic species in Ilocos Norte, including the retrieval of the long-lost Psychotria ilocana, once considered extinct by the IUCN. The garden ensures zero extinction of plant species in the region and has discovered 11 new species since 2020. It also records new plant distributions and country records for migratory birds.

As the Vision 2020 goals were met, NWU redesigned EMDO into the more comprehensive CBCREEC to address broader environmental concerns. CBCREEC now leads conservation efforts, driving NWU towards becoming a fully green university by 2032, in celebration of the university's centennial.