Northwestern University Ecotourism Park and Botanic Gardens (NUEBG) 

Brief History of NUEBG

The Northwestern University Ecological and Botanical Garden (NUEBG) was established as part of Northwestern University's commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), particularly in the conservation of the natural heritage of northwestern Luzon. Northwestern University is a private, non-sectarian academic institution located in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines.

The development of the botanic garden began humbly in 2004 with the transformation of an idle 7.8-hectare land area located approximately eight kilometers from the university campus, in the municipality of San Nicolas. Originally known as the Payas Garden Project—coined as PAGAPRO by former Research Director Isidro Esteban—this initiative aimed to establish a green research center surrounded by flowering and fruit-bearing trees.

The project received full institutional support as a priority of then University President Ben A. Nicolas. Under the guidance of garden consultants Mrs. Evelyn Nicolas and Ms. Evelyn Baraoidan, a development team was formed to implement the master plan, including zoning, road networks, and the establishment of various plant collections. The site also served as a field laboratory and extension center for the University Center for Research & Development (UCRD) and the Community Extension Center, with operational support from the Integrated Agriculture Development Division.

In August 2006, the botanical initiative was officially launched, guided by a revised master plan tailored to meet the research and extension needs of the university. A new team of artistic personnel and gardeners commenced phased implementation of the garden’s landscape and facilities. By 2007, systematic plant collections were initiated, eventually amassing around 1,200 species gathered from wild expeditions and acquisitions from partner botanical institutions.

The garden’s extensive and diverse collection matured and culminated in its public opening in July 2010. That same year, the institution became an official member of Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) with the international code NUEBG.

As research activities intensified, fieldwork across northwestern Luzon yielded a significant volume of plant materials—from seeds and salvaged specimens to herbarium collections. The herbarium, which now contains approximately 15,000 specimens, is a valuable repository of the region's flora, including those rescued from typhoon-affected or degraded ecosystems. In 2016, NUEBG was officially registered as a member of the Index Herbariorum based in New York, USA. The site also houses a mini Museum of Natural History, showcasing the region's rich biodiversity.

Due to the increasing threat of climate change and frequent super typhoons, the NUEBG collections have faced significant challenges. In 2018, the garden staff underwent training at the Millennium Seed Bank to initiate a seed conservation program focused on safeguarding vulnerable plant species. Current efforts include the development of tissue culture protocols and exploration of cryopreservation techniques for conserving non-bankable seeds.

As of today, the NUEBG has achieved a 47% conservation success rate for narrow endemic species in Ilocos Norte, with a target to reach 50% conservation coverage of the region's flora by the end of 2020. One of its goals is also to locate and reintroduce Guioa parvifoliola, a critically endangered species presumed extinct in the wild.

The NUEBG has since become a leading institution in plant discovery and conservation, credited with the identification of eight new species to science since 2015, as well as new distribution records for both flora and migratory birds in the Philippines.