Baseline Assessment of Urban Forest Vegetation at the Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City

An urban forest plays an essential role by providing multiple ecological services such as improved air and water quality, carbon sequestration, and many others. However, these forests are facing threats due to increasing numbers of exotic species influenced by human activities. This ecological imbalance may potentially cause an extensive impact on the urban community. Thus, the present study aimed to provide a baseline assessment of the remaining urban forest in the Ateneo de Manila University by determining the general floristic composition, (ii) comparing the proportions of life forms present with the Raunkiaer’s categories, and (iii) determining the ecological importance of the vegetation in the area through endemism and ecological or conservation status assessment. The BMB-DENR method on Terrestrial Ecosystems Biodiversity and Assessment Monitoring was adopted for this study. The results showed that the presence of exotic and invasive species in the area affected the diversity and composition of floral life-forms at the Ateneo Urban Forest and Wildlife Sanctuary as they altered fundamental properties of the biotic organization in the urban ecosystem.