Botanical Gardens And Herbarium - Bukidnon State University

The Bukidnon State University Botanical Gardens and Herbarium, located adjacent to the Health and Wellness Center of College of Nursing on Supt. Primitivo Lara Street, features six sections on the second floor and eight sections on the first floor, including offices for visiting scientists, a conference room, and a mini-library. The herbarium’s collection includes rare, endangered, endemic, and other significant dried plant species from the Philippines and Asia.

Under the SMART administration of Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, with support from Dr. Hazel M. Abejuela and Dr. Lesley C. Lubos, the BGH has made significant strides toward sustainability and environmental stewardship, establishing itself as a model for sustainable development and academic excellence in the region. The BGH’s mission includes conserving indigenous, endemic, endangered, and rare flora while providing living plant materials for education and research. Support from external partners, including the descendants of Dr. Florencio M. Flores, Sr., has been crucial in advancing its goals. With ten meticulously curated gardens, the BGH serves as an invaluable outdoor laboratory, inspiring research, education, and appreciation for tropical ecosystems and their diverse biota, including ex situ conservation.

History

During its prosperous journey, the BGH office under the SMART administration, guided by Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, has made significant strides in achieving continuous sustainability and advancing its vision of becoming a Green University. Dr. Mirasol’s leadership has been pivotal in orchestrating initiatives that prioritize eco-friendly practices and foster environmental stewardship within the institution. Working in tandem with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, led by Dr. Hazel M. Abejuela, the BGH has also prioritized the holistic development and learning experiences of students and stakeholders. Dr. Abejuela’s support has been instrumental in shaping educational programs that integrate sustainability into the academic curriculum, ensuring a comprehensive approach to environmental consciousness. Additionally, Dr. Lesley C. Lubos, one of the pioneering figures of BGH and serving as BGH Director, has played a crucial role in garnering top-level support and overseeing the effective implementation of sustainable practices across the university. Together, this collaborative effort has not only propelled the BGH towards continuous improvement but has also established it as a model institution for sustainable development and academic excellence in the region.

Beyond internal endeavors, the BGH found unwavering support from external partners, organizations, and individuals. Among these champions of progress were the esteemed descendants of the late Dr. Florencio M. Flores, Sr., and Mrs. Vicenta T. Flores, notably the late Dr. Florencio T. Flores, Jr. (son), and Hon. Congressman Jonathan Keith T. Flores (grandson). Their family’s enduring legacy and substantial contributions made a profound impact on the BGH’s mission, highlighting the power of collaborative efforts in realizing shared objectives and fostering positive change. This collective support enhances the unit’s capacity to effect positive change and advance its mission towards greater sustainability and the achievement of its goals.

The Bukidnon State University Botanical Gardens and Herbarium stand as a testament to innovation and dedication, serving as an invaluable outdoor laboratory for scientific, cultural, and academic pursuits. Its primary mission includes the conservation of indigenous, endemic, endangered, and rare flora species, while also providing essential living plant materials for educational and scientific endeavors. Through its ten meticulously curated gardens—Indigenous, Herbal, Flower, Rose, Fern and Lycophytes, Bryophytes and Lichens, Bromeliad, Orchid, Cactus and Succulents, and Water Garden—the BGH continues to inspire research, education, and appreciation for tropical ecosystems and their diverse biota, including ex situ conservation.

Goals

The Botanical Gardens and Herbarium (BGH) aims to foster a dynamic outdoor laboratory environment that integrates scientific, cultural, and academic pursuits while prioritizing the conservation of indigenous, endemic, endangered, and rare species of flora. Additionally, we aspire to establish BGH as a premier herbarium, acting as a cornerstone repository for dried plant specimens, thereby enhancing our capacity to support instruction, training, and scientific inquiries.

Objectives

					
										To lay out a basic understanding of the restoration and preservation of our environmental heritage programs and projects, collections-based cultural and scientific institution;
									
										To undertake plant systematics and taxonomic studies;
									
										To monitor plant diversity; and
									
										To integrate academic transformative learning experiences and effective use of classroom curricula and out-of-school activities.