Analysis of green space management strategies in Metro Manila [Philippines]

Soil physical and chemical properties varied. Some of which are statistically different while others are not. Most soils have pH of more than seven others are near seven. CEC, OM,P, K, and Mn of most of the soils are low to very low. Widths of the street corridors and sizes of basins are below the standard. Aboveground utilities with plantings underneath are prevalent. Sizes of the parks were relatively small. Climatic conditions are relatively harsher and drier while pollution levels are already high. The public is highly aware of the importance of greening and of the usefulness and disadvantages of urban trees. Only few have actually participated in the greening but majority are willing to cooperate if given the opportunity. Political atmosphere is only fairly supportive of the greening and other environmental issues and concerns though some of them have initiated greening activities. Legislation of greening ordinances is not given much attention. Greening offices in the cities and municipalities are already installed. Some are permanent while others are still quasi in nature. Some are well equipped in terms of manpower, financial and technological resources while others still need to build up their capabilities. Each of the cities and municipalities have their own greening goal and objectives and have developed their own cultural management strategies. As to the conditions or status of street green spaces, Marikina had the highest percent tree survival and percent tree health while Manila had the most number of species. Differences in survival, health condition and species composition were statistically significant. Manila's park green spaces had the highest percent tree survival, and most number of species while Makati had the highest percent tree health condition. Differences in survival and health condition are not significant but significant in species composition. For street green spaces, significantly correlated variables were: biophysical factor only size of basin (X15) with percent survival; social factors such as awareness of the public on greening and its importance (X25), regard of the public to environment (X32), responses of the public to greening and environmental ordinances (X53) with percent survival while positive attitude (X26) and respect to authorities (30) in addition to X31 and X53 with percent tree health condition, political support in terms of legislation (X40) and allocating budget/generating fund (X42 and X43), political will (X49 and X50) and credibility and public relations (X51) and strong city leadership (X52) with percentage survival, and except X40 with percent tree health condition; management practices only frequency of weeding (X65) with percentage survival and tree health condition; and, management capabilities like number and quality of technical staff (X75), adequacy of human resources and appropriateness of skills (X77), financial support by government (X82), sufficiency of budget (X83), proper utilization of budget (X84), better coordination and linkages between and among NGOs and other (X85), morale of employees and effective and efficient implementation of greening programs (X89) with percentage survival and except X75 with percent tree health condition. For park green spaces, significantly correlated variables were: biophysical factor only, percent silt content and management practice only frequency of watering with percent tree survival and percent tree health condition, respectively. None of the social, political and management variables were found positively or negatively correlated significantly either with percent survival and percent tree health condition