Sustainability criteria and indicators for the Makiling Botanic Gardens, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines

The achievement of sustainability in management for a particular forest area can be verified and monitored in several ways. The use of sustainability criteria and indicators is one of the widely accepted methods in sustainability assessment. The study aimed at developing a unique set of sustainability criteria and indicators (C & I) for the Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG), a forest area managed for various educational and recreational activities located inside the College of Forestry and Natural Resources campus of the University of the Philippines Los Banos. Using the CIFOR [Center for International Forestry Research] generic template as an initial candidate set of criteria and indicators, a multi-disciplinary team evaluated and assessed each criterion and indicator based on available and up-to-date information on the management condition of MBG. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) techniques such as ranking, rating and pairwise comparison were used to screen out items from the generic template that were irrelevant and inapplicable to the management condition of MBG. The remaining items were then restructed and reinforced by additional criteria indicators developed by the team. Testing was then conducted through a preliminary sustainability assessment of MBG using the C & I set developed. After testing, an iteration of the MCA [multi-criteria analysis] techniques applied was conducted to finalize the recommended C & I set for MBG. The study showed that the C & I set appropriate for MBG focused primarily on the protection of ecological processes in the area, at the same time supporting recreational, educational and research activities. The recommended C & I set highlighted the importance of a sound policy framework that supports management, as well as the critical role that planning, implementation and monitoring play in the achievement of sustainability in management of areas such as MBG. In the course of this study, it was also apparent that the communication and research skills of the evaluation team facilitated the whole evaluation process. The availability of complete, up-to-date information related to the activities and management of MBG was also critical in making an accurate and objective assessment