AIS and AUN-EEC explore ecological restoration and education at the Masungi Georeserve

On 29 August 2025, participants, speakers, and organizers of the 6th Annual AUN-EEC Conference on Ecological Education and Culture embarked on a post-conference tour at the Masungi Georeserve, one of the official partners of the conference. The conversations surrounding climate change and sustainability continued even beyond the official days of the Conference during the guided tour through Masungi’s Pocket Discovery Trail.

Masungi’s commitment towards ecological restoration and education was apparent right from the beginning, as the trail started with an orientation of the policies and safety guidelines, which are aimed at protecting not only the guests, but also the landscape and the biodiversity present in the georeserve. The 2-hour hike through the conservation area brought the participants up close with the rich biodiversity in Masungi. The group encountered a variety of plant and animal species, including the JC’s vine (Strongylodon juangonzalezii), which is endemic to the Philippines, and the Masungi microsnail (Hypselostoma latispira masungiensis), which can be found only in the georeserve. The guests’ physical strength was also put to the test by the challenging but fun rope courses, such as the Sapot (web) and the Bayawak (monitor lizard), dispersed throughout the trail.

The trek also proved to be an interactive learning experience, as the park ranger, Kuya AJ, engaged the participants in discussions not only about the wildlife in the georeserve, but also the inspiring stories of the individuals involved in its conservation. Masungi officers Tristan Montemor and Justine Obias also enlightened the participants about the long history of the georeserve, including all the triumphs and pitfalls of the decades-long, continuing fight for its conservation. Inspired by the acts of courage shared by the Masungi staff, the guests eagerly listened and imparted their own stories of sustainability and ecological conversion as well.

The post-conference tour was sponsored by the Masungi Georeserve, as part of its partnership with the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability. This tour was only the beginning of AIS and Masungi’s collaboration towards their shared vision of a more sustainable future through the cultivation and empowerment of environmental stewards from the ASEAN region and beyond.