‘A tree is more than a biological organism,’ Federico R. Lopez reflected at the launch of Philippine Native Trees 404. It is ‘a repository of memory’ that teaches belonging, resilience, and continuity. In an age of ecological uncertainty, he added, ‘remembering what is native is itself a form of resilience.’
That conviction lies at the heart of the newly released fourth edition of the country’s most comprehensive reference on indigenous trees. Published by Green Convergence with the continuing support of First Philippine Holdings and the Lopez family, the 924-page volume combines scientific taxonomy with essays by botanists, foresters, conservationists, and nature writers, making it as much a cultural chronicle as a botanical handbook. Organized by plant families, it documents 455 native tree species, incorporates six newly described species, and reflects the latest advances in botanical classification.
For Lopez, the project is also a tribute to memory. He recalled the late botanist Leonard L. Co, whose passion transformed every forest walk into ‘a community of living and breathing individuals,’ where every tree possessed ‘a name, a story, and a purpose.’ Lopez fondly remembered accompanying Co through the forests of Palanan, Isabela, where the botanist excitedly discovered a previously unknown Vaccinium species that he later named Vaccinium oscarlopezianum in honor of Lopez’s father, Oscar M. Lopez. He likewise paid tribute to his father, whose lifelong commitment to reforestation and conservation shaped the family’s environmental vision.
Editor Victoria M. Segovia describes the new edition as both an update of botanical knowledge and a tribute to Co’s enduring legacy, while co-editor Jayson A. Mansibang reminds readers that taxonomy remains an evolving science, with Philippine forests still yielding species awaiting discovery.
What distinguishes ‘404’ is that it treats trees not merely as specimens but as companions in everyday life. Forester Bonifacio Pasion introduces Coffea mabesae, a rare Philippine coffee whose leaves are traditionally brewed into tea in Biak-na-Bato. Carmen Odulio celebrates the remarkable Gardenia mutabilis, whose blossoms change from white to gold and orange as they mature, while Dr. Edwin Tadiosa calls attention to the critically endangered Greeniopsis megalantha, threatened by habitat loss and indiscriminate cutting. Equally engaging are essays that illuminate the intimate relationship between people and plants. Roxanne Carano-o recounts how kabogao flavors Bantayanon’s kinilaw, protects expectant mothers from the mythical aswang, and accompanies local mourning rituals. Nellie Go Chiu writes about biasong as both a prized citrus and a haven for butterflies, while Geronima Amazona recalls finding relief from insomnia beneath the shade of a native coffee relative.
The volume reaches an emotional crescendo in Kenneth Haw’s essay, written while he was battling terminal illness. Walking beneath the ipil and tindalo trees of Mount Makiling, he envisioned a Philippines where healthy forests nurture healthier lives. Haw passed away in 2025, leaving behind a poignant meditation on nature’s restorative power.
Environmentalist Angelina Galang closes the volume with a call to reject the persistent belief that ‘imported is better’ and to value the country’s own botanical inheritance. Her appeal echoes the book’s central message: conserving native trees is not only an ecological imperative but also an act of preserving memory, identity, and the nation’s living heritage.