Inside Arroceros Forest Park and its thriving ecosystem

Tiled pathways are dedicated to guests who want to roam around the park. They give access to the koi pond, bridge, fountain, and riverside walk, where visitors can catch a glimpse of the Manuel L Quezon Memorial Bridge. The place also houses the Manila Education Center and the central offices for the Division of City Schools. 

Soon, visitors can enjoy scrumptious desserts and cups of coffee at Dekaps sa Gedli, which is located next to the exit. 

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Zebra Dove 

Native to Southeast Asia, the Zebra Dove (Geopelia Striata) is a small bird with a long tail that is predominantly brownish-grey in colour and has a black-and-white pattern. This species is famous for its staccato cooing calls.

During the breeding season, the male Zebra Dove performs a courtship display in which it bows and coos while raising and spreading its tail. The female, on the other hand, will attract the opposite gender by making guttural sounds.

The native species are found in southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, and the Philippines. 

Arctic Warbler

This species has a dull, yellowish-white eyestripe, faint wing bars, and pale whitish underparts. Usually seen in Alaska (or northern Eurasia), the Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) can also be seen inside the Arroceros Forest Park. 

During mating season, the male Arctic Warbler produce a rattling or buzzing noise with their wings, often between bouts of singing. Its nest is often seen on the ground, typically in a low shrub. 

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Black-Naped Oriole

Thanks to its yellow and black colour, you can easily spot a Black-Naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis). The male species is golden-yellow apart from its black wings, tail, and eyes. On the other hand, the female is similar to the male but has more yellowish-green upperparts. 

This species has been recorded to feed on berries such as Trema Orientalis, Ficus, and insects. During mating season, the female builds two to three nests and chooses one for laying eggs. 

Yellow-Vented Bulbul

The Yellow-Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) is Southeast Asia's most common urban bulbul. This species can be identified by its brown and white head feathers and a thick black line between the bill and the eye. It also has a yellow vent, hence the name. 

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Asian Glossy Starling 

The Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis) belongs to the Sturnidae bird family. Typically found in Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines, the species can be identified through its thick and decurved bill. 

Adults have glassy black plumage with a green-esque gloss in good light; juveniles, on the other hand, are dark grey-brown above with a heavily streaked white belly and ruby-red eyes. 

Before its renovation in 2021, the Arroceros Forest Park was home to more than a thousand trees, including acacia mangium, acacia guriculiformis, African tulip tree, agoho, anahaw, banyan, Bunga de China, dap dap, eucalyptus, ficus Benjamin, Indian tree, Narra, rubber tree, Talisay, teak, and yucca. Over the years, new plants, birds, and other animal species have continued to breed in the place as part of its natural regeneration. 

However, on November 12, 2021, environmental advocates like the Save Arroceros Movements, reported that trees, plants, and other wildlife were killed because of the cemented paths and plazas inside the forest.

“We are concerned that the Manila LGU’s ongoing redevelopment effort has already harmed the park’s biodiversity. We are not against any redevelopment effort undertaken by the local government; however, this should’ve been done in consultation with concerned groups as mandated by Ordinance 8607, and within the parameters of what makes it a forest park,” it said in a statement. 

The damage, which covers one-fifth of the park’s total area, was done pursuant to Republic Act no. 5752, or the Municipal Forests and Watersheds Act, which mandates the Management Plan for the park “after consultation with the residents of the City, civil society and stakeholders and existing partner/s in the management of the Arroceros Forest Park.”

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