TREES, a training unit of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), organizes continuing education courses and study tours on subjects that concern tropical forestry, natural resource conservation, and ecosystems management.
TREES continues the legacy of excellent service through engagement of highly competitive trainers and facilitators from a pool of UPLB faculty and staff members as well as experts that come from collaborating agencies, institutions, and organizations. TREES offers a highly conducive environment for its training and accommodation facilities in the UPLB campus in the beauty of Mount Makiling Forest Reserve.
Mission
Enhance the knowledge, skills and attitudes of individuals promoting tropical resources development and ecosystems sustainability through training and continuing education programs and activities.
vision
A dynamic and enterprising training institution that leads and excels in the continuing education of men and women committed to tropical resources development and ecosystems sustainability.
History
Before TREES was created, the University of the Philippines Los Banos College of Forestry and Natural Resources (UPLBCFNR) had conducted various extension/training programs and projects for their intended recipients.
In 1963, CFNR was mandated to carry out a nationwide forestry extension program by virtue of R.A. 3S23.
When a five-year regional forestry education development project for Asia established its base at CFNR, the Centre for Forestry Education Research and Development for Asia.
(CFERDAP) was born in 1979, with funding support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA), and the Philippine Government through the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB).
CFERDAP was later renamed Centre for Forestry Education Development for Asia and the Southwest Pacific Regions (CFED) in 1981 wherein its major program was the Forestry Teachers Development Course (FTDC).
When CFED project was about to end, the Institute of Forest Conservation (IFC) was formed on 22 January 1985. The Forestry Training Office (FTO) of IFC served as the central training unit that coordinated and implemented the entire training program of the CFNR.
On 25 June 1998, the IFC was divided into two (2) centers, the Training Center for Tropical Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability (TREES) and the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME). TREES took over the functions of the former FTO.
Today, training projects of the CFNR are centrally managed by TREES and coordinated by people that are specially trained or by people who have gained years of experience by providing training.