Mount Makiling Forest Reserve is located in Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines.

Mt. Makiling is an isolated peak to the south of Laguna de Bay in southern Laguna Province, about 50 km south of Metro Manila. Although it only rises to just over 1,000 m and is located in a densely-populated part of Luzon, it still retains extensive forest cover. The forest is mainly lowland in type, with some montane forest around the peak above 900 m. The forest on most of the lower slopes has been cleared or degraded, but an area of good quality lowland forest remains around the botanic garden and the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). There are several types of agriculture on the slopes of Mt Makiling, including coconut plantations intercropped with coffees, bananas, and other commercial fruit trees; citrus orchards; and fruit plantations mixed with aroids, pineapples, and vegetables. The cultivation of these crops is encouraged by the proximity of the mountain to markets and its accessibility to wholesale buyers. The forests on Mt Makiling collectively perform various important ecological functions, including the prevention of soil erosion and acting as a sanctuary for wildlife. Mt Makiling is an important watershed, including as a source of the natural springs that are a major tourist attraction at Los Baños. A trail goes up the mountain from the UPLB campus, and the mountain is popular with tourists and birdwatchers.

Source:

Birdlife.org