Berde Sustainable Travels

19/05/2025

PropJerry, our Chief Birder, doing his usual birdwatching in Brgy Balagbag, San Juan, Batangas. It was a bit unusual for us to still see some black-winged stilts and Chinese pond herons when they were supposed to be migrating already. One of the birders also added a lifer bird, oriental pratincole, together with the Eurasian Tree Sparrows in the newly harvested rice field. Intermediate egrets were also seen chilling with the blackwinged stilts while whiskered terns fly over them.

Some grassbirds also decided to be a bit noisy while perched on the wire above us while we were appreciating the rufous night-heron flying away from us.

If you’d like us to give you a guided birdwatching tour, send us a message for quotations and schedule of birdwatching tours. We also do guided birdwatching in Quezon and Mindoro provinces.

Happy birding! 🕊️🦅🦆🦜🦉

12/04/2025

Aidan Dwyer, a 13-year-old from Long Island, New York, presented at the PopTech conference. He created a solar panel design inspired by tree branches to make solar energy more efficient, especially on cloudy days or in areas with lots of buildings and trees. His design works better than regular solar panels, collecting up to 50% more sunlight. Aidan's innovation can be a game-changer in renewable energy, offering more sustainable technology for the future.

Aidan came up with this idea during a winter hike when he noticed how tree branches gather sunlight. He used a math pattern called the Fibonacci Sequence, which explains how branches grow. This approach merges clean tech, nature-inspired solutions, and solar power innovation, offering a smarter way to harness solar energy. With the help of his grandfather, Aidan built a working model and won the Young Naturalist award, earning recognition in the green energy and STEM education community.

Some experts questioned Aidan’s results, saying he didn’t measure power correctly. But Aidan says he was focusing on how much sunlight his design collected, not just voltage. His focus on energy efficiency breakthroughs and solar power efficiency reflects a new way of thinking about solar energy solutions.

Despite some criticism, his project got a lot of attention. Aidan is amazed by the response, even though he’s still adjusting to talking with adults about his idea. He’s also a normal middle schooler who enjoys photography, sailing, and hanging out with friends, proving that even the most innovative minds can be rooted in everyday life.

23/03/2025

Yey! 🙂 Beavers!

18/03/2025

Birdwatching inspired Japan Engineers! :)

04/03/2025

🎨"Art is a powerful tool that establishes emotional connections with people, inspiring them to take action and engage in a cause.”

Before Philippine National Arts Month ends, learn about how artists and scientists came together to create the Birds on the Brink poster in this article by Albert Balbutin Jr. (one of the graphic artists who brought this project to life.) Thank you, Albert! 🍃💚

This poster is part of a campaign to bring forward the plight of our critically endangered birds and pay homage to historical HARIBON projects like the Philippine Eagle Project and Species of Hope, while also encouraging people to join HARIBON as Lifetime Members to support our continued conservation efforts.

Read the full article on Creative Manila and find out how you can support our work! 👉 creativemanila.com/art-poster-highlights-endangered-philippine-birds/

28/12/2024

25/11/2024

Last Thursday, Berde Sustainable Travels (Berde ST) Team led by Founder, Engr Rage Gonzales and El Jardin de Zaida Team led by General Manager Mr. Jing Castalla Jr. had officially signed our Memorandum of Agreement to be their official partner for their Sustainable Tours starting with our Birdwatching Tours around San Juan, Batangas and South Luzon (Dolores and Sariaya, Quezon areas). This partnership aims to strengthen environmental awareness and advocacy among resorts and their guests to protect the natural resources of South Luzon especially the Verde Island Passage, the Center of the Center of Marine Biodiversity of the World. Thank you so much to El Jardin De Zaida by Hospitality Innovators Inc. for trusting us and joining us in this sustainability journey.

Special mention to our Lead Birdwatching Instructor and Mentor in Berde ST, Prop. Agerico De Villa, a veteran and one of the early birdwatchers of the Philippines who had already mentored birdwatchers over the years. Many of them were introduced to birdwatching by Prop Jerry, as we fondly call him, and are now birdwatching mentors and professionals in their own rights. Prop Jerry now sits in Berde ST’s Sustainability Board. The Sustainability Board will serve as the consultative body that will vet partner resorts, ecotours guidelines, and sustainability guidelines. As we expand the tours, we will introduce the Members of the Sustainability Board in each particular ecoadventure activity.

Our Sustainability Partnerships Manager, Ms Gloria Salud Castillo, a former municipal officer in San Juan, Batangas who formerly helped in the development of the first cultural heritage tour in San Juan, will be our lead in the revival of the cultural heritage tour and development of new sustainable travels partnerships.

Berde ST team envisions a future with more luscious rainforests in South Luzon protected by the people and, in return, protects the people from super typhoons and flooding while providing food and shelter to the people.

Soon we will open more eco-tours that create communities that protect the mountains, the rivers, and the oceans! Like and Share to stay updated with our sustainability journey.

20/11/2024

15/11/2024

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG ECO WARRIOR S

"Applications are open for the 2025 High Seas Youth Ambassador program! EarthEcho International and the High Seas Alliance are teaming up to offer this unique, paid experience to young ocean advocates ages 17-22 in key regions around the world. Ambassadors will receive training and support to develop and implement innovative campaigns in their countries to build momentum for the ratification of the High Seas Treaty, a historic agreement that is critical to protecting ocean biodiversity in areas outside of national waters, making up over half of the planet.

Applications for the 2025 High Seas Youth Ambassadors are open through December 9, 2024 at 11:59pm EST. Learn more and apply at: https://www.earthecho.org/high-seas-youth-ambassadors.

In 2025 High Seas Ambassador applications are open to young people ages 17-22 based in the following regions:

Africa: Tanzania or Zambia

Asia: Maldives, Philippines, Vietnam, or Thailand

Caribbean: Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago

If you work in these regions, we would also greatly appreciate your support in sharing this opportunity with your networks."

The future sustainability of life on earth and the health of our planet is inextricably linked to the health of our ocean. Global concern regarding environmental degradation and anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems has led to urgent calls for countries to meaningfully protect at least 30% of t...

10/11/2024

When we talk about “leave the leaves” what does that do?

Each community paves the way for the next to thrive, creating a chain reaction of habitat adaptation.

Leaf litter and humus layer boost sandy soil regeneration.

Consider this when planning your landscaping and before cleaning those garden beds.

When autumn arrives, many of us reach for our rakes to tidy up fallen leaves. However, there’s a growing movement encouraging us to “leave the leaves” instead. This simple act can have a profound impact on our gardens and the environment.

Fallen leaves create a natural mulch that helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and provide essential nutrients as they decompose. This process not only enriches the soil but also supports a diverse range of wildlife. Insects, birds, and small mammals find shelter and food in the leaf litter, promoting biodiversity.

Additionally, the humus layer formed by decomposed leaves improves soil structure and boosts sandy soil regeneration. By leaving the leaves, we can reduce the need for additional mulch and fertilizers, saving time and resources.