Forester Ella named one of UPAA’s Distinguished Alumni
July 15, 2013
The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) recently conferred the Distinguished Alumnus Award for Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development to Forester Arsenio B. Ella, Scientist III at the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI). With the theme “Bagong Siglo, Bagong Sigla”, the awarding was held during UPAA’s Centennial Celebration on 22 June 2013 at the UP Theater, UP Diliman.
Ella was recognized for his contributions to sustainable methods of tapping the resin of various forest tree species including almaciga (Agathis philippinensis Warb.), pili (Canarium ovatum Engl., [Canarium luzonicum (Blume) Gray], and Canarium asperum Benth), apitong (Dipterocarpus spp.), palosapis (Anisoptera thurifera (Blanco) Blume ssp. thurifera), and Benguet pine (Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon). These methods have “prolonged the life of trees, sustained and maximized resin production and contributed to poverty reduction among our indigenous communities.” Ella has gone all over the country, teaching the proper way of resin tapping to indigenous groups in Mindoro, Palawan, Sierra Madre and the Davao and Cordillera regions.
Ella finished his BS in Forestry in 1973 and his MS in Forestry in 1983, at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. A recipient of various awards, he was given the UPLB-CFNR Institutional Service Award in 2003 and the National Research Council of the Philippines’ Research Achievement Award also in 2003. Last year, he was recognized by the UPLB Alumni Association as the 2012 Outstanding Alumnus for Natural Resources Technology Development and was also one of the recipients of UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources’ Most Outstanding Alumnus Award (Mancono Award).
Ella has published several books and research materials, and has won in various technical paper competitions both local and international. He joined the FPRDI in 1974 and was conferred the rank of Scientist III in the DOST Scientific Career System in 2001. ### (Apple Jean C. Martin, 02 July 2013)
