Gallery 1
Gallery 1 highlights the amazing diversity of both fauna and flora of the country. Before anything else, a quick information on the building you are currently in, the NMNH is housed in the former Department of Tourism building which was retrofitted in 2014 by virtue of a presidential proclamation. The building complex composed of this building, the National Museum of Anthropology, and the National Museum of Fine Arts were all designed by Daniel Burnham, a renowned American architect during the American occupancy.
When the researchers from the NMNH conceptualised the gallery you are in, we wanted to convey three biological principles that tell the story of why and how the Philippines is a Megadiverse yet also a Biologically Hotspot country. A Megadiverse country is a country with very rich biodiversity per unit area while a biological hotspot is a term used to indicate that a country or locality is under tremendous threat from human activities.
These three principles that we want to communicate answers the questions of “Why”:
- The Philippines is home to an immense diversity in number and variety of organisms yet also has the most threat to them.
- We have elevated genetic variety across our species diversity.
Geologic forces have played a major role in the diversity of our fauna and flora.
