CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Seeds are very important because they are the starting point of trees that can give

food, shade, clean air, and even protection from natural disasters. But in many places,

seeds that fall from trees are just left to rot, dry up, or get thrown away. This is a waste,

since those seeds could have been used for tree planting, reforestation, or shared with

people who are interested in planting trees in their own surroundings. If more seeds were

saved and taken care of, they could help lessen problems like urban heat, floods, and

landslides.

One reason why seeds are wasted is because there is no simple way for people to

collect and donate them. Most of the time, residents or students just pass by without

realizing that picking up seeds could already be a big help to the environment. While

there are existing projects that focus on tree planting, they are usually big programs led

by organizations or government offices. This often leads people to assume that ordinary

citizens cannot contribute much, even though small actions from individuals can add up

and create meaningful change.

The Seed Collector Stand was made to give the community a clear and easy way

to take part. The stand is a simple frame with a sack and a tarpaulin that carries a short

slogan to encourage participation. It can be placed in schools or public areas where

people can drop the seeds they gather. Later on, the Environmental Office will collect the

sacks, germinate the seeds, and use them either for distribution to residents who are

1
willing to plant trees or for the Forest in Our Midst (FOM) program, which focuses on

reforestation and greening. Through this project, seeds that would have been wasted can

instead grow into trees that benefit both the community and the environment.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Communities today are experiencing serious environmental challenges

such as urban heat, frequent flooding, loss of natural habitats, landslides, and land

degradation. At the core of these problems is the continuing decline of trees and

green spaces, which play a vital role in regulating temperature, absorbing excess

rainwater, and protecting the land from erosion. A healthier balance between

people and nature could be maintained if more trees were grown.

One overlooked opportunity in addressing this issue is the potential of

fallen seeds. Every day, countless seeds fall to the ground but are often left to dry,

rot, or be discarded. Without an organized system for gathering and preserving

them, these seeds are wasted instead of being used to grow new trees that could

help ease the community’s environmental concerns. This highlights the need for a

simple and practical method that allows people to take part in seed collection and

conservation.

The Seed Collector Stand was developed to meet this need. By placing the

stand in schools or community areas, students and residents are encouraged to

gather fallen seeds instead of ignoring them. Once collected, these seeds can be

germinated and later distributed to residents who are interested in planting trees,

2
 as well as used in environmental initiatives like the Forest in Our Midst program.

In this way, a simple tool contributes to long-term solutions for reducing urban

heat, preventing floods, restoring habitats, and strengthening the community’s

resilience against natural disasters.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The general objective of this study is to design and develop a Seed Collector

Stand that will serve as a practical tool for collecting and storing seeds, thereby

supporting environmental programs and community participation in reforestation efforts.

To achieve this goal, the study seeks to accomplish the following specific objectives:

1. Design a sturdy and simple stand capable of holding a seed collection sack and

displaying an environmental slogan.

2. Develop the Seed Collector Stand using cost-effective and locally available

materials.

3. Evaluate the effectiveness of the stand in terms of:

a. Functionality – its capacity to properly hold and store seeds.

b. Accessibility – the ease with which individuals can use the stand for

depositing seeds.

c. Sustainability – its contribution to seed germination, distribution to

residents interested in planting trees, and environmental programs such as Forest

in Our Midst (FOM).

3
 4. Slogan:

P - Ick

I-n

S – eeds to

O - btain

G – ermination

1.4 Significance of the study

Environmental issues such as urban heat, flooding, and the loss of natural habitats

continue to affect communities. These problems are closely linked to the decline of trees

and the lack of effective systems for reforestation. One simple yet often overlooked

resource in addressing these challenges is the abundance of fallen seeds, which, if

properly collected and preserved, could grow into trees that strengthen the environment

and protect communities.

The development of a Seed Collector Stand responds directly to this need. By

providing a practical, low-cost, and durable structure for gathering seeds, the project

makes seed collection more accessible to students, residents, and environmental offices.

This ensures that seeds are not wasted but instead germinated and later distributed to

residents who are interested in planting trees, as well as used for programs like Forest in

Our Midst that promote reforestation and urban greening.

The significance of this study goes beyond simple collection. It demonstrates how

small, community-driven innovations can support sustainability and environmental

4
resilience. The stand not only aids in seed preservation but also fosters community

participation, encourages environmental stewardship, and contributes to long-term

solutions such as mitigating floods, reducing heat, restoring habitats, and preventing land

degradation. In this way, the project benefits individuals, the community, and the

environment as a whole.

1.5 Scope and Delimitation

This study centers on the design, construction, and evaluation of a Seed Collector

Stand that will serve as a practical tool for collecting and storing seeds in areas where

they are most often wasted, such as schools, community spaces, and other public areas.

The focus is on creating a simple yet sturdy structure that encourages people to pick up

fallen seeds and deposit them in the stand for preservation and later use. The scope

includes not only the physical development of the stand but also its functionality in

keeping seeds safe from damage and in promoting organized collection.

The evaluation of the project will primarily involve the participation of students

and community members in designated areas where the stand is installed. These

respondents will provide feedback on the usability, accessibility, and practicality of the

stand in actual conditions, such as in schoolyards or community gardens. Their

involvement ensures that the assessment reflects real-world application rather than purely

theoretical outcomes.

This study, however, is delimited to the creation and initial testing of the stand

itself. It does not extend to long-term seed germination, the full cycle of seedling growth

5
into mature trees, or the wide-scale implementation of the project across multiple

communities. The design is intended for small-scale, local use and is not meant to replace

specialized seed storage or agricultural systems. By narrowing the scope, the study

remains focused on producing a functional prototype that can later serve as a foundation

for broader applications in environmental programs.

1.6 Definition of Terms

To provide clarity and consistency, the following terms are defined as they are

used in this study:

•Seed Collector Stand – A simple frame with a sack and tarpaulin designed to

gather, store, and organize seeds collected from the environment.

•Seed Preservation – The process of keeping seeds clean, dry, and viable for

future planting.

•Germination – The process by which a seed develops into a new plant under

suitable conditions.

•Reforestation – The practice of replanting trees in areas where forests have been

depleted or destroyed.

•Sustainability – The practice of using resources in a way that meets present needs

without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.

6
•Forest in Our Midst (FOM) – A program mentioned in this study that focuses on

reforestation and greening activities in the community.

•Pick-in Seeds to Obtain Germination (PISOG) – A project with concept of

collecting seeds produced by growing trees in the whole of Naga City area. It

gains much importance to capture this indigenous tree species by maximizing its

production from wastage to a geminating and plantable seedlings.

7
1.7 References:

Cea, M. J. E., Chavez, J. K. D., & Arroyo, N. S. P. (2025). Design and development of a
Seed Collector Stand as a community-based environmental initiative [Unpublished
manuscript]. Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST).

City Environment and Natural Resources Office – Naga City. (n.d.). Vision and mission.
City Government of Naga. [Link]
and-natural-resources-office/

ENRO Naga City. (n.d.). Forest in Our Midst (FOM) Program. City Government of
Naga. Retrieved September 15, 2025, from [Link]
environment-and-natural-resources-office/

ENRO Naga City. (2025, [Month Day]). Forest in Our Midst (FOM) Program – Pick-In
Seeds to Obtain Germination (PISOG) project. Facebook post.
[Link]
forest-in-our-midst-fom-program-came-the-pick-/1481025748747501/

Hernandez, J. O., Naeem, M., & Zaman, W. (2023). How does changing environment
influence plant seed movements as populations of dispersal vectors decline? Plants,
12(7), 1462. [Link]

Perez, G. J., Cororaton, C. B., Inocencio, A. B., Tiongco, M. M., & Manalang, M. B. S.
(2020). Reforestation and deforestation in Northern Luzon, Philippines: Critical issues as
observed from space. Forests, 11(10), 1071. [Link]

ENRO Naga City. (2025, [Month Day]). Engr. Dhan B. Cea recognized as the spearhead
and point person of the Forest in Our Midst (FOM) Program’s PISOG project.
[Link]://[Link]/ENROnagacity/posts/under-the-city-government-
of-naga-forest-in-our-midst-fom-program-came-the-pick-/1481025748747501/

8
9