Mountain Ecology and Resource Management.  Assessment and long-term monitoring of biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics and climate change in mountain environments will be conducted.  Criteria and indicators for sustainable mountain development will be developed.  Action research projects on parks and ecotourism will be implemented.  Likewise, studies on the conservation biology of Philippine endemic and endangered plants will be conducted.

Mountain Community Development.  Focusing on the socio-economic development of mountain communities, appropriate methodologies will be developed for organizing and empowering mountain populace so that they become responsible stewards of their mountain resource base.  Participatory approaches and alternative and supplemental sources of livelihood for mountain communities will be promoted.

Mountain Information Systems and Networking.  Database and information systems on the ecology, natural resources, and socio-economics of mountain ecosystems will be established and will be made available for use in research, demonstration, policy studies and decision-making.  Linkages with institutions concerned with mountain issues will be initiated and maintained.

Mt Makiling Conservation and Development.   With the view of translating the contents of the MFR Master Plan into concrete field initiatives and projects, priority conservation, protection and development projects will be undertaken in collaboration with the identified stakeholders.