The Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG) was established on June 20, 1963 under Republic Act 3523, primarily to support professional instruction and research related to forestry and plant sciences and to serve the educational, recreational and tourism needs of the public. MBG is a special facility managed by the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems of the UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR).

MBG occupies 300 hectares of natural and re-growth forests on the northeastern slope of Mount Makiling in the CFNR campus. Establishment of the MBG party took place from 1965 to 1967 when the MBG nursery was developed, the foot trails from the campus to the nursery area were constructed, and seeds and seedlings of important endemic trees were collected. Immediately thereafter, the dipterocarp, palmetum and leguminous blocks were developed and intensive research activities focusing on germination and growth of endemic and native tree species were also undertaken. Meanwhile, the MBG’s physical facilities in the recreation and nursery areas are being regularly upgraded as needs arise.