Introduction: Philippines As A Biodiversed Country
Introduction: Philippines As A Biodiversed Country
Introduction: Philippines As A Biodiversed Country
The Philippines, with 7,107 islands, hosts more than 52,177 described species of
which more than half is found nowhere else in the world, is one of the 18 mega-
biodiverse countries in the world. The Philippines ranks fifth in the number of plant
species and maintains 5% of the world’s flora. The Philippines is also one of the earth's
biodiversity hotspots with at least 700 threatened species, thus making it one of the top
global conservation areas. Philippines contains two-thirds of the earth’s biodiversity and
70% of the world’s plants and animal species due to its geographical isolation, diverse
habit and high rates of endemism1.
Truly, the Philippines is the “Pearl of the Orient Seas.” Lindsay Bennett, author of
“Island Guide: Philippines,” hailed the country’s beauty in these words: “Copious rainfall
and hot sun combined with volcanic soil result in abundant fertility. The country’s
untamed territories are incredibly diverse. Seven thousand island ecosystems have
resulted in some of the most specialized animal species in the world, many only found
in tiny enclaves. Diversity on land is mirrored by diversity offshore.” 2
The Philippines derives large benefits from ecosystem. In particular, the country
recognizes the important role played by the watersheds, river basins and coastal areas
in the environment and in society as a source of livelihood. For instance, watershed with
adequate forest cover provides water that supports lowland agriculture, prevents soil
erosion and siltation of coast and water bodies, and sustains the supply of surface and
groundwater for domestic use. Likewise, the forest ecosystem provides ecological
services that benefit agriculture, industries, water and power needs .
Footnotes
1 “Philippine Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystem Resilience
Program. August 17, 2016. USAID.
2 “Island Guide: Philippines”. 2008. Lindsay Bennett.
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Current Status of Philippine Biodiversity
Samuel Peñafiel, director of Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau, said “At the rate
our ecosystems are getting destroyed, many species may no longer be there when we
need them.”
Regardless of the slight improvement over the past decade, these numbers still
illustrates a severe drop from 70% at the start of the 20 th century.
Marine Habitats such as coral reefs are being destroyed by way of irresponsible
and unsustainable fishing and aquaculture. Notable example of such are dynamite
fishing, poison-dependent fishing practices that are still being practiced to this day, as
well as more recent development of black sand mining in the northern Philippine.
Footnotes
3 Philipine Forest Statistics 2011. Department of Natural Resources – Forest Management Bureau.
Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle. July 2012. World Resources Institute.
2
Seagrasses are on the brink of depletion due to various destructive disturbances
caused by both natural and man-made influences. Man-made causes include
agricultural cultivation and mining which led to heavy siltation in estuarine areas which,
in turn, resulted in lower productivity and even burial of seagrasses.
Philippine monkeys, for instance, are high-prized abroad for use in chemical and
biomedical researches. Thousands of birds are also exported for pet lovers and pet
shop displays and sometimes as meat delicacies.
Dugongs, which used to abound in Philippine waters, are fast vanishing because
they are prized for their meat. Those who have eaten the dugong’s meat said that it is
tasty and can be compared to that of beef. As such, it commands a good price in the
local market; in areas where they abound, the meat is served to special visitors.
The market for shoes, belts, bags and other by-products made of skins from
crocodiles is big. “Due to the uncontrolled hunting of crocodiles for their valuable hides
and other parts and the continued destruction of their natural habitat by human beings,
the crocodile population in the Philippines dwindled,” the environment department
reported.
Overhunting has been blamed for driving tamaraw is almost into extinction. From
a population of 10,000 in the early 1900s, only around 345 remained in 2013.
Footnotes
Environmental Challenges: The FPE’s National and Regional Environmental Agenda
“Why are We Losing Species?”. Foundation for the Philippine Environment.
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It is also the continuous operations of coral smugglers that caused the
destruction of the country’s coral reefs. Philippine coral reefs are reportedly smuggled to
the United States, Japan and other countries. Of the 1.5 million kilograms of corals
harvested annually as part of the international trade, the Philippines account for more
than a third of the total.
Waste products and pollution are also a contributing factors to consider in the
continuous decline of biodiversity.
It’s not hard to imagine that this is a further worsened by the continued growth of
human population and human consumption. Naturally, as the number of population
increases, the amount of waste generated also increase.
“One of the major drivers of biodiversity loss in the Philippine is the introduction
and spread of invasive alien species (IAS),defined as “species introduced deliberately
or unintentionally outside their natural habitats where they have the ability to establish
themselves, invade, out-compete natives and take over the new environments”. If left
unchecked, IAS can decimate or diminish populations of native species
Footnotes
“6th National Report for the Convention of Biological Diversity”. DENR-BMB. UN-Environment.
What is the Great Pacific Ocean of Garbage Patch (2010, Online Article)
Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle. July 2012. World Resources Institute.
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Future Effects of the Continuous Loss of Biodiversity
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Current Philippine Legislation on the Matters of Biodiversity
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7586 or the "National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of
1992".
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Republic Act No. 8550 or "The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998."
The Law provides rules and regulation for the (a) conservation, protection and
sustained management of the country's fishery and aquatic resources; (b) Poverty
alleviation and the provision of supplementary livelihood among municipal fisherfolk; (c)
Improvement of productivity of aquaculture within ecological limits; (d) Optimal utilization
of offshore and deep-sea resources; and (e) Upgrading of post-harvest technology.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9147 or the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection
Act."
The law aims to conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitats to
promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity by regulating the collection
and trade of wildlife. It pursues, with due regard to the national interest, the Philippine
commitment to international conventions, protection of wildlife and their habitats and
initiate or support scientific studies on the conservation of biological diversity.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9072 or the "National Caves and Cave Resources Management
and Protection Act."
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Executive Order No. 247 prescribes that it is in the interest of the State's conservation
efforts to ensure that the research, collection, and use of species, genes and their
products be regulated; and to identify and recognize the rights of indigenous cultural
communities and other Philippine communities to their traditional knowledge and
practices when this information is directly and indirectly put to commercial use
Act No. 2590 or An “Act for the Protection of Game and Fish.”
The states that it is unlawful to hunt, wound, take, or kill, or have in his or her
possession, living or dead, or to purchase, offer or expose for sale, transport, ship or
export, alive, or dead, any protected bird or mammal, or to sell or have in possession for
sale any part of either. It shall likewise be unlawful for any person to take or willfully
destroy the nest or eggs of any protected bird or to have such nest or eggs in his or her
possession except as provided in section fourteen of this Act.
Republic Act No. 7308 or the “Seed Industry Development Act of 1992”
The Law aims to (a) conserve, preserve and develop the plant genetic resources
of the nation; (b) encourage and hasten the organization of all sectors engaged in the
industry, integrate all their activities and provide assistance to them; (c) consider the
seed industry as a preferred area of investment; (d) encourage the private sector to
engage in seed research and development and in mass production and distribution of
good quality seeds; and (e) provide the local industry protection against unfair
competition from imported seeds.
It also establishes the Seed Industry Council to formulate policies that will
stimulate plant breeding activities for the development of the genetic resources of the
country.
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Republic Act No 7586 or the “National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992”
The law recognizes that there are areas, although distinct in features, posses
common ecological values that may be incorporated into a holistic plan representative
of our natural heritage; that effective administration of this area is possible only through
cooperation among national government, local government and concerned private
organizations; that the use and enjoyment of these protected areas must be consistent
with the principles of biological diversity and sustainable development.
Republic Act No 7611 or the “Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act”
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governs all mining operations in the country and includes various measures to protect
the environment and defines areas in which mining can be allowed.
The Act made a comprehensive list of endangered wildlife species for the first
time and prohibition of hunting of the endangered species was mentioned. It also
provides for the protection of some endangered plants. It prescribes the act that is
considered “illegal” as to protect and conserve different species of flora and fauna.
It is the purpose of this Act to protect and promote the welfare of all animals in
the Philippines by supervising and regulating the establishment and operations of all
facilities utilized for breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating or training of all animals
either as objects of trade or as household pets.
The states that economic losses due to injury on agricultural crops brought about
by plant pests have become increasingly significant. Therefore, It aims to prevent the
introduction, incursion, establishment and subsequent spread of plant pests by
regulating the international and domestic movements of plants and plant products.
The Law states that no person, partnership or corporation shall operate in any
declared environmentally critical project or area without first securing an Environmental
Compliance Certificate for the proper management of said critical project or area. The
regulatory requirements of environmental Impact Statements and Assessments
instituted in pursuit of this national environmental protection program
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Executive Order No. 192 or the “Reorganization of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources”
The law provides that to attain the objective, environmental concerns and natural
resources concern should be given equal attention by the Department. It also
establishes different sectoral bureau under the DENR’s supervision to properly
formulate and enforce environmental laws including but not limited to; (a) Forest
Management Bureau (b) Lands Management Bureau (c) Mines and Geo-Sciences
Bureau (d) Environmental Management Bureau (e) Ecosystems Research and
Development Bureau and (f) Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau
RA 6964
RA 7954
RA 9304
RA 9303
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“AN ACT DECLARING MT. HAMIGUITAN RANGE AND ITS VICINITIES AS
PROTECTED AREA AND ITS PERIPHERAL AREAS AS BUFFER ZONE”
RA 9237
RA 9154
RA 9147
RA 9125
RA 9106
RA 9072
RA 8991
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“AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE BATANES GROUP OF ISLANDS AND ISLETS
AS A PROTECTED AREA, AND ITS PERIPHERAL WATERS AS BUFFER
ZONES”
RA 8978
RA 3571
RA 10629
RA 10067
RA 9494
RA 9486
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References;
Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle. July 2012. World Resources Institute.
“6th National Report for the Convention of Biological Diversity”. DENR-BMB. UN-
Environment.
What is the Great Pacific Ocean of Garbage Patch (2010, Online Article)
Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle. July 2012. World Resources Institute.
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