1. The Philippine Environment
Amidst Climate Change

2. P H IL IP P IN E
IO D IV E R S IT Y

3. Biodiversity refers to the
totality of life forms in the
areas they occupy

4. Importance
of
Biodiversity
Heaney and Regalado

5. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
Food
Food for all living organisms > 90% calorie intake globally
not just for man! comes from 80 PLANT SPECIES
FISH comprises 10% of protein
intake globally and 50-60% that of
Filipinos.

6. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
Medicines
•80% of the world’s population
use plants as 1° source of
medicine
•30% of all pharma medicines
are developed from plants and
animals

7. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
Fuel, timber, fiber and other resources
Most houses, furniture and even
many clothes are made from natural
products, including wood, oils,
resins, waxes, gums and fibers.
The cocoons of silk worms are the
basis of the valuable, centuries-old
Asian silk-making industry.

8. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
Air and water
purification

9. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
Climate
modification

10. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
Drought, erosion and flood control

11. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
Social / cultural
value
Biodiversity is directly linked with
traditional, spiritual and cultural values of
people.

12. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
Economic
value

13. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
BIODIVERSITY IS OUR LIFE!
security
air
water
land
biodiversity

14. National
Pride:
Philippine
Biodiversity
Heaney and Regalado

15. 105 species of AMPHIBIANS
82 species are FOUND ONLY
in the Philippines

16. More than 254
species of
Reptiles
…with 208
species
endemic to
the
Philippines

17. BIRDS
A total of 576 species of birds
196 of these occur only in the
Philippines

18. Of the 179 species of land mammals,
111 species are found only in the
Heaney and Regalado Philippines

19. Around 20,940 species
of insects
69.8% are endemics

20. estimated 15,000 species, 50% are endemics
70 – 80% Flowering plants
193 Threatened species

22. INLAND WATERS
211 Lakes, 18 major
rivers,
22 marshes, swamps and
reservoir
PHILIPPINE WETLANDS
1616 species of aquatic plants
3675 species of fauna

23. MANGROVES
Around 60 mangrove plant
species in the world
54 mangroves and related
species occur in the
Philippines
Heaney and Regalado

24. Corals
462 coral species
recorded (Werner and
Allen, 2000) Highest
in the world !!!
•Eastern Papua New
Guinea with 380
species;
•Ryukyu / Yaeyama
Islands with 370
•Great Barrier Reef,
Australia with 350

25. FISH
Philippine Total = 2,459/4,000 species in the
Indo-Pacific region
(Fish Base 2000)
2,241 marine species (2/3 82 (possibly 98) species
coral reef-associated) are Philippine Endemics
209 freshwater species

26. Molluscs
22,000 freshwater, land and marine species
Nine species Seven occur
of in
Giant Clams Philippine
worldwide waters
photos by Evette Lee

27. Biodiversity and Endemism
Total Endemi % Land
COUNTRY specie c Endemi Area
s Species c (km2)
Philippin 1139 558 50% 300,780
es
Spain 435 25 6% 451,171
Brazil 3131 788 25% 8,511,96
5
Source: Heaney, 2002

28. Total land area Total species population
Philippines Philippines
Spain Spain
Brazil Brazil
300780
1139
451171
435
8.5M 3131
Species endem ism in Brazil Species endem ism in Philippines
Endemic Endemic
25 species species
% non-endemic non-endemic
species species
51% 49%
75
%

29. Some Notable Flora and Fauna Species in
Philippines
•Philippine Eagle-
world’s largest eagle
•King cobra largest -
terrestrial venomous
snake
•Phil. Iron
Wood/magkuno -
hardest wood
•Reticulated python -
largest / longest snake

30. Some Notable Flora and Fauna Species in
Philippines
One of the smallest
deer
Mouse deer
1 of the Smallest primitive
primates
Slow loris & Tarsier Heaney and Regalado
One of the Largest flowers
Rafflesia speciousa
World’s 2 largest bats
Golden-crowned
Flying Fox & Large
Flying Fox
World’s largest rat
Cloud rat

31. Some Notable Flora and Fauna Species in
Philippines
Giant Clam – world’s largest giant clam species
Boring Clam – smallest giant clam species
Porcelain Clam – rarest giant clam species
Sperm whale – largest toothed cetacean
Killer whale – largest dolphin species
Minke Whale – smallest of all baleen whales
Dugong – only herbivorous marine mammal in
the Philippines

32. Some Notable Flora and Fauna Species in
Philippinesworld’s largest fish
•Whale Shark –
•Giant Manta Ray –
world’s largest ray
•Saltwater crocodile –
world’s largest living
reptile
•Leatherback turtle – largest of
all sea turtles •Dwarf Pygmy Goby - smallest
Photo by Evette Lee freshwater fish
•Sinarapan / Bia / Tabios -
smallest food fish

33. One of the World’s Richest in
Mineral Resources
• 2nd to Indonesia in geological
prospectivity in SouthEast Asia
• 2nd to South Africa in Gold production
• 3rd in copper production
• 3rd in Gold, 4th in Copper deposits
• 5th in Nickel deposits
• 6th in Chromite in nickel deposits

34. Why is
Philippine
Biodiversity
Heaney and Regalado

35. S E A s ia
R e c o n s t r u c t io n s
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82. 0

83. Present configuration
Heaney and Regalado

84. World rainforests 10ºN and S
World coral reef 30ºN and S
TROPICAL country- incubator of organisms,
rainforest and coral reef

85. Elevation, climate and rainfall
Heaney and Regalado

86. Luzon Faunal Region (with Catanduanes and
Marinduque)
Mindoro
Mindanao
Palawan and the
(with Sundaic Sulu
region and Islands
Borneo) (with Bohol,
Samar,
Negros/West central Leyte)-
Visayas (with
Ticao, Masbate,
Guimaras, Cebu)

87. • Luzon cloud rat, Sierra Madre shrew mouse, golden-
crowned flying fox, pygmy fruit bat, brown deer,
whiskered Pitta- LUZON
• spotted deer, warty pig, white throated jungle fly-
catcher, Negros bleeding heart- W VISAYAS
• tamaraw, tree frog, scarlet collared flower pecker,
Mindoro Tarictic- MINDORO
• Tarsier, Sulu woodpecker, blue-winged racquet tail
MINDANAO, SULU, BOHOL & E VISAYAS
10.peacock pheasant, bear cat, otters, mouse deer, flying
squirrel, Philippine cockatoo- PALAWAN

88. Disappeari
ng
Biodiversit
Heaney and Regalado

89. Coral Reefs of the World
5% in excellent
condition (by Alino, 4.86% Phil Coral reef
2002) 30,000km2 Area By McManus 2000
617,000 square km or 1/6 of ONE percent of the
lowest in
SEAsia!!!
marine environment (which is75% of earth) (Smith, 1978)

90. Composition and current characteristics of
biodiversity in the Philippine Marine environment
(source: DENR, 1997)
Economically
Taxon Number Threatened
Important
Marine Fungi 7
Sea Grasses 16 3
Algae 1,062 531 60
Corals1 381
Other Invertebrates 1,616 152 47
Fish2 1,831 672
Mammals3 18 18 18
Reptiles 20 20 20
Total* 4,951 1,396 145
1
Total number of corals found in the Phil. now stands at 462 (Werner and
Allen, 2000)
2
Total number of fish now is estimated to be over 2,000 species.
3
Total number of marine mammals in Philippine waters is now at 23.
* Estimated number of species in the Philippine marine environment is over
5,000

91. Status of Philippine Mangroves
1918 450,000 hectares (Brown and Fisher, 1920)
1997 only 112,400 hectares (24.97%) remains!!!
(Phil. Forestry Statistics, 1998)
! loss is largely due to fishpond conversion of mangroves
! reclamation for residential, commercial & industrial
purposes and excessive harvesting of trees for fuel

92. Total number of wildlife species in the
Philippines
Major Taxa No. of Endemic Threatene
Species Species d
Amphibians 101+ 82+ (78%) Species
24
Reptiles 258+ 170+ (66%) 8
Birds 576+* 195+ (34%) 74
Mammals 204+** 111+ (54%) 51
Total 1139+ 558+ 50%) 157

93. Forest loss in Negros
1875 1949 1970 1987 1992
Heaney and Regalado

94. Extent of Forest Cover Loss in the last 100
years
Less than 6%
of the country’s
original
forest remains!
Source: Environmental Science for Social Change, 1999

95. 70-80% forest cover
Highlight of Damage
Central Cordillera local action
Ilocos local action
Spanish demand
Pangasinan marshland
conversion
Culion marshland
conversion
Central Visayas molave
loss
U.S. demand
Luzon logging for export
Source: Environmental Science for Social Change, 1999

96. 60% forest cover
Highlight of Damage
U.S. demand for primary wood
Luzon complete deforestation
Romblon complete deforestation
Northern Bukidnon logging starts
Cotabato logging starts
Source: Environmental Science for Social Change, 1999

97. 40% forest cover
Highlight of Damage
1945-1950’s 50% forest cover
The Philippines (56% upland area)
crossed the threshold in
sustainable management
Late 1960’s logging boom starts
Logging concession increased
from 4.5 M ha → 11.6 M ha
Source: Environmental Science for Social Change, 1999

98. 34% forest cover
Highlight of Damage
1977-1980’s all time high
deforestation rate (300,000 ha/yr)
Philippine forest rapidly
disappearing
Completely deforested or <5%
cover
Pollilio Burias Palaui
Camiguin Batanes Lubang Ticao
Guimaras Samal Siquijor
Bohol Tablas Siargao Jolo
Cebu Masbate Tawi-tawi
Marinduque
Source: Environmental Science for Social Change, 1999

99. 23.7% forest cover
Highlight of Damage
1977-1980’s only 8.9% of
old growth forest remains!!!
Source: Environmental Science for Social Change, 1999

100. YEAR 2002
18% forest cover
< 3% original forest remains!!!

101. Km2
FOREST
COVER Land area (300,000 km2)
(100 years)
300,000 Spanish colonization (270,000
km2)
250,000 (400
years)
200,000 American colonization (210,000
km2) (50 years)
150,000
100,000 Philippine Independence 1950’s (150,000
km2)
(40 years)
50,000
Post EDSA Revolution (8,000
0 km2)
1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 1990
YEAR
Extent of Original Forest Cover in the
Philippines

102. The Physical Environment

103. Rainfall, Rainrise
1960s to 1990s
Source: F Avila

104. The Little Boy’s Tantrum The Little Girl’s Tears

105. Country’s productivity
*"Declining"
productivity of
the country's
agricultural
lands and
fisheries.
•.

106. • These areas • Cause: Rapid forest
become loss has eliminated
increasingly habitat for unique and
threatened plant and
degraded and animal species; it has
pushed beyond also left large tracts of
their capacity to land in the Philippines
produce vulnerable to soil
erosion

107. • *The loss of
nutrient rich soil
reduces crop
yields and
contributes to the
expanded use of
chemical fertilizers
- a practice that
can, in turn, pollute
water sources.

108. • Rivers and streams • * Soil runoff into
also carry eroded fish breeding and
soil to the coasts, nursery areas is
where it interferes one of several
with fish nursery factors leading to
areas. the overall decline
in productivity of
fisheries in the
Philippines

109. Consequences
 Food insecurity. The lack of a stable and reliable
food supply contributes to poor nutritional status for
many Filipinos, especially for children:
Approximately 28 percent of children under 5 are
underweight (DOH Report, 2006)
 Food insecurity also contributes to increases in
environmentally destructive practices such as
slash-and-burn agriculture ("kaingin" farming)
or the use of dynamite to increase short-term fish
catches.

110. .* In 1970, 32 percent
of the country's
population lived in
urban areas.
* Today, 48 percent is
crowded into cities,
where housing and
infrastructure struggle
to keep pace with the
growing numbers.

111. • Overcrowding and
insufficient housing
can be particularly
detrimental to
children: Studies have
suggested that infant
mortality rates in
Manila's slums are
three times higher
than in non-slum
areas

112.  Water crisis is not far behind: Access to clean
and adequate water is an acute seasonal
problem in Metro Manila, Central Luzon,
Southern Tagalog, and Central Visayas.
 Government monitoring data showed that up
to 58 percent of the country's water ground is
contaminated with coliform bacteria, causing
such diseases as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery,
and hepatitis A.
 studies show that there is a steady 30-50%
drop in the levels of the country’s water
sources for the past 20 years or an average
drop of 1 meter/year

113.  While on the average, the atmosphere’s
moisture is renewed every 8 days, stream
water every 16 days, soil moisture annually,
swamp water in 5 years, lake water in 17
years, groundwater renews only after 1,400
years.

114. Threats to
Philippine
biodiversity
Heaney and Regalado

119. Heaney and Regalado

126. (Sources of Water… continuation)
 Industrial Pollution
 Aquaculture

127. (Sources of Air… continuation)
 Mobile Pollution

128.  Domestic Pollution

129. DIRECT
• Deforestation due to
unsustainable
logging, farming and related
practices
• Aquatic destruction due to
unsustainable fishing and
deforestation
• Conflicting and poor policies
• Poor law enforcement
• Pollution
• Natural extinction

130. INDIRECT
•Poverty
from 47% Erap regime to 65% now (2
out of 3 feel extreme hunger)
•Overpopulation
87.6 Million (August 1, 2007)
•Corruption
•Lack of knowledge/Miseducation
•Apathy (Tragedy of the Common)

131. Global Warming

137. Laws of Ecology

138. Nature’s Law of Interrelatedness
All things are
interconnected

139. Find the Relationship
• Between you eating in a fast food burger chain
and global warming
• Between the low scores of elementary students
in achievement tests and a factory worker.
• Deforestation and the losing productivity of the
seas.
• What is the relationship between you, eating a
bar of Hershey’s chocolate, and the death of
thousands in Quezon due to massive
commercial logging?

140. Law of Conservation of Matter
Everything
Must Go
somewhere!

142. Erosion
Humans
Dried Up Streams and Waterways Flooding
Sedimentation of Waterways
Siltation of the
No Aquifer Recharge Near shore Areas
Source: The Laws of Nature and Other Stories by: Antonio A. Oposa Jr.

143. Nature Knows Best

146. The Origin of Life
Akinetes:
LIFE: blue- cellular Hard-bodied marine
formation
green algae differentiation invertebrates
of Earth
5,000 million years
4,600 3,600 2,300 570
MYA Land MYA MYA MYA 500
Invertebrates, Amphibians Radiation of million
land plants, Gymnosperms First Mammals years
Jawless fish bony fishes Dinosaurs, Archaeopteryx Mass
First extinction of
Agnathans Spiders & first true First birds
Reptiles Dinosaurs
insects mammals
500 million years
500 400 370 350 300 200 140 100 65
MYA MYA MYA MYA MYA MYA MYA MYA MYA 5
million
Homo habilis
years
Homo erectus
Australopithecus first species of closest to Homo
afaransis genus Homo moden humans sapiens
modern
5 million years man
4 2 1 30,000
MYA MYA MYA years ago

147. “In the end, we will conserve
only what we love, we will love
only what we understand, and
we will understand only what
we are taught.”
-Baba Dioum, a Senegalese conservationist