The State of the Philippine Environment:

The Philippines is one of the 17 biological wealthiest nations

THE PHILIPPINES = Megadiversity Country and Biodiversity Hotspot

“The Philippines is one of the few nations that is, in its entirety,

both a biodiversity hotspot and a megadiversity country, placing it among the top priority hotspots

for global conservation.” Conservation International

What is biodiversity

?

Is biodiversity important?

AC Alcala

MS Dolas

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY:Ecosystem Services

•GAS REGULATION, e.g., CO 2/O2

balance, O3 for UVB protection

•CLIMATE REGULATION, e.g., greenhouse gas regulation,

•DISTURBANCE REGULATION, e.g., storm protection, flood control, drought recovery

•EROSION CONTROL and SEDIMENT RETENTION, e.g., prevention of loss of soil by wind, runoff, or other removal processes

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY:Ecosystem Services

•NUTRIENT CYCLING, e. g.,

•DISTURBANCE REGULATION, e.g., storm protection, flood control, drought recovery

•WATER REGULATION, e.g., production of water for industrial and agricultural processes

•WATER SUPPLY, e.g., provisioning of water by watersheds, reservoirs and aquifers

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY:Ecosystem Services

REGULATING SERVICES•Invasion resistance•Herbivory•Pollination•Seed dispersal•Climate regulation•Pest regulation•Natural hazard protection•Erosion regulation•Water purification

CULTURAL SERVICES

•Spiritual and religious values

•Knowledge system

•Education and research

•Recreation and aesthetic values

•Sense of place and inspiration

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY: Ecosystem Services

PhilippineForests

1

2

34

5

6

1 Lowland rainforest, 2 Montane rainforest,3 Mossy rainforest, 4 Pine forest 5 Karst or

limestone forest, 6 Mangrove forest

Our Forests … … host one of the world’s host one of the world’s

richest diversity of plant richest diversity of plant and animal speciesand animal species 8,120 species of flowering 8,120 species of flowering

plantsplants 3,500 species of 3,500 species of

indigenous treesindigenous trees 33 species of 33 species of

gymnospermsgymnosperms 640 species of mosses640 species of mosses 240 species and 240 species and

subspecies of mammalssubspecies of mammals

…have provided food, medicines, timber, non-timber forest products, fuel, and numerous other resources to our indigenous brothers and sisters since time immemorial. As they have shown, such resources can be sustainably produced if managed and protected properly.

• critically endangered .• Total forested area in the country as of 2003 = 7.2 M hectares or 24% of total land area of 30 M hectares. The Philippines needs forest cover of 54% of total land areas in order for it to be ecologically sound and able to sustain its ecosystems and their services.

TRENDS: Forests

Our Forests Have been

shrinking at an average rate of

2% per annum or a deforestation

rate of 550,000 hectares a year or

63 hectares per hour) – one of the

highest in the world!

Causes of deforestation•Logging ( from 1991 to from 1991 to 1999 alone, lowland 1999 alone, lowland dipterocarp forests dipterocarp forests decreased by 12%.)decreased by 12%.)

•Forest conversion for agricultural purposes, such as plantation of export crops (temperate zone vegetables, oil palm, banana, pineapple, rubber, bio-fuels, etc.)

•Mining, industrial development, hydroelectric projects

70% 60% 40%

30% 23.7% 22.2%

PHIL.

FOREST

COVER

Seagrass bed

Coral Reef Tropical Coastal

Ecosystems

Mangrove Forest

MANGROVES50+ species worldwide

35-40 species found in the Philippines,Including 20-30 species of shrubs & vines

Remaining primary mangrove forests are found in Pagbilao Bay (Quezon Province), Ulugan Bay (Palawan) and Bais Bay (Negros Oriental).

A hectare of mangroves

produces 12.5 m3 of firewood and 900 kg. of finfish yearly.

(Ronnback 1999)

Are mangroves

important? •Act as natural buffer

of coastal areas against storms, wave

and wind erosion, and flooding.

•Serve as sinks for organic and inorganic

materials, including pollutants.

•Are nursing grounds of many fish and shrimp species.

Seagrass Beds• Provide food and shelter for fish and other marine organisms.

• Stabilize sediments and prevents erosion along coastlines

• Take up dissolved nutrients and trap sediments in the water resulting in high water clarity UNEP AC Alcala

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Lush coral reefs of Lanuza Bay Photo by Haribon

CORAL CORAL REEFS:REEFS: rainforests of the sea

Occupy less than 1% of EARTH’S SURFACE

yet support more than 25% of world’s

total fish catch

•Contribute at least US$400 billion a year to the world economy

•Coral reef fisheries contribute almost

US$1 billion annually to the Philippine

economy and provide livelihood to more

than 1 million small-scale fishers

1 sq. km. of healthy coral

reef can provide the protein

needs of more than 300 people

a year

The Philippines is the “center of the center” of marine shore fish diversity.

Along with Malaysia and Indonesia, it is part of the CORAL TRIANGLE, which has the highest concentration of marine life on the entire planet!

430 species in 70 genera = 80% of world’s coral species

12 species endemic to the Philippines and Indonesia

Rochelle R, Gonzaga

Almost 70% of the mangroves in the Philippines have been destroyed since the 1920s

Estimated mangrove areas:

1918 – 500,000 has.

1970 – 288,035 has.

1990s – 140,000 has.

2000 – 109,700 has

The single most significant cause of mangrove destruction = habitat loss due to intensive and

uncontrolled aquaculture activities.

TRENDS: Mangroves

TRENDS: Coral Reefs Philippine coral reef surface

approx. 27,000-33,000 sq. km.

Reefs in excellent condition: 1991 = 5.1%

2000 = 4.3%

2004 = 0.24%

Rate of coral destruction = 120 ha/day or 36,000 ha/yr from blast fishing and muro-ami

The Philippines loses $420 million annually in potential revenues from mismanagement of fisheries resources.

Pict ure soure: I nt ernet

211 lakes, 18 major rivers, 22 marshes, swamps and reservoirs

PHILIPPINE PHILIPPINE FRESHWATERFRESHWATERECOSYSTEMSECOSYSTEMS

1,616 species of aquatic plants 3,675 species of fauna

Philippine BiodiversityPhilippine Biodiversity

Regional Biodiversity Status and Threats

Bislig (154,829 has)

Mt. Agtuuganon & Mt. Pasian (85,501 has)

Mt. Kampalili-Puting Bato (169,909 has)

Agusan River (120,288 has)

Mt. Apo (99,091 has)

Mt. Sinaka (1,749 has)

Key Biodiversity Areas in Southern Mindanao

Mt. Hamiguitan (31,879 has)

Important watershed areas in Southern Mindanao

Agusan river basin: 10,921 has

Tagum-Libuganon river basin: 3,064 has

Davao river basin: 1,623 has

Overlapping Boundaries of Mineral Potential Map and Biodiversity Priority Map

Diwalwal NRMDC

Amacan Gold Project

Masara Gold Project

Kingking Cu-Au ProjectBhP Billiton Pujada Nickel Project

PhilCo Mining (American Sur Corp.)

Batoto Mining Corp.

Logging and forest land conversion

65,000 hectares of Timber License Agreement (TLA) granted by the Arroyo gov’t to Matuguina Integrated Wood Products, Inc. owned by Henry Wee, in the towns of Baganga, Manay and Caraga in Davao Oriental;

45,000 hectares of Industrial Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) granted by the Arroyo gov’t to Alcantara and Sons (Alsons) in Talaingod, Davao del Norte; and

100 hectares of residual forest lands are target for clearing for the entry of Dole-Stanfilco and AMS – encroaching the KBA Mt. Kampalili-Puting Bato in New Bataan, Nabunturan, etc.