The Philippines ranks fifth in the number of plant species and maintains 5% of the

world’s flora. Species endemism is very high, covering at least 25 genera of plants and 49%
of terrestrial wildlife, while the country ranks fourth in bird endemism. The Philippines is also
one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots with at least 700 threatened species, thus making it
one of the top global conservation areas. The national list of threatened faunal species was
established in 2004 and includes 42 species of land mammals, 127 species of birds, 24
species of reptiles and 14 species of amphibians. In terms of fishes, the Philippines counts at
least 3,214 species, of which about 121 are endemic and 76 threatened. In 2007, an
administrative order issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
established a national list of threatened plant species, indicating that 99 species were critically
endangered, 187 were endangered, 176 vulnerable as well as 64 other threatened
species. This is also because the Philippines continues to experience an alarming rate of
destruction of these important resources brought about by overexploitation, deforestation,
land degradation, climate change, and pollution (including biological pollution), among others.

Major Threats to Biodiversity

1. Climate change

Changes in climate throughout our planet's history have, of course, altered life on
Earth in the long run — ecosystems have come and gone and species routinely go extinct.

But rapid, manmade climate change speeds up the process, without affording
ecosystems and species the time to adapt. For example, rising ocean temperatures and
diminishing Arctic sea ice affects marine biodiversity and can shift vegetation zones, having
global implications. Overall, climate is a major factor in the distribution of species across the
globe; climate change forces them to adjust. But many are not able to cope, causing them to
die out.

2. Deforestation and habitat loss

Deforestation is a direct cause of extinction and loss of biodiversity. An estimated  18

million acres of forest are lost each year, due in part to logging and other human practices,
destroying the ecosystems on which many species depend.
Tropical rainforests in particular, such as the Amazon, hold a high percentage of the world's
known species, yet the regions themselves are in decline due to humans.