STATUS OF PHILIPPINE

MODULE BIODIVERISTY: ISSUES,

FOR CHALLENGES, AND
WEEK 3 INITIATIVES

INTRODUCTION

The Philippines is considered one of the 18 mega diverse countries in the world and
has more than 52, 177 described species, half of which are endemic in the country. The rich
biodiversity of the country sustain the lives of every Filipino regardless of their economic and
social status. Despite of its diversity and abundance, records showed that the Philippine
Biodiversity is facing challenges and changes that might affect not only the present
generation but also the lives of the next Filipino generations. Conservation and preservation
activities were just some of the things that every Filipino must consider in order to sustain
these and protect this rich biodiversity from devastation and complete destruction.
In this module, you will examine the status of Philippine Biodiversity as it affects the
lives of the people in every community. Furthermore, this module will increase your
awareness regarding the problems and challenges faced by the Philippine Biodiversity.
Lastly, this module will give you information’s regarding the benefits that we get from the
very rich biodiversity of the country. If you have questions and clarifications, do not hesitate
to contact your instructor.

LEARNING OUTCOMES!

1. Increase awareness on the status of Philippine Biodiversity.

2. Discuss the benefits of biodiversity to the people and the community as a whole.
3. Determine the problems and challenges faced by Philippine Biodiversity.
 SELF-ASSESSMENT!

Answering the question below will help you determine your basic knowledge about the status
of Philippine Biodiversity.

1. In circle 1, 2, give two words that describe biodiversity; then in circle 3, 4, describe briefly
the benefits that you derive from biodiversity; and lastly for circle 5, 6, give at least 2
problems that endanger the Philippine Biodiversity.

1._______
_________
____
2.
6._______
_________
_________
_________
____
___

Philippine
Biodiversity
5._______ 3._______
_________ _________
____ ____

4._______
_________
____

REFERENCES AND LEARNING RESOURCES!

The following served as references for this module.
A. Books
Department of Environment and Natural resources (Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB)
B. Video Clips
 EXPLORE!

Note: Read the following information coming from the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB)

Philippine Biodiversity: Issues, Challenges,

And Initiatives
Taken from the presentation of Department of Environment and Natural resources
(Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB)

We all depend on biodiversity to survive! But what is biodiversity?

BIO = LIFE
DIVERSITY = VARIETY
 Variety of life in our natural environment –from the smallest micro-organism to the
largest mammals, including the ecosystems where they live –forests and mountains,
rivers and seas.
 Variety within and between species.

LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
1. Genetic Diversity - the genes are responsible for the uniqueness of every living organism.
2. Species Diversity - usually measured in terms of the total number of species found in a
particular area.
3. Ecosystem Diversity - self-sustaining collection of organisms and habitat.
Example: a. Forest
b. Rivers
c. Mangroves
d. Marine
e. Wetlands
Biodiversity –The Web of Life

•Birds pick up seeds and drop them on a rich soil enriched by ants, microorganisms, etc.
•The seeds grow into a variety of trees, becoming a forest.
•Forests and mountains provide aquifer (source of fresh water) and oxygen.
•Man eats fruits from trees and drops seeds.
•Birds and other pollinators pick up seeds again and the cycle continues

What benefits do we get from biodiversity?

1. Biodiversity feeds the world.
 In the olden days, humans had over 10,000 species for food.
 Today –About 30 crops provide our body’s energy requirements; 40 species of
mammals and birds domesticated for food; 14 species account for 90% of livestock
production.

2. Biodiversity provides air and water.

 Forests generate oxygen that we breathe.
 Forests and mountains provide aquifers -sources of water we drink.
3. Biodiversity provides materials for clothing and shelter.
•Fiber
•Timber
•Bamboo
•Cogon
•Anahaw
•Rattan

4. Biodiversity heals
About 80 % of the world's biodiversity resources with medicinal values are in forests. (The
world loses around 13 million hectares of forest cover every year.) Cone snail, living in
corals, is source of medicine for cancer pain. (Around 88% of ASEAN’s corals are at risk.)

5. Biodiversity brings income to millions

•Livelihood (selling fish, fruits and vegetables; furniture making and wood carving; pearl
farming; livestock raising and selling)
•Forestry, Agriculture and Fisheries
•Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals
•Ecotourism
•Around 80 % of ASEAN’s rural poor’s income is derived from biodiversity.

6. Biodiversity soothes
•Nature tripping
•Mountain climbing
•Bird watching
•Enjoying the beach or verdant forests
•Comfort in nature by simply looking at the green grass
•Hearing the joyful chirping of birds
•Watching a puppy at play
•Inspiration to artists for their masterpieces

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

1. Provisioning (production of food, air water, including purification of air and water, etc.)
2. Regulating (stabilization of climate, control of diseases, detoxification and decomposition
of wastes, creation of drainage systems, etc.)
3. Supporting (nutrient cycling, crop pollination, soil fertilization, prevention of soil erosion,
etc.)
4. Cultural (social, spiritual and recreational benefits)

Wetlands and Mangroves

1. Provides timber and other vegetation for human use.
2. Provides outdoor recreation, education, and ecotourism
3. Maintains plant, animal, and microbial biodiversity
4. Sequesters Carbon
5. Provides wildlife habitat
6. Stores surface water and reduces flood damage
7. Filters and recycles N and P released by human activity into water
8. Recharges underground aquifers

Forest Ecosystems
1. Forest canopy and leaf litter protect the soil surface from the erosive power of rain
2. Forest trees and plants store carbon and help slow human-caused global climate change
3. Forest canopy purifies air by filtering particulates and providing chemical reaction sites
where pollutants are detoxified.
4. Forests help maintain the water cycle and stabilize local climate.
5. Forests provide critical habitat for plants, animals, and microbes.
6. Provides outdoor recreation, education, and ecotourism.
7. Forests provide goods such as food, timber, and medicines.
8. Deep forest soils store large volumes of water.
9. Forest tree roots bind soils and help prevent erosion.
10. Forest soils purify water, acting as massive filters.

Marine Ecosystems
1. Sequesters Carbon
2. Provides fish and other marine fauna habitat
3. Maintains marine plant, animal, and microbial biodiversity.
4. Provides fish and breeding grounds and nurseries
5. Provides outdoor recreation, education, and ecotourism.
6. Filters and recycles N and P released by human activity into water.

Biodiversity is Life. Biodiversity is our Life.

1. Biodiversity soothes
2. We get our food and water from biodiversity
3. Biodiversity cures us
4. Biodiversity clothes us
5. Biodiversity gives us shelter
6. Biodiversity provides us livelihood

How rich is Philippine biodiversity? (Facts and Figures)

1. Mt. Makiling contains more tree species than the whole continental United States, which
land area is 32 times bigger than the Philippines.
2. The Philippines is SECOND in the world in terms of butterfly species endemicity. Of its 895
species, 352 are endemic.
3. FIFTH in the world in mammalian endemicity. Of its 183 species, 120 or 66% are endemic.
4. EIGHTH in the world in reptilian species endemicity. Of its 258 species, 170 or 66% are
endemic.
5. There are 171 species of amphibians in the Philippines, 78%of these are endemics.
6. Philippine Eagle, the world’s largest eagle.
7. There 54 species of mangroves in the world and 40 species of these are found in the
Philippines.
8. 500 of the 800+ known coral species in the world is found in our country.

Philippine Biodiversity

1. The Philippines is one of the 18 mega diverse countries.

2. Has more than 52, 177 described species, half of which are endemic found nowhere else
in the world.

WE ARE IN GREAT DANGER!

1. Hottest of the Hotspots
•The Philippines is one of the 35 hotspots in the world.
•On a per unit area basis, the Philippines is the top mega diversity country and the hottest
of the hotspots.
2. Depletion of the Philippine biodiversity

A. Mangrove forests-149,000 hectares remain from the original 450,000 hectares in 1918.
B. Wetlands -more than half of the country’s wetlands of international importance covering
14,000 sq. km. are threatened.
C. Forest – In 1935, there were 17 million hectares of forests. Today, there are only six
million hectares.

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
1. CLIMATE CHANGE
a. Climate change is likely to become the dominant direct driver of biodiversity loss by the
end of the century. (MA, 2005)
b. In Asia, the IPCC report predicts that up to 50 percent of biodiversity is at risk.
c. As much as 88 percent of coral reefs may be lost in the next 30 years as a result of climate
change.
d. Globally, about 20 to 30 percent of species will be at increasingly high risk of extinction
possibly by year 2100 as global mean temperatures exceed 2 to 3°C above pre-industrial
levels (Fischlin et al., 2007).
e. The ASEAN region is especially vulnerable to climate change since a huge proportion of its
population lives along coastlines (ADB, 2009).

2. DEFORESTATION
a. 3 million hectares of peat land burned over the past decade in Southeast Asia.
b. $9 billion in economic loss caused by forest fires in Indonesia, including health damage
from smoke.
c. NASA: “Forest fires released as many greenhouse gases as all the cars and power plants in
Europe in an entire year." (Earth Policy Institute, 2009)
d. Net annual forest area loss in Southeast Asia at 2.4 M ha in the 1990s; 0.4M ha in 2000-
2006; and 1.0 M ha in 2005–2010, respectively (FAO, 2010).
e. Shifting cultivation and agricultural expansion (Forest cover declining at about 1% per
year due to expansion of agriculture and human settlements to provide for the growing
population)
f. 1 percent: deforestation rate in Southeast Asia from 2000-2010 , which is lower than the
1.5-1.7 percent estimates provided for 1900s (FAO, 2006). (National University of
Singapore).
g. If this continues, the region will lose up to 3/4 of its forests, and up to 42% of its
biodiversity by 2100.

Consequence of deforestation
•Loss of habitat for many birds, mammals and other animals
•Reduced pollinator activity
•Overall reductions in biodiversity

3. INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES

 IAS -one of the major drivers of environmental change, thus, placing considerable
constraints on environmental conservation, economic growth, and sustainable
development.
 When IAS enters new habitats, they compete with native species over food supply
and allow them to dominate the local ecosystem.
 Cost of damage caused by invasive alien species (IAS) globally is around US$ 1.4
trillion p.a. (Global Invasive Species Programme, 2008)

4. ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE

•Over 100 million animals are hunted for bush meat
•Illegal wildlife trade valued at USD $ 10 to 20 billion (ASEAN-WEN)
•Targets -Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar. Smugglers frequently caught utilizing
transport links through Thailand and Viet Nam. (ASEAN WEN)
•13,000 metric tons of turtles shipped into China every year

Humans: Both Problem and Solution to Biodiversity Loss

1. As a problem, irresponsible human practices contribute to biodiversity loss.
2. As a solution, humans have the knowledge, expertise and financial resources to conserve
biodiversity
What can schools do to conserve biodiversity?
•Integrate biodiversity lessons in appropriate subjects.
•Conduct school activities that will promote biodiversity conservation
•Students to take the lead in their homes and communities:
a. Conserve water and electricity
b. Recycle / re-use clothes, paper, cans, glass and plastic bottles
c. Adopt simple lifestyles –consume less; produce less garbage
d. Dispose wastes properly
e. Eat together
f. Educate yourselves on which species of seafood are under threat and avoid buying them
g. Buy products with less packaging; avoid use of plastic bags (or re-use them)
h. Grow our own fruits and vegetables; eat less meat as meat production requires more
inputs and energy
i. When buying, choose appliances with high-energy efficiency ratings / use fluorescent
lamps
j. Use social networking tools such as FB, etc. to promote biodiversity conservation
k. Walk, bike, carpool
l. Write about biodiversity conservation in school paper
m. Report environmental crimes to DENR/city government
n. Conduct / join environmental contests
o. Volunteer –Bantay Kalikasan
p. Write to government officials
q. Plant trees

DISCUSSION BOARD

Answering the question below will help you to have an in-depth understanding on the status
of Philippine Biodiversity.

A. As a young agriculturist, enumerate at least 5 specific issues, problems, and

challenges faced by the Philippine Biodiversity based on the article you have read and
suggest 5 specific solutions that will address these problems.

PHILLIPINE BIODIVERSITY
ISSUES AND CHALLENGES SOLUTIONS
1.
 2.

3.

4.

5.

POST-COMPETENCY CHECKLIST

Based from what you have learned in this module, you are now expected to
understand the status of Philippine Agriculture.

I. Persuasive Essay

1. In order to solve some problems in the conservation and preservation of

Philippine Biodiversity, scribble some practices occurring at home or in your
community that will promote preservation and protection of the rich
biodiversity of the country. Get your partner and complete the table below.

Issues in Philippine Biodiversity As a young agriculturist, I will……

1.

2.
3.