Name: Alegada, Joven Timothy S.

Yr and Course: BSA 1

Name: Bual, Niña Nicole A. Yr and Course: BSA 1
Name: Ancog, Emmanuelle Adrian M. Yr and Course: BSA 1
STS Jane Literatos
Date: August 17, 2021

Subtopic 4 Formative Assessment:

“Scientific Method in Action: The Nature of the Problem”

Write a statement of the problem for three community-based problems that can be solved
by Science and Technology.

Group Name: Alegada-Bual-Ancog

Assigned Theme/Problem: Terrestrial ecosystems and Environment

Chosen Community/Hometown: Davao City
Chosen Problem: Deforestation

I. Clarifying the Problem(in the Community)

A. Start with what you know. (1 paragraph)

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (n.d.), Davao Region is
described as blessed with a good climate, clean water source, rich in minerals, and diverse flora
and fauna. It is home to various species of flora and fauna like Philippine Monkey Eating Eagle,
Musang, Durian, Orchids, etc.; it is also rich in raw materials like stone, gold, copper, and
especially lumber. Despite being one of the most progressive regions in the Philippines, it is still
home to lush green forests where people and other animals live. The abundance of resources in
the Davao Region made the businessmen come here and take advantage of it. Mining, and
urbanization are the most common business activities brought to here by opportunistic
businessmen. These activities have affected Davao Region’s ecosystem by a vast portion;
throughout the years of modernization here in Davao Region, the mining industry, urban
development, and foresting have contributed to a considerable part of the loss of trees. According
to Global Forest Watch (n.d.), the Davao Region has already lost 544ha of trees in 2020. The
decreasing amount of trees has caused many problems like CO2 emissions, landslides, siltation,
endangerment of other species, etc. Overall, modernization is endangering our ecosystem, and it
is an issue that we should raise our concern about.
 B. Decide what information is missing. (1 paragraph)

The Mindanao Bureau Chief, Cayon (2015) stated that the government and private
sectors are coming together to help mitigate the problem. They have mandated preservation laws
and organized movements to help our ecosystem. Although we have tree-planting programs,
preservation laws, etc., we still have a problem with the sustainability of our ecosystem,
especially the forests. We still somehow couldn’t determine how we could revive the once green
and calm forest that turned into a patch of dry land with dead plants. Tree planting wouldn’t be
enough to answer the problem because some parts are unplantable because of mining, where
trees or plants wouldn’t prosper. In tree planting, we could not assure it would grow due to
natural events like El Niña and El Niño that could kill the seedling. Laws mandated by the
government are also not enough. Businessmen tend to find ways to exploit and get away with it;
they can still operate if they have the “proper requirements” and “paid the fees.” We are still
looking for a solution good enough to sustain our forests for our future.

C. Gather information on the problem. (1 paragraph)

The population growth and modernization have affected the ecosystem as per Global
Forest Watch (n.d.); we have already lost over 500 hectares of forest. It is because of the wave of
modernization and migration of commerce in this region. The evidence of modernization and
migration shows that this region was just an unorganized region where warring tribes were
residing almost a hundred years ago. The boom of commerce allowed businessmen to invest in
this place, and it is the root of our problems in our ecosystem that can be traced back to it. The
region wouldn’t also improve if they didn’t take advantage of the natural resources, but too much
without repercussions could backfire. Untapped resources and business opportunities are still
present in our region; we could not assure that we are close to the answer we seek. These
opportunities are a double-edged sword that could be good for us and bad. We can assess that the
modernization and population increase helped contribute to the mass consumption of our natural
resources that affect the ecosystem.

D. Define the problem. (1 paragraph)

According to the article of Cascaro (2015), land-use conversion and deforestation is one
huge factor causing the problem. We are facing the repercussions of the problems we have
created. The government and private sectors have tried to be sustainable and help sustain the
ecosystem by the likes of tree-planting, coastal clean-up, etc., but if we look into it, it is not as
effective as it seems. Even though we are replanting, we are still consuming more than it. There
is an underlying question: how long does it take to grow until the other trees are already cut
down? We should realize that no matter how many seedlings we plant, it wouldn’t matter if
deforestation is not under control. It is basic common sense that you can’t consume more than
you can produce. Deforestation Control is the gap we don’t know that exists, or we don’t see it as
a huge problem when it is. There is still a vast land of trees in this region that might be enough
for generations, but modernization and technology are also evolving, affecting us in the future.
Not finding a solution for being sustainable as soon as possible can be endangering for us. We
can say that Deforestation Control is one of the most significant problems we face today that if
we don’t control it, we might not be able to recover from it. Therefore, it is a problem that we
should be keeping an eye on and research solutions for.

II. Deciding to Solve the Problem (in the Community)

A. Importance. (1 paragraph)

According to Nunez (2019), as the world seeks to slow the pace of climate change,
preserve wildlife, and support billions of people, trees inevitably hold a major part of the answer.
Trees are important for a multitude of reasons, including the fact that they absorb not only the
carbon dioxide we breathe, but also the heat-trapping greenhouse gases produced by human
activity. More than half of all deforestation is caused by farming, cattle grazing, mining, and
drilling, the rest is accounted for by forestry practices, wildfires, and, to a lesser extent,
urbanization. Though most of the reason why there is deforestation is to help society, we are
destroying mother nature to prosper for the time being, time will come where mother nature will
decide to take revenge on us for not knowing our limits, it would be a complete disaster. I
conclude that it is important to stop deforestation because forests are a huge help to us, and
although we can use trees for many more constructions, I do not think that destroying natural
areas in our environment is worth it. We should preserve forests because they are fundamental
life forms and provide for the continuity of the world’s biodiversity which is necessary for
economic development, diversity of life forms, human livelihood, and environmental adaptive
responses. Forests are mainly important because they stabilize climate, regulate the water cycle,
and provide habitat to thousands of life forms.

B. Negative impacts. (1 paragraph)

The forest cover of Mindanao has dwindled to just six percent and loggers mostly from
Manila and the Visayas were responsible for this crime against the environment, “They raped our
forests and destroyed the natural environment which is sacred to our people,” said one Higaonon
tribal chief from Valencia, Bukidnon, people keep cutting down forests even when they know the
danger it poses (Moro Chronicles, 2011). The loss of animal and plant species due to habitat loss
is one of the most harmful and distressing outcomes of deforestation. Aside from habitat loss, a
lack of trees allows for a greater release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, while healthy
forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and operate as vital carbon sinks, deforested
areas lose this ability and release more carbon. Trees also help to control the amount of water in
the atmosphere by regulating the water cycle in deforested areas, there is less water in the air that
can be returned to the soil, resulting in dryer soil and the inability to grow crops. I conclude that
we should not abuse nature, we do not own the earth, we simply live on it, deforestation, though
it can help, can also cause disasters like flood, drought and more. Destroying forests, though it
will improve the city life, it will destroy the natural life. We people cannot leave earth and if we
keep destroying our environment, our planet might just decide to stop being habitable. We should
always remember that when we take, there is a price to pay and doing something always has its
consequences.

III. Analyzing the Problem (in the Community)

A. What is the problem? (1 paragraph)

Davao City had 88.2 kha of natural forest in 2010, covering 65 percent of its
geographical area; and it lost 398 hectares of natural forest in 2020, resulting in 217 kt of CO2
emissions (Global Forest Watch, 2021). This amount of carbon emissions created destructive
consequences on the community. Deforestation contributed to the rapid increase of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere, resulting in climate change, including global warming, which caused
the temperature to rise in Davao City. Furthermore, global warming also improves the risk of
strong rainfall which results in flash floods and landslides. Deforestation is a significant factor of
floods, which triggered the soil to become saturated and unable to absorb any additional water.
Rainwater flowed down and flooded the lowland due to diminished mountains and forests and
arid watersheds. In addition, deforestation destroys natural habitats of endangered animals such
as Philippine eagles and several others. Some Indigenous People are also demanded to move
which violates their rights and ownership as an individual. Therefore, if we fail to take action and
continue to neglect this problem, we will eventually run out of resources, suffer devastation due
to calamities and disasters, as well as the potential loss of plant and animal species.

B. Why does the problem exist? (1 paragraph)

Ronca (2021) stated that many factors contribute to deforestation, including logging,
agribusiness, natural calamities, urbanization, and mineral extraction. Deforestation exists
because of the massive projects and human activities that require the destruction of natural
resources. The land development projects, including constructing subdivisions, commercial sites,
buildings, and industrial estates, forced the substantial forest areas to vanish by clearing trees and
getting rid of other natural resources for business opportunities. Some businessmen abused their
privilege to cut trees to replace the area as the target location for their business to increase their
wealth. In addition, mining operations affect natural minerals and damage biodiversity, which
resulted in the loss of forests. It endangers the health of the ecosystem and environment as it can
contaminate water and pollute the air. Moreover, the government's unsustainable forest
management allows people to perform illegal logging and ignore harmful activities for money.
As a result of people's choice to be ignorant about the essence of nature, it is slowly deteriorating
our terrestrial ecosystem and environment.

IV. Proposed Solution (for the Community):

A. Scientific Invention/Product/Service with Photos (introduce it and the
inventor in 1 paragraph)

1. Audio detection devices (Rainforest Connection)

According to Prasad (2018), every year, tropical forest areas the size of Austria are lost to
illegal logging. The sheer size of forests and use of stealth tactics by loggers make it hard for
local guardians to intercept illegal logging until it’s too late. Rainforest connection is a
fascinating idea that looks to audio rather than visual cues to prevent illegal logging in the
rainforests. Topher White from San Francisco is a physicist who was inspired to act after a trip to
Indonesia where he saw first-hand the struggles the conservationists faced there from illegal
logging. He saw that even the gibbon sanctuary where he was volunteering was not safe from the
encroaching threat.
 2. Aerial Tree Planting

Aerial Tree Planting is a great way to plant trees without too many human resources
efficiently (ForestTech, 2020). ForestTech, alongside AirSeed Technologies, found a way to
plant trees efficiently through the use of drones. It is a much faster method of planting than
manually planting it; a drone could drop 20,000 seeds according to them, and it is six times faster
than a human could plant. They have found a way that is efficient and effective to the ecosystem.

3. Google’s Mapping Technology

Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google. Meanwhile, the two Danish brothers, Lars
and Jens Rasmussen, together with Noel Gordon and Stephen Ma, who launched Where 2
Technologies, created Google Maps as a C++ software (Hutcheon, 2015). Both android and iOS
devices can use Google Maps. It has a Global Positioning System feature that allows users to
navigate locations and guides them with directions.
 B. How the invention/product/service solves the problem with photo of the
process (introduce how it works in 1 paragraph)

1. Audio detection devices (Rainforest Connection)

According to Prasad (2018), in application, acoustic monitoring devices have run up

against limitations related to processing power and human capability. These devices detect
sounds from the forest and when these devices detect specific sounds using extremely basic
algorithms, and when they detect sounds related to illegal activity such as chainsaws or logging
trucks it will automatically contact someone in the headquarters of the forest to check the area
out, and to stop the illegal logging. Furthermore the audio detection device can be made from old
phones that people give or throw away, making it less costly and easy to mass produce.

2. Aerial Tree Planting

The drone is modified, and a podder is attached to it, a pneumatic firing module that can
fire two seeds per second in a range of 150 to 300 meters (ForestTech, 2020). The drone would
drop the seeds on the area it covers through the control of a person. Through this device, we can
plant faster and in a more efficient way than tree planting. It would also cover a larger area of
land, and it would take less time.
 3. Google’s Mapping Technology

Google’s mapping technology helps to monitor the condition of the forest as users can
use this tool to find primary sources of greenhouse gases and investigate their emissions
(Hardcastle, 2013). It requires fast internet access to collect data and is also capable of sending
forest maps to smartphones. Smartphones are very convenient to use by anyone, such as the
villagers and assigned persons who will take care of specific areas. They can easily track the
location and perform forest monitoring to provide the best decision and action for maintaining its
good condition. In addition, social media is still advantageous to create and spread information
for communication and updates about the happenings in our community, ecosystem, and
environment.
References

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https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-flooding-davao-city-2213-jan-15-2021

Cascaro, L.N. (2013). Farmers’ groups blame land-use conversion, deforestation for flooding in
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sion-deforestation-for-flooding-in-davao/

Cayon, M.T. (2015). Davao City rehabilitates 9000 hectares of forests. Retrieved from

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GljYWwtYm91bmRhcmllcyIsImxheWVycyI6WyJkaXNwdXRlZC1wb2xpdGljYWwtY
m91bmRhcmllcyIsInBvbGl0aWNhbC1ib3VuZGFyaWVzIl0sImJvdW5kYXJ5Ijp0cnVlL
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