Van Angel Marie R.

Garcia

BSED-English II

ASSIGNMENT ON BIODIVERSITY AND FOREST BIOMES:

Answers must be a summary of your readings. DO NOT COPY and PASTE

1. Why biodiversity in the Philippines is in great danger? ( 50 points)

Answer:

The Philippines is considered one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, hosting

thousands of diverse species and a significant number of endemic species that can
be found nowhere else in the world. It has a variety of ecosystems, including
rainforests, coral reefs, mangroves, and unique island ecosystems that house
different organisms. However, increasing human activity has pushed wildlife
perilously close to collapse. As a result, the Philippines became a hotspot for
biodiversity loss, ranking among the top ten countries in the world with the largest
number of species threatened with extinction.

According to research, several endemic species in the Philippines have only 4% of

their natural forest habitat remaining. Unsustainable fishing has reduced fish
populations, causing the ocean to struggle to provide food and income to people.
The country has always dealt with illegal wildlife trafficking, where animals are
smuggled in and out of the country. People within the Philippines also buy and sell
exotic pets and meat from wild animals, which is harmful to the environment and
biodiversity. The laws to protect these animals are not enforced well because
authorities don't have enough support and are dealing with a lot of illegal activities.
Other law enforcers and citizens find it hard to report these violations due to poor
communications infrastructure. Moreover, when people continually engage in these
harmful practices, their lack of understanding and appreciation of nature drives this
damaging trade.

But not just that, like any other threat common to many places, the Philippines also
faces these threats that impact our biodiversity. One of these is deforestation;
cutting down trees for logging and building infrastructure can cause habitat loss.
Trees are homes for many species, just like birds, monkeys, squirrels, bats,
 butterflies, etc. When forests are cut down, many animals and plants lose their
habitats, leading to a decline in their populations and even extinction. There are
some reported cases in the Philippines of overfishing and the use of destructive
fishing practices such as dynamite fishing and cyanide fishing. These practices
disrupt the natural balance of marine ecosystems. When coral reefs and other
marine habitats are destroyed, there will be a loss of biodiversity, and many marine
species rely on reefs for survival. This loss can damage the delicate ecological
balance of the marine ecosystem. Pollution has also contributed to the degradation
of biodiversity. Like humans, who suffer from pollution's negative effects, wildlife
can also face respiratory problems due to long-term exposure to air pollution.
Additionally, certain animals at the top of the food chain can become unsafe to eat
due to the accumulation of harmful chemicals in their environment. These are just
some of the major factors that threaten the Philippines’ biodiversity. And if we don’t
take action now, we humans will suffer, and our land will be in great danger.

2. Explain the following:

a. Forests are the planet’s lungs ( 25 points)

Answer:

Biologically, the forest acts as a lung for the planet as it consumes the carbon dioxide in
the air and transforms it into glucose and oxygen. To put it in perspective, the lungs
help us breathe by breathing in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. This is also similar
to trees. They take in a gas that’s not good for our planet called "carbon dioxide" and
breathe out oxygen, which is essential for us and many other living things. Trees
provide shelter and food to all types of animals, as most forests do have a river near or
in the middle of them, similar to how the lungs are surrounded by blood vessels flowing
with blood. A cute comparison: they both have 'branches'. Additionally, the smaller our
lung capacity, the harder it is to breathe and pump oxygen to the brain. And when there
is a decrease in trees on our planet, we humans and other living things will struggle to
live. Because life could not exist on Earth without trees, as they produce most of the
oxygen that humans and wildlife breathe. Furthermore, just as our lungs help regulate
our body's balance, trees help balance the Earth's climate. They absorb carbon dioxide,
which helps prevent these gases from building up too much in the atmosphere. It helps
control the earth’s temperature and prevents climate change from getting worse.
Therefore, we should take care of our forests because they are very important to our
planet’s health, much like our lungs are vital for our wellbeing.
b. Forests are engines of green economies ( 25 points)

Answer:

When we say that forests are engines of green economies, it means that forests
empower or support economic activities that are in alignment with sustainability. With
the help of forests, we can still improve our economic status without really abusing or
disrupting our natural environment. One example is timber products and fruits. These
things, which are part of our essential resources, come from trees. We can harvest
fruits, nuts, and wood from forests in a sustainable way. Another example is tourism
and recreation. Forests are one of the primary locations for ecotourism, as they have
unique plants and wildlife that attract the attention of tourists. Tourists are able to
explore and learn about the environment and wildlife without harming them. By
visiting and enjoying nature in a responsible way, like in ecotourism, it helps protect the
environment because it makes money by keeping natural places safe and beautiful.
These are just some of the ways that demonstrate that, with the help of forests,
economic growth can be achieved while safeguarding the environment.