ENVIRONMENTAL SCEINCE W5
Identify threats, mitigations, and proper management Competency
of natural resources
The Philippines is endowed with diverse natural resources, from
majestic forest covers to abundant mineral resources. With more
than 52,000 species of flora and fauna, 27,000 square kilometers
of coral reefs, 9.6 million hectares of fertile agricultural lands, 6
million hectares of forested areas, coastline of approximately
18,000 kilometers, mangrove forests at 139,725 hectares and
high metallic and nonmetallic ore reserves of 31.65 billion metric
tons, the bountiful natural environment of the Philippines is
regarded as one of the best in the world. ( Ruth S. Guzman, Ruth
Marian Guzman - Genuino, Environmental Science Towards A
Sustainable Earth, 2018). However, the country’s ecosystems,
both terrestrial and aquatic, have been beset by accelerated
resource destruction (i.e., forestry, coastal and marine,
freshwater, marginal lands and agriculture) while our biological
resources have been subjected to an alarming degree of
biodiversity loss and species extinction. As we become more aware
of what is happening to our natural resources, we have devised
ways to properly manage and conserve them. ( Ruth S. Guzman,
Ruth Marian Guzman – Genuino, Environmental Science Towards A
Sustainable Earth, 2018).
We aim to identify the types of natural resources of the country,
the current threats and ways to manage them.
FOREST RESOURCES
Forest ecosystems are vital life – support systems, in that they
provide many benefits that improve human life and experience.
Thus, forest should be protected and managed to ensure its
sustainable use.
Threats
• Land Degradation
• Deforestation Management
Forest resource management basically comes down to the
conservation, restoration, and promotion od sustainable forest
ecosystem use. Intervention must be put in place to ensure the
maintenance of the forest quality, the sustainable production of
forest products and the preservation of forest rights.
Some of the key interventions are as follows:
• National and local level governance, institutional issues and
policies
• Support at the community level for rights and livelihoods
• Support for sustainable production of forest products
• Creation of interventions for the preservation of environmental
services
• National Greening Program (NGP)
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES WATER RESOURCES

In the Philippines, agriculture holds a sizable share in the
country’s gross domestic product (GDP), amounting to an average
of 20%. The agricultural outputs comes from four
subsectors – forestry, farming or crops, fisheries and livestock.
Threats
• Soil Erosion
The Philippines is supplied with water from different sources,
namely, rainfall, surface water resources such as rivers, lakes and
reservoirs, as well as groundwater resources. The Philippines has
ample freshwater storage capacity and a high level of rainfall
ensures supply for agricultural, industrial and domestic uses.
However, the seasonal variations in water usage are significant
and some regions are densely populated which may lead to water
shortages especially in the dry season ( Source:Greenpeace,2007).

• Soil Salinity Threats

• Habitat Destruction The exponential growth of the human population and consequent

• Destructive Pests and Diseases people’s growth and development is leading to conflicting
pressures on water resources. Various socio-economic activities
Management associated with urbanization, agriculture, mining and other
pollutive technologies have contributed to an impending crisis in
The issue of introducing concerns of sustainability to agriculture
the world’s water supply.
is therefore not only essential but also imperative. This involves
good management of soils, water resources and agricultural Management
genetic diversity and a proper appreciation of their ecological
value. To avert a possible water shortage, it is important to regard
water resources management as a critical component of
• Preserving genetic diversity sustainable development. The following are some methods for
managing water resources:
• Integrated pest management (IPM) and integrated cultural
management (ICM) • Planned tapping of groundwater sources
• Developing higher – yield plant and animal varieties
• Eliminating water subsidies and imposing recycling mechanisms
• Soil enrichment programs
• Using water resources effectively in agriculture
• Sustainable Agriculture
WILDLIFE RESOURCES

Living natural resources or wildlife resources, the plants and

animals, are renewable resources that support the survival needs
of all living organisms. In the Philippine context, based on available
records, Philippine flora are composed of at least 13,500 species
which represent five percent of the world’s flora, of which 32%
are endemic and are mostly found in primary forests.

Threats

• Biodiversity Loss

• Introduction of Foreign Genetic Materials

• Introduction of Alien Species

• Destruction of Coral Reefs

• Over Exploration of Fishery Resources

Management

• Establishment of Wildlife Conservation and Protected Areas

System

• Legal Framework for Wildlife Resources Management

• Wildlife Banks