NAME: Brandon Joseph O.

Abanes (BSGE-3A)
SCHEDULE: TTH (2:30-4:00) Environmental Science and Engineering

ASSIGNMENT 1
Images of Environmental Problems in the Philippines
Label the pictures of their respective Environmental Problems:
(Students No. 1 to 10 = Pages 2 to 10)
1.

Soil Erosion/Typhoon

2.

Flood

3.
4.

Water Pollution

Flood

5.

6.
Land Pollution

7.
Land Pollution

Climate Change/Typhoon

8.

9.

Water Pollution

Land Pollution
10.

Land Pollution

11.

12.

Loss of Biodiversity

Deforestation/Forest Fire

Deforestation

13.
14.

Water Pollution

15.
 Overpopulation

16.

16.

Deforestation

Land Pollution

17.

18.

Deforestation/Typhoon
19.

Soil Erosion/Deforestation

20.

Pollution
21.

Deforestation

Flood
23.

22.

23.

Overfishing
24.

Water Pollution

Soil Erosion

25.

26.

Flood

Land Pollution

27.

28.

Air Pollution
29.

Climate Change/Typhoon

30.

Overfishing

31.

Deforestation

32.

Over Population
33.

Deforestation/Typhoon

34.

Land Pollution

35.

Water Scarcity/Drought

36.

Deforestation/Forest Fire
37.

Drought

38.

Climate Change/Typhoon

39.

Water Pollution

ABANES, Brandon Joseph O. (BSGE-3A) Schedule: TTH (2:30-4:00) ESE

 World population

In demographics, the World Population is the total number of humans currently living. It was estimated
by the United Nations to have exceeded eight billion in midNovember 2022. It took around
300,000 years of human prehistory and history for the human population to reach one billion and only
222 years more to reach 8 billion.

The total number of births globally is currently (2015–2020) 140 million/year, which is projected to
peak during the period 2040–2045 at 141 million/year and then decline slowly to 126 million/year by
2100. The total number of deaths is currently 57 million/year and is projected to grow steadily to 121
million/year by 2100.

Fertility rates play a fairly major role in determining how population will grow and have been dropping
to close to population replacement rates. Many factors are leading to these dropping rates.

Slightly more than half of the world's population lives in cities. These urban populations (people living
in cities) are expected to grow, adding 2.5 billion people by 2050. Rural populations are expected to
stay the same or even decline. This means that in the coming decades the number of people living in
cities will almost double, while the rural populations will remain roughly constant. This urbanization will
lead to a dramatic increase in metal use, like steel for construction, as well as increased levels of pollution,
increased cost and difficulty of providing public transportation, and destruction of wildlife habitat.
 Our growing population

In recent history the world population has gone from 2.5 billion people in 1950 to 8 billion people in 2023
and will continue to grow to 10, or possibly 11, billion people in the coming decades, but is unlikely to
grow further. The population is shifting to cities. The increased population will increase the demand for
energy, but the increasing average energy use per person in rapidly developing economies will have a
much bigger impact on future energy demand worldwide.

Pros and Cons of High Population Density

PROS CONS
Access to Resources Limited Resources
Cultural Diversity Increased Levels of Pollution
Economic Growth Social Problems
Increased Demand for Goods and Pressure on Natural Environment
Services
Cost Efficiency
Population density refers to the number of people who live in a given area. It is typically measured as
residents per square mile or kilometer.

High population density is increasingly common as urban areas become more concentrated. While
the world’s population grows and resources are depleted, living in densely populated regions is becoming
attractive for many people.
Brandon Joseph O. Abanes (BSGE-3A)
Schedule: TTH – 2:30-4:00
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
ASSIGNMENT SEMIFINAL PERIOD

DEFORESTATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Compare deforestation in the Philippines from the old figure below. Search for an updated data similar to
those figures on the following statistics below. Submit on Nov. 14, 2023, at GCLASS only. This is an
individual assignment.

1. Search for an updated Forest Cover by Land Classification between 2015 – 2022 compared to the old
figure below:

PHILIPPINES: Forest Cover by Land Classification, 2015

PHILIPPINES: Forest Cover by Land Classification

2007 2015
Total Forest Cover 6,521,548 ha 7,014,152 ha
Closed Forest 2,495,833 ha 2,028,015 ha
Open Forest 3,578,526 ha 4,682,764 ha
Mangrove Forest 165,425 ha 303,373 ha

Brandon Joseph O. Abanes (BSGE-3A)

Schedule: TTH – 2:30-4:00
Environmental Science and Engineering
 Forest resources: Severe Depletion

Deforestation – Major cause of severe depletion of forest resources.

• Forest is our most valuable asset on which we are dependent directly or indirectly. All the
materials we are using or consuming are extracted from the forests. Still, we underestimate its
existence and try to destroy it for our greed.
• According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the annual deforestation rate is around 1.3
million km2 per decade worldwide.
• Further, the top reasons for it are agriculture (80%), new constructions (15%), and urbanization
(5%).
• From these data, it’s evident that deforestation is the primary cause of instability in our
ecosystem, soil erosion, species extinction, loss of biodiversity, climate change, global warming,
and all the worse kinds of issues we are facing nowadays.

Deforestation - "slashing and burning."

Many industries that require the land or wood from the forests often cut down or burn the forests which
is known as Deforestation.

Effects of deforestation:
Deforestation brings about numerous consequences such as:

1. Soil degradation and erosion

2. Changes in climatic conditions
3. Greenhouse effect
4. Destruction of natural habitats
5. Destruction of a valuable sink for environmental pollutant

Causes of deforestation:
Various reasons lead to deforestation. Most of the time, deforestation occurs due to human interest in
satisfying different needs such as logging, timber production, mining, further development, etc. Some of
the major causes of deforestation are as follows:

1. Deforestation Due to Population Growth

More land is in demand for housing and other settlements with the increasing rate of population. It requires more
places to fulfill the needs of various accommodations such as food, housing, timber, households, etc. To achieve all
these needs, deforestation takes place.

2. Deforestation Due to Logging

It is one of the common reasons that cause deforestation. Wood industries such as paper, matchsticks, furniture,
etc., need a massive supply of wood.

Most of the time, logging takes place illegally to supply wood in a considerable amount to the woodbased industries.
Apart from this, wood is also a kind of fuel for cooking.

3. Deforestation Due to Agricultural Expansions

The conversion of forest land into agricultural farms is causing deforestation at an alarming rate. Huge lands are
required for farming activities, such as plowing, planting seeds, growing crops, etc.

Due to the increasing demand for food products worldwide, many forest lands are deforested to supply the
requirements.

4. Deforestation Due to Mining

Mining companies clear large areas of land in order to build mines and extract minerals. This process destroys forests
and disrupts ecosystems. The pollutants that spread through environmental mining cause hazardous effects to
nearby places. Deforestation due to mining is a major problem that needs to be addressed.

5. Deforestation Due to Timber Production

The production of timber is one of the primary reasons that cause deforestation. The demand for timber is
increasing day by day, which is directly connected to deforestation. The production of timber takes away trees that
are necessary for the environment. Timber production also contributes to climate change by releasing carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere. Forests are the only source to produce a tremendous amount of timber for different
uses. The demand for wood is increasing rapidly; simultaneously, the area of forest lands is shrinking gradually.

6. Deforestation Due to Forest Fire

In recent years, deforestation due to forest fire has become a major problem. Forest fire destroys vast areas of
forest land. It can destroy entire ecosystems, leaving behind nothing but barren land. Both natural and human
causes are responsible for forest fires. It not only destroys the vegetation of forest land but also hampers the
natural habitats of millions of wild animals.