Credits of the presentation are to the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This presentation was included in the event kit of Green Bloggers Forum, held 7 June 2016 at the Cocoon Boutique Hotel, QC, Philippines. The DENR authorized all bloggers and participants to promote the information and materials during the event.

1. Philippine
Biodiversity:
Issues,
Challenges,
and Initiatives

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

6. BIO = LIFE
DIVERSITY = VARIETY

7. Biodiversity – what is it?
• 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.

8. LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY

-The genes are
responsible for the
uniqueness of every
living organism

9. -usually measured in terms of
the total number of species
found in a particular area
LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
Waling Waling
Nepenthes argentii
Cebu Flowerpecker
worldbirdwatching.wordpress.com
Kalantas
www.stuartxchange.com

10. LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY

-self sustaining collection
of organisms and habitat

11. Biodiversity – The Web of Life
• Birds pick up seeds and drop them
on a rich soil enriched by ants,
microorganisms, etc.
• The seeds grows 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.

12. What benefits do we
get from biodiversity?

13. 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.

14. Forests generate oxygen
that we breathe.
Forests and mountains
provide aquifers - sources
of water we drink.
Biodiversity provides
air and water

15. Biodiversity provides
materials for clothing and shelter
•Fiber
•Timber
•Bamboo
•Cogon
•Anahaw
•Rattan

16. 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.)

17. 19
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

18. Biodiversity brings
income to millions
•Around 80 % of
ASEAN’s rural
poor’s income is
derived from
biodiversity.

19. • 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
Biodiversity soothes

20. What services do we get
from our ecosystems?

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

22. Maintains plant, animal,
and microbial biodiversity
Sequesters Carbon
Stores surface water and
reduces flood damage
Provides fish and breeding
grounds and nurseries
Provides timber and other
vegetation for human use
Provides wildlife habitat
Provides outdoor recreation,
education, and ecotourism
Filters and recycles N and P released
by human activity into water
Recharges
underground aquifers
Wetlands and Mangroves

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

24. Marine Ecosystems
Provides fish and breeding
grounds and nurseries
Provides outdoor recreation,
education, and ecotourism
Provides fish and other
marine fauna habitatSequesters Carbon
Maintains marine plant, animal,
and microbial biodiversity
Filters and recycles N and P released by
human activity into water

25. Ecosystem Services in Southeast Asia valued
at over US$2.2 billion (ASEAN TEEB 2012)

26. Biodiversity is Life. Biodiversity is our Life.
Biodiversity soothes
Biodiversity cures us
We get our food and water
from biodiversity
Biodiversity clothes us Biodiversity gives us shelter
Biodiversity provides us livelihood

27. How rich is our biodiversity?

28. PHILIPPINES
Nature’s Superpower!
Facts and Figures

29. Facts and Figures
Mt. Makiling contains more tree species than the whole
continental United States, which land area is 32 times bigger than the
Philippines.

30. Facts and Figures
The Philippines is SECOND in the world in terms of butterfly species
endemicity. Of its 895 species, 352 are endemic.

31. Facts and Figures
FIFTH in the world in mammalian endemicity. Of its 183
species, 120 or 66% are endemic.

32. Facts and Figures
EIGHTH in the world in reptilian species endemicity. Of its 258
species, 170 or 66% are endemic.

33. Facts and Figures
Polillo forest frog
There are 171 species
of amphibians in the
Philippines, 78% of
these are
endemics.

34. Facts and Figures
Philippine Eagle,
the world’s largest eagle.

35. Facts and Figures
There 54 species of mangroves in the world and 40 species of
these are found in the Philippines.

36. Facts and Figures
500 of the 800+ known coral speciesin the world is
found in our country.

37. Philippine Biodiversity
The Philippines is one of the 18 megadiverse countries.
Has more than 52, 177 described species, half of which
are endemic found nowhere else in the world.

38. We are in
great danger!

39. 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
megadiversity country and the hottest of the hotspots.

40. Mangrove forests
149,000 hectares remain from the original 450,000 hectares in 1918.
Depletion of the Philippine biodiversity

41. Depletion of the Philippine biodiversity
Wetlands
- more than half of the country’s wetlands of international importance
covering 14,000 sq. km. are threatened.
Forest
- In 1935, there were 17 million hectares of forests. Today, there are
only six million hectares .

42. THREATS TO
BIODIVERSITY
Overview of
biodiversity
loss in the
Philippines.

43. Climate Change
Climate change is likely to become the dominant direct driver
of biodiversity loss by the end of the century.
(MA, 2005)

44. Climate Change
•In Asia, the IPCC report predicts that up to 50 percent of biodiversity is
at risk.
•As much as 88 percent of coral reefs may be lost in the next 30 years as
a result of climate change.

45. 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).
Climate Change

46. Climate Change
The ASEAN region is especially vulnerable to climate change
since a huge proportion of its population lives along
coastlines (ADB, 2009).

47. Deforestation
• 3 million hectares of peatland burned over
the past decade in Southeast Asia.
• $9 billion in economic loss caused by forest
fires in Indonesia, including health damage
from smoke.
• 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)
• 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).

48. Deforestation
• 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)
• 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).
• If this continues, the region will lose up to
3/4 of its forests, and up to 42% of its
biodiversity by 2100.

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

50. 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 enter 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)

51. 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

52. People have impacts on nature
Nature provides services for people

53. Humans: Both Problem and Solution
to Biodiversity Loss
As a problem, irresponsible human practices
contribute to biodiversity loss
As a solution, humans have the knowledge, expertise and
financial resources to conserve biodiversity

54. What can youths
and schools do
to conserve
biodiversity?

55. 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:
• Conserve water and electricity
• Recycle / re-use clothes, paper, cans, glass and plastic
bottles
• Adopt simple lifestyles – consume less; produce less
garbage
• Dispose wastes properly
• Eat together

56. What can schools do to conserve biodiversity?
• Educate yourselves on which species of seafood are under
threat and avoid buying them
• Buy products with less packaging; avoid use of plastic bags (or
re-use them)
• Grow our own fruits and vegetables; eat less meat as meat
production requires more inputs and energy
• When buying, choose appliances with high-energy efficiency
ratings / use fluorescent lamps

57. What can schools do to conserve biodiversity?
• Use social networking tools such as FB, etc. to promote
biodiversity conservation
• Walk, bike, carpool
• Write about biodiversity conservation in school paper
• Report environmental crimes to DENR/city government
• Conduct / join environmental contests
• Volunteer – Bantay Kalikasan
• Write to government officials
• Plant trees

58. Why plant trees?
A single mature tree can release enough
oxygen back into the atmosphere to
support 2 human beings.
A single mature tree can absorb 4.5 kg (10
lbs) of air pollutants, including 1.8 kg (4
lbs) of ozone and 1.4 kg (3 lbs) of
particulates.
Trees store carbon and help slow human-
caused climate change.
Tree canopies and leaf litter protect the
soil surface from the erosive power or rain.

59. Why plant trees?
Trees purify our air and water.
Trees provide food, timber and medicine.
Forests provide outdoor recreation,
education and eco-tourism.
Over a 50-year lifetime, a tree generates
$31,250 worth of oxygen, provides
$62,000 worth of air pollution control,
recycles $37,500 worth of water, and
controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion.

60. Join the
GREEN
WAVE!

61. www.greenwave.cbd.int
The Green Wave is a global
biodiversity campaign to
educate children and youth
about biodiversity.
Each year, the Green Wave
will contribute to worldwide
celebrations of
the International Day for
Biological Diversity – 22 May.

62. www.greenwave.cbd.int
On 22 May, students around the world count down to 10:00 AM
local time, when they will water their tree in their respective
schoolyards, thereby creating a figurative “green wave” starting in
the far east and traveling west around the world.

63. www.greenwave.cbd.int
Students plant locally important
tree species in or near their
schoolyard. Ideally, the tree
species should be indigenous.
Where possible, the trees
should be planted on 22 May –
the INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR
BIODIVERSITY.
You may plant in another month
but still hold a special ceremony
on 22 May.

64. www.greenwave.cbd.int
Throughout the day,
students can upload
photos and text
summaries on the
Green Wave website to
share their tree-
planting story with
other children and
youth from around the
world.

65. www.greenwave.cbd.int