 | Basic Concepts in Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources Management: An Information Kit (IIRR, 1993, 151 p.) |
 |  | Ecological basics |
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Ecosystem degradation
Wheel of interacting forces affecting
any ecosystem
The above is an illustration of the different factors involved in ecosystems degradation. The biggest responsibility involves the policy planners and implementors at the national, regional, provincial and municipal levels. The community (townsfolks, students, public officials, media and private entities) should play an important roles in the local use of the resources within each ecosystem. The role each one should play could be policing, reporting, organizing and taking hands-on-action to abate further loss of a tree, orchid, medicinal plants, bird and other animal species in an ecosystem. All of these are part of our national heritage. The conservation of which can be as joyful as the successful captive breeding of the Philippine Eagle or as sad as the plight of the Tamaraw. Much of the future of Philippine ecosystems depends on how we develop the social system which affects the ecological system.
If left alone and not irreversibly damaged, an ecosystem has the capacity to regenerate itself.
Impact of human activities on different ecosystems
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Ecosystem |
Activities |
Problems-Issues |
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1. Forest Ecosystem 6.7 million ha |
Clear-cut logging |
Continuous loss of forest cover |
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Mining |
Rate of extraction at 100,000 ha/yr |
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Slash-and-burn activities |
Loss of soil nutrient |
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Forest slopes soil exposed to onslaught of varying climatic conditions |
Forest harvesting of wood/non wood products |
Loss of soil fertility |
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Varied activities of forest dwellers |
Loss of plant/animal resources |
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2. Grassland Ecosystem 10.6 million ha |
Forest tires |
Grassland areas further degrades |
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Kaingin practices |
Soil erosion rate (an average |
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Harvesting of non-timber products |
of 73 ha per year) |
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Mining activities |
Increased surface run-off |
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Herbivore production |
Loss of plant/animal resources |
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Human activities aggravating conditions of watershed areas |
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3. Freshwater Ecosystem 0.90 million ha |
Mining |
Loss of critical watersheds (19 out of 58) |
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Operations of mini-hydro power plants |
Erosion |
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Establishment of swimming resorts using natural springs |
Increased silt-load |
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sedimentation of freshwater |
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Ecotourism activities |
bodies and adjoining zones |
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Domestic agro-residential industrial sites of water |
Affects water quality |
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Aquaculture |
Affects yield regulation service for diminishing water agro-industrial-domestic uses; power generation capability |
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Navigation |
Loss of ecotourism value |
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Open fisheries |
Encroachement of exotic species |
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Drainage and conversion to agriculture |
Loss of native plants/animals |
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Eutrophication of lakes |
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Biologically dead rivers; drainage channels |
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High level of organic and other polluants |
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4. Rural-urban Ecosystems11.8 million ha |
Rural-urban community activities |
Affecting life support system |
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Domestic; agro-industrial production |
Drought/floods/brown-outs |
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Recreation/leisure |
Lack of quality water |
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Transportation |
No water |
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Navigation traffic |
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Loss of lives, properties and industries |
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Decreased agricultural and industrial production |
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5. Mangrove Ecosystems |
Mangrove harvesting |
Affect mangrove productivity |
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Remnant 310,375 ha |
Trading/commerce |
Decreasing yield of fishery resources, |
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Land conversion for human settlement areas |
Loss of habitat |
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Loss of nutrients |
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Conversion of mangrove areas into impoundments for fishy shrimp 210,456 ha |
Loss of biodiversity |
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Conversion of 100,000 ha mangrove swamps into salt beds industrial and agricultural area for coconut and rice production |
Erosion/sedimentation |
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6. Coral Reef Ecosystems Remnant 2,245 kms |
Open fisheries |
Affect coral reef productivity |
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Dynamite fishing |
Depletion of economically important fishing grounds |
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Coral reef harvesting |
Pollution |
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Muro-ami activities |
Loss of biodiversity |
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Scuba diving |
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Sea-ranching |
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