Fast Facts. Crop lands 5. They also contribute to ecological balance by stabilizing and minimizing sedimentation and siltation in coral reefs, while also facilitating the increase of land area by way of accumulated soil and debris. Unquestionably the Philippines’ most important tree, it has many uses: coconut milk to drink, meat to eat, wine to imbibe, heart of coconut for salad and lumpia (egg roll), coconut oil for tanning and cooking, and cocowood for building. Unfortunately, the natural environment is being destroyed at an alarming rate. Because of such a long process, coral reefs are very delicate ecosystems and are due extensive protective measures. Another key source of capital, forests support agriculture as well as timber and non-timber projects that total $100 […] It’s used for an incredible variety of purposes: houses, bridges, fences, furniture, fish traps, wall-matting, baskets, hats, flutes, and much more. These ecosystems are the natural habitat of fish species and other marine organisms, where feeding, breeding, and spawning happens at incredibly productive levels. This means that of the 92.3 million population in the Philippines in 2010, 41.9 million lived in areas classified as urban (Table A). The Basin is one of the most important and dynamic land and water formations in the Philippines. These can be either natural or artificial, such as areas adapted or reappropriated for agricultural use. They can also be a nursery for young fish, crustaceans, and other reef organisms. The Philippines has 54 species of bamboo, a fast-growing woody grass, throughout the islands. Freshwater ecosystems occur in in-land bodies of water and may either be flowing, standing, or man-made. Here in this country, topography varies to a great extent, ranging from coastal wetlands to upland region watersheds. Quezon City, Philippines: Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Inc. Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Forest Management Bureau (DENR-FMB). The land also produces a bounty of delicious fruits. Its tropical rainforest is the most species-rich ecosystem on earth. Download PDF to View View Larger. This type of ecosystem is commonly put in peril by the need for draining to serve the purposes of fisheries and agriculture. At sea level, bays and estuaries are fringed by dense mangrove. The Philippines has a serious population growth problem, but acceptance of this fact has been fairly recent. The Philippines’s widely varied geographic features – from isolated islands surrounded by water, to staggered mountain ranges, to the various inland waters within them – make the country conducive to the survival of many types of ecosystems. Marginal lands now comprise about 70% (over 11 million hectares) of declared forest area in the Philippines. Meanwhile, according to the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, “deforestation continues at an average of 100,000 hectares per year or 273 hectares per day.”. (Online. In the case of the Philippines, it is historically one of the primary economic drivers for the country. Substantial parts of the archipelago remain unexplored, both on land and under water. Mangroves are medium-size and highly tolerant flora that can survive in brackish water (water which is more saline than freshwater, but not as much as seawater). The draw of “greener pastures” in urban locales tend to result in over-population that strains limited resources, making these ecosystems increasingly impractical and hazardous to the health and well-being of its inhabitants. Primarily, seagrass supports biodiversity by functioning as a food source for grazing and detritus-feeding creatures. Until next time. 2011 Philippine Forestry Statistics. Another type of aquatic/marine ecosystem is the soft bottom ecosystem, which is an area where sediments have accumulated. Urban growth is predominantly in the city of Manila (Pernia, 1988). Worse yet, with majority of the attention for conservation efforts being concentrated on terrestrial, wetland, and coral reef ecosystems, these equally important and diversity-rich ecosystems tend to be overlooked. Change ), The Philippines and its species-rich ecosystem – Part I, The Philippines and its species-rich ecosystem – Part II. The study was implemented through a small Author(s): Meier, Richard L; et al.... Main Content Metrics Author & Article Info. Complexity defines the management of Baguio’s environmental and natural resources, mainly Freshwater bodies also can serve as transport routes. Above 1000 meters the trees change from tropical hardwoods to temperate species like the Benguet pine of northern Luzon. The molave group of hardwoods is also important. The urban ecosystem contains both individual and layered (nested) systems from three spheres: (a) the natural environment, (b) the built environment and (c) the socio-economic environment. That said, they are still rapidly expanding, often to the detriment of natural ecosystems. As such, seagrass also functions as a buffer against wave or storm-related damage to its immediate vicinity, protecting the life forms that make it their natural habitat. In order to develop policies and programs that advance sustainable development and the equitable allocation of resources, each system within the urban ecosystem needs to be recognised as a living entity that … Abstract. Region 9 in the Philippines is called Zamboanga Peninsula. Coral reefs also offer significant educational value for biological and ecological study. The Center of the Center of Marine Shorefish Biodiversity: The Philippine Islands. It is estimated that from having 70% forest cover at the start of the 1900s, only about 24% remain, based on 2001-03 satellite imagery, according to the DENR’s Forest Management Bureau. People draw benefits from mangrove systems as they serve as breeding and feeding grounds for local terrestrial and aquatic species, while also being “stop-over sites” for migratory species. Alibaba Cloud is piloting its new ecosystem strategy in the Philippines, as more and more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in … Other plants used for building and furniture include nipa palms, (important for roofing); rattan (for furniture); mahogany (for building and carving) and bamboo (for housing and furniture). In addition, seagrass is able to recycle nutrients from sediments back to the open sea, while also functioning to stabilize sediments, ensuring the integrity of the seabed. ( Log Out /  Forests support human livelihood, although proper management and conscious conservation efforts are emphatically required in this sense. Examines interactions between urban ecosystems and associated suburban and rural environments; Multidisciplinary - touches on many fields; Urban Ecosystems is an international journal devoted to scientific investigations of urban environments and the relationships between socioeconomic and ecological structures and processes in urban environments. Energizing Urban Ecosystems in the Phillipines: Manila. Primarily, forests serve as the country’s most important source of water, thus allowing all other forms of natural resources to flourish and become productive. It is said that no other archipelago has as rich a variety of orchids and other plants as the Philippines. These flowering plants enhance the beauty of rural Philippines. Freshwater ecosystems serve many practical benefits to people, including being a cheap and convenient source of water for domestic and industrial use, a natural waste disposal system, and a reservoir for the natural water cycle. Environmental Biology of Fishes (2005) 72: 467-480. Marginal ecosystems are those that are located between two ecosystems. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Filipinos also use many different herbs for medicinal and culinary purposes. FLORA The Philippine offers nature lovers tremendous biodiversity. This is the first article in a two-part series on the Kaliwa Dam project. The dipterocarp hardwoods, known collectively as Philippine mahogany, predominate here. It can be said that agricultural ecosystems are both threatened and serve as a threat to other ecosystems as well, despite their unquestionable socio-economic importance. These types of ecosystems occur in shallow water environments. Fresh water 3. Quezon City, Philippines: Forest Economics Division. Another important issue that needs to be addressed in matters regarding agriculture is the debate involving high value hybrid crops and genetically modified organisms that was sparked by the so-called Green Revolution of the 1960s. As of 2006, only 5% of Philippine coral reefs are in excellent condition, while 32% are already severely damaged (Haribon, 2006). As population continues to increase, these natural ecosystems continue to be destroyed by manmade activities. Forest 2. Philippine ecosystems lecture notes 1. Mountains and lowlands that are not farmed often have a thick covering of cogon – a tough grass with razor sharp edges. Substantial parts of the archipelago remain unexplored, both on land and under water. Coral reefs are comprised of massive deposits of calcium carbonate that take centuries to produce and develop. ( Log Out /  Enter a valid email address, Indigenous Peoples and Community-Conserved Areas, DENR-Coastal Resource Management Project & USAID - Mangrove Management Handbook (2000), Study: Urbanization Process and the Changing Agricultural Landscape Pattern in the Urban Fringe of Metro Manila, Philippines (2007), ADB - Comprehensive Action Plans of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion: A Priority Seascape of the Coral Triangle Initiative (2011), World Bank - Growing Aquaculture in Sustainable Ecosystems (2013), ReefBase.org - Seagrass Ecosystem of the Philippines: Status, Problems and Management Directions, http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10641-004-3154-4#page-1, Life All Around: The Distribution of Biodiversity, The Biogeographic Regions of the Philippines, The Philippine Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), Hub of Life: Species Diversity in the Philippines, Philippine Species: A Unique and Distinct Multitude, The Watershed Perspective in Forest Resource Conservation. 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