Philippines: A heavenly and hellish cradle of biodiversity?

A paradise of beauty and splendour, unique and unmatched, a haven of life’s variety, and a cradle of unique existence, the Philippines takes pride for its bounty: the rich diversity of life it has been nurturing since ancient times.

However, in the midst of the unparalleled beauty and richness of Philippine biodiversity, like any other country and/or locality, the loss of biodiversity is evident and is in great extent. This jewel – the Filipinos’ heritage of wealthy natural resource – is under threat, in deep crisis. Like the world’s economy (which is obviously largely based on US’ economy), the Philippines’ ‘natural stocks’ are dwindling down, down, down… And like the world’s economy, it badly needs our attention, our efforts, and our help.

Now why do I ramble about all these rather abstracted and near-shit craps I call biodiversity crisis? There’s just one simple logical reason behind all these: we are all connected.

Let me give you a clear view on our connectivity. Picture the bees: minute organisms equipped with wings for flying, buzzing here and there, hopping from one flower in the other, facilitating pollination – a very simple ecological process but are of great importance since it ensures the proliferation of much of the land vegetation. Now when these bees become extinct (i.e. not a single organism buzzes), the plants that are dependent on them will eventually become extinct having lost one of the foremost driver for their life and reproduction; subsequently, lifeforms dependent on plants will become extinct until all life on Earth will be virtually lost including us, humans.

As you can see, the magnitude of negative effects due to the loss of even the bees can be very great, drastic, and, well, ominous. Sadly, this scenario is not far from happening in the Philippine setting. Yes, we are most likely to experience this ‘plague’. Hence, we should really do something about it. NOW!

Philippine Biodiversity

The archipelagic nature of the Philippines, the long isolation of its 7, 100 plus islands, the complex geological history and the local and regional climate patterns have greatly contributed to the countries’ high level of biodiversity and endemism.

It is with this fact that the Philippines is considered as one of the 17 megadiversity countries. It has several centres of diversity and endemism such as Sibuyan Island, whose number of endemic species is unmatched by any other country in Europe. In fact, Philippine biological diversity was described by Dr. Heaney and Dr. Regalado as ‘Galapagos times ten’.

The Philippine flora and fauna is very exceptional, having up to 13, 000 and 1,130 described species, respectively; more than half of those floral and faunal species are endemic in the Philippines and is thus found nowhere else on earth.

Our marine water is the center of center of marine biodiversity. It houses 468 (and counting) of the 800 described corals species, more 2,000 and 40 species of mangroves, respectively, and 13 species of the 23 seagrass species found around the world.

Amidst all these, the Philippines’ environment and natural resources have been degrading in an alarming rate since the 20^th century. Ninety seven (97%) of the original forest was already lost although many wildlife species (both flora and fauna) are still being discovered recently, mangrove and seagrass beds reduced to only 24% of their original cover. Meanwhile, only 5% of the coral reef community is in excellent condition.

The biodiversity crisis the country is experiencing now is brought about by many factors: by extractive industries (i.e. logging and mining), conversion of rainforests into agricultural lands and mangrove forests are converted into aquaculture ponds. Population growth and the need to pace up with economic development have further put pressure on our environment, where more often than not, human and the economy are being chosen over the protection and conservation of biological diversity and the environment in general.

The Philippines is one of the two countries (the other one is Madagascar) to be both a megadiversity country and a biodiversity hotspot. The rate of biodiversity loss in the country is so alarming that certain two reports have been made that the damage in Philippine biodiversity is irreparable, and it is also feared that local unidentified and endemic species are being lost undocumented.

Importance of biodiversity

Our environment, through biological diversity, has long been offering man with low-cost but effective goods and services that cannot be contested nor substituted by any machine we can invent. For centuries, it has been a constantly providing us food, wood and fiber, fuel, medicine, fresh water; have regulated our climate, floods, diseases, and purified our air and waters; and lastly, with its beauty, it has provided inspiration and pleasure since the time of our forefathers.

Thus, I believe I need not iterate the importance of concerted efforts for ecological sustainability, for environmental conservation and protection. I believe I need not tally anymore what we can do for the said cause; I just know we all have had more than enough of it. I trust every one’s better judgment, of a well-informed choice and action.

This is a CHALLENGE. I am challenging all the people on Earth. I am challenging YOU.