Noses, Tweetie L.

MF 8:00-9:00

BSES 2
November 9, 2015

ENS 34

Saving Precious Remains

Coastal infrastructure development
Coastal zone development has been particularly damaging to the Philippines marine
environment, especially to coral reefs, mangroves, and sea grasses. As populations have
increased, so have their needs for construction materials and living space. Excavation, dredging,
and coastal conversion to accommodate coastal development have seen corals being extracted for
reclamation and construction, especially in coastal villages. Mangroves have particularly
suffered from coastal development, notably at the hands of the aquaculture industry. In the
Philippines, aquaculture has reduced mangrove stands to only 36% of 1900 levels.

Overfishing and destructive fishing

Fishers in the Philippines are increasingly coming home with pitiful catches. Of a number
of factors which have led to this situation, one stands out: over-fishing in many areas. According
to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), there has been a drop of 90% in the quantity of marine
organisms that can be trawled in some traditional fishing areas of the Philippines. This isnt just
a question of declining fish stocks and biodiversity, but also of social impacts and economic
losses. Mismanagement of fisheries resources is estimated to cost US$ 420 million annually in
lost revenues. At the root of the overfishing problem is weak fisheries management, ineffective
policies and poor enforcement of fishery laws.

Deforestation
After decades of deforestation, which has left about 3% of the original cover, forests
continue to be under threat from agriculture and urbanization, illegal logging and forest
fires. Sustained forest loss in the Philippines is causing severe soil erosion, and is threatening the
countrys rich biodiversity. This is particularly worrying as many of the Philippines species,
which depend on these forests, are endemic (they cannot be found anywhere else in the world).
For example, of 180 native terrestrial mammal species here, about 61% are endemic. Inconsistent

laws, inadequate regulations, weak enforcement and lack of funding are making forest
conservation a major challenge.

Pollution
Only about 10% of sewage in the Philippines is treated or disposed of in an
environmentally sound manner. The rest goes back to nature usually the sea. In this context of
poor waste treatment and high population growth, water pollution is a growing problem for the
countrys groundwater, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. Polluting industrial material is also found
in abandoned mining areas, with mercury pollution affecting water bodies in these areas. These
problems are unfolding in a context of poor planning, and weak management and enforcement of
regulations.

http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/philippines/environmental_problems__
in_philippines/