Bio3 Lec 20 Biodiversity Issues

3/12/2009

STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity refers to the totality of life forms and the areas they occupy

Food

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

More than 90% of the calories consumed by people worldwide come from 80 plant species Fruits, nuts, mushrooms, honey, spices and other foods that human and wildlife consume originate from natural ecosystems.

Importance of Biodiversity

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

Medicines About 80% of the world’s population still use plants as their primary source of medicine.

Close to 30% of all pharmaceuticals on the market today were developed from plants and animals.

Fish comprises 10% of man’s protein intake worldwide and 50-60% of the protein intake of Filipinos. In 1989 the total world fishery catch reached an astounding 100 million metric tons (since then annual landings have dropped or at best remained the same)

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IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

Fuel, timber, fiber and other resources

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

Air and water purification

Most houses, furniture and even many clothes are made from natural products, including wood, oils, resins, waxes, gums and fibers. The cocoons of silk worms are the basis of the valuable, centuries-old Asian silk-making industry.

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

Climate modification

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

Forests purify our air and our water by taking in carbon dioxide, regulating water vapor, releasing oxygen, and cycling nutrients.

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

Drought, erosion and flood control

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

Social / cultural value Economic value

Biodiversity is directly linked with traditional, spiritual and cultural values of people.

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Philippine Philippine Biodiversity Biodiversity 105 species of AMPHIBIANS…

…82 species are FOUND ONLY in the Philippines

BIRDS

More than 254 species of Reptiles We have more than 576 species of birds …with 208 sp. endemic to the Philippines

Of the 179 species of land mammals, 111 species are found only in the Philippines

196 of these occur only in the Philippines.

Around 20,940 species of insects 69.8% are endemics

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INLAND WATERS

211 Lakes, 18 major rivers, 22 marshes, swamps and reservoir

estimated 15,000 species, 50% are endemics

70 – 80% Flowering plants Phil. wetlands 1616 species of aquatic plants 3675 species of fauna 193 Threatened species

Corals

Mangroves

462 coral species recorded* (an additional 30 species can be expected) At least 21 undescribed species recently found in the Calamianes Islands, Palawan

Around 60 mangrove plant species in the world

12 species are endemic to the Philippines & Indonesia 1 new species of Leptoseris in the Kalayaan Is.

34 mangroves species occur in the Philippines

* Highest in the world, followed by Eastern Papua New Guinea with 380 species; Ryukyu / Yaeyama Islands with 370 and Great Barrier Reef, Australia with 350

Fish about 4,000 species in the Indo-Pacific region

Philippine Total = 2,459 (Fish Base 2000) 2,241 marine species (2/3 coral reefassociated) 209 freshwater species

82 (possibly 98) species are Philippine Endemics 59 Threatened species

Molluscs 22,000 freshwater, land and marine species Nine species of Giant Clams worldwide

Seven occur in Philippine waters

photos by Evette Lee

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Composition and current characteristics of biodiversity in the Philippine Marine environment (source: DENR, 1997) Taxon

Economically Important

Number

Marine Fungi

Total number of wildlife species in the Philippines

Threatened

7

Sea Grasses Algae Corals1

16

3

1,062

531

60 47

381

Other Invertebrates

1,616

152

Fish2

1,831

672

18

18

Mammals3

Major Taxa

No. of Species

Endemic Species

Threatened Species

Amphibians Reptiles Birds Mammals

101+ 258+ 576+* 204+**

82+ 170+ 195+ 111+

(78%) (66%) (34%) (54%)

24 8 74 51

Total

1139+

558+ (50%)

157

18

Reptiles

20

20

20

Total*

4,951

1,396

145

+ Includes new species (38 sp. for amp, 35 sp. for reptiles) * Includes rediscovered species ** 22 species of dolphins, whales and dugong

1 Total

number of corals found in the Phil. now stands at 462 (Werner and Allen, 2000) number of fish now is estimated to be over 2,000 species. number of marine mammals in Philippine waters is now at 23. * Estimated number of species in the Philippine marine environment is over 5,000 2 Total

3 Total

COUNTRY

Philippines

Total species

Endemic Species

% Endemic

558

50%

1139

Land Area (km2)

300,780

Spain

435

25

6%

451,171

Brazil

3131

788

25%

8,511,965

Source: Heaney, 2002

Some Notable Flora and Fauna Species in Philippines Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) - world’s 2nd largest eagle King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) largest terrestrial venomous snake Reticulated python (Python reticulatus) - largest / longest snake Phil. Iron Wood, Magkuno (Xanthostemon cerdugonianus) - hardest wood

Some Notable Flora and Fauna Species in Philippines 2 Largest Bats in the world: Golden-crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus) & Large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus)

Some Notable Flora and Fauna Species in Philippines Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) – world’s largest fish Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris) – world’s largest ray Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) – world’s largest living reptile

Smallest primitive primates: Slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) & Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta)

Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) – largest of all sea turtles

Smallest Deer: Mouse deer (Tragulus napu)

Dwarf Pygmy Goby (Pandaka pymaea) smallest freshwater fish

Sinarapan / Bia / Tabios (Mistichthys luzonensis) smallest food fish

Largest flower: Rafflesia speciousa photo by Evette Lee

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The Origin of LifeAkinetes: cellular

Some Notable Flora and Fauna Species in Philippines Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) – world’s largest giant clam species

formation of Earth

LIFE: bluegreen algae

4,600 MYA

3,600 MYA

5,000 million years

Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) – smallest giant clam species Porcelain Clam (Hippopus porcellanus) – rarest giant clam species

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) – largest toothed cetacean

Jawless fish Agnathans

Dugong (Dugong dugon) – only herbivorous marine mammal in the Philippines

2,300 MYA

Spiders & insects

570 MYA 500

million years

Land Invertebrates, land plants, Amphibians bony fishes Gymnosperms First Reptiles

Radiation of First Mammals Dinosaurs, Archaeopteryx Mass first true extinction of First birds mammals Dinosaurs

500 million years

Killer whale (Orcinus orca) – largest dolphin species Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) – smallest of all baleen whales

Hard-bodied marine invertebrates

differentiation

500 MYA

400 370 350 MYA MYA MYA

Australopithecus afaransis

300 MYA

200 MYA Homo habilis first species of genus Homo

140 MYA

100 MYA Homo erectus closest to moden humans

65 MYA

5 million years Homo sapiens modern man

5 million years 4 MYA

2 MYA

1 MYA

30,000 years ago

Present configuration

Why is Philippine Biodiversity so rich?

Philippine Biogeography

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Amidst all of these, globally 816 species became extinct in the last 500 years 11,046 threatened species face a high risk of extinction 4,595 species are on the brink of moving into one of the threatened categories

Extent of Forest Cover Loss in the last 100 years

Less than 6% of the country’s original forest remains!

Source: Environmental Science for Social Change, 1999

Forest still covered 18 million hectares (180,000 km2) or 60% of the total land area but the forests were under pressure because of the great demand for tropical hardwood for export to the U.S. Between 1900 and 1920, Romblon Island was completely deforested; the Central Plains of Luzon were also cleared, while Northen Bukidnon and Cotabato were opened up.

Critically Endangered (CR) Mammals Birds Reptiles Amphibia Fishes Molluscs Other Inverts Sub-Total Plants TOTAL

7 12 3 7 16 1 1 47 44 91

Endangered (E)

Vulnerable (V)

14 13 4 6 2 0 6 45 29 74

TOTAL

32 43 1 11 11 2 10 110 143 253

53 68 8 24 29 3 17 202 216 418

Estimates place forest cover in 1900 at 21 million has. (210,000 km2) or 70% of the total land area.

Many areas were already heavily damaged by this time in the Central Cordilleras and Ilocos by local action, while the Spanish were responsible for the cutting of the much valued molave of the Central Visayas and the conversion of the marsh lands of Pangasinan and Culion which was reportedly already bald

The Americans introduced logging for export.

By 1950 estimates place forest cover at 15 million hectares (150,000 km2) or 50% of the total land area. Since 56% of the Philippines is classified as upland, the threshold in sustainable management was crossed in the 1945-50 period.

FAO, 1963 put forest cover at 12 million hectares (120,000 km2) or 40% of the total land area. The late 1960s is considered the start of a logging boom period. Logging concession areas increased from 4.5 million hectares to 11.6 million hectares.

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Forest covered 34% of the total land area or 10.2 million hectares (102,000 km2). From 1977 to 1980, deforestation reached an all time high- over 300,000 hectares a year. By the end of the 1970s, the following islands were either almost completely deforested or had less than 5% forest cover: Polillo, Burias, Palaui, Tablas, Batanes Islands, Lubang, Marinduque, Ticao, Guimaras, Masbate, Siquijor, Cebu, Bohol, Samal, Siargao, Tawi-Tawi, Jolo and Camiguin. The Philippine forest was rapidly disappearing.

The Swedish Space Corporation (SPOT) study of 1987 place forest cover at 6.9 million hectares (69,000 km2) or 23.7% of the total land area. There were 2.7 million (27,000 km2) hectares or 8.9% of the total land area of primary forest and this included mossy and pine forest.

(km2)

The Swedish Space Corporation (SPOT) study of 1987 place forest cover at 6.9 million hectares (69,000 km2) or 23.7% of the total land area. There were 2.7 million (27,000 km 2) hectares or 8.9% of the total land area of primary forest and this included mossy and pine forest.

300,000

Land area (300,000 km2) Spanish colonization (270,000 km2)

250,000 (400 years)

American colonization (210,000 km2)

200,000 (50 years)

Philippine Independence (150,000 km2)

150,000 100,000

(40 years)

50,000

Post EDSA Revolution (8,000 km2)

0 1400

1500

1900

1950

1990

YEAR

Extent of Original Forest Cover in the Philippines

Forest loss on Negros

Status of Philippine Mangroves 1918 The Philippines had an estimated 450,000 hectares of mangroves (Brown and Fisher, 1920) 1990 139,725 hectares (31.05%) 1993 138,000 hectares (30.67%) 1995 117,000 hectares (26%) 1997 only 112,400 hectares (24.97%) remain (Phil. Forestry Statistics, 1998) The loss is largely attributed to the conversion of mangroves to fishponds

1875

1949

1970

1987

1992

Other factors: reclamation for residential, commercial & industrial purposes and excessive harvesting of trees for fuel

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Coral Reefs of the World

Philippine Coral Reef Area


Covers an estimated area of 30,000 sq km (McManus,2002)


Roughly 5% of the world coral reef coverage

Throughout the world’s oceans, coral reefs cover an area approximately

617,000 square km (Smith, 1978) of the Earth - sounds a lot, but in fact this only represents about 1/6 of ONE percent of the marine environment.

Status of Philippine Coral Reefs Source: Aliño et al., 2002

Phil. Reefs 5% 25 % 38 % 32 %

Condition Excellent Good Fair Poor

based on

Live Coral Cover

Condition

76 – 100 %

Excellent

51 - 75 %

Good

26 - 50 %

Fair

0 - 25 %

Poor

What are the threats to Philippine biodiversity?

* the LOWEST in South East Asia!!!

DEFORESTATION

LOGGING

TIMBER POACHING

DEFORESTATION UPLAND AGRICULTURE

FOREST FIRE

ROAD DEVELOPMENT

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DEFORESTATION POLLUTION

MINING

ILLEGAL FISHING DESTRUCTIVE FISHING PRACTICES

UNSUSTAINABLE HUNTING and GATHERING OF WILDLIFE

Picture soure: Internet

ELECTRO-FISHING

DYNAMITE FISHING CYANIDE FISHING

ILLEGAL TRADE

SILTATION/SEDIMENTATION

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Introduced Species

“In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.” -Baba Dioum, a Senegalese conservationist

Maraming Salamat Po!


Wildlife – terrestrial





vertebrates Taxonomic basis Population Basic biology & ecology Biogeography


Conservation focus &

priority projects
Education and

information access
Standard methods and

techniques
Research gaps

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unstable systematic list of species
biochemical vs. morphological


Current population estimates


subspecies – less priority, island races


Locally extirpated, globally stable


lumpers vs. splitters


Validity of records, standard methods


newly described taxa, new records


Fragile Islands – limited capacity


phylogenetics & behavioral ecology


Incomplete records, undocumented


need for further taxonomic review


Distribution, range, remaining habitat
Known only from the type


Reproductive biology, feeding adaptations, behavioral

ecology, unique morphology
Captive vs. wild, in-situ & ex-situ
Genetics, physiology & histology
Species interactions, food web
Habitat preferences


Faunal regions
Disturbance & habitat gradients
Lowlands vs. Highlands
Island endemism & restricted range
Impact of introduced species


IUCN categories
Threatened & endemic species
Faunal inventory of important sites
Database management
Regional conservation activities
Habitat protection & restoration
Extensive field study, monitoring

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Biologists, para- & non-biologists
Local experts, collaborative work
Media exposure, internet access
References, field guides, manuals
Basics in primary/secondary curricula
B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., training seminars
Increased conservation concern


Standard field survey methods
Less intrusive means of data collection
Use of modern techniques& equipment
Bioacoustics, Telemetry, Camera traps
GIS documentation & mapping
Molecular biology protocols
Captive management studies

- Prescribing a Regulatory Framework for the


Many species still insufficiently known
Distribution, estimates, current status

Prospecting of Biological and Genetic Resources, their By-Products and Derivatives, for Scientific and Commercial Purposes, and for Other Purposes


Biomedical & biochemical studies

-approved by Pres. Fidel Ramos in May 1995


Species interactions, ecological links
Taxonomic review, local names
Auffenberg 1988, Gray’s monitor lizard 419 p.

-

The process to develop EO 247 was initiated by a group of scientists which had long recognized that the exploitation of Filipino biodiversity had rarely been of benefit for the country

The purpose of EO 247 is to:  regulate the research, collection and use of biological and genetic resources, so that such resources are conserved, used sustainably and benefit the national interest; and  p romote the development of local

capability in science and technology

-all bioprospecting activities are subject to research agreements with the government, containing terms for the provision of information and samples, technology cooperation and benefit-sharing. For the collection of biodiversity in areas where local and indigenous communities live, the prior informed consent (PIC) of such communities is required.

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EO 247 does not contain any

explicit requirement on the use of traditional knowledge related to genetic resources
However, the rights of indigenous

people over their knowledge systems and practices are explicitly recognised by IPRA, and by the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA, 1997) which requires benefits to be shared with communities that provide traditional knowledge.

-reviews and approves all research agreements entered into by any person.entity or corporation. -It allows prospecting of biological and genetic resources within areas of local communities, including ancestral lands and domains of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (IPs) only with the prior informed consent of such communities and in accordance with the customary traditions practices and mores of the concerned communities.

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION -Any act of bioprospecting without the required Research Agreement and/or PIC Certificate is subject to criminal prosecution as may be proper under existing laws, including NIPAS Law of 1992 (R.A. 7586) and the Revised Forestry Code (PD 705), as amended. - Noncompliance with the provisions stipulated in the Research Agreement shall result to the automatic cancellation/revocation of said agreement and confiscation of collected biological and genetic specimens in favor of the government, forfeiture of bond, and imposition of perpetual ban on prospecting of biological and genetic resources in the Philippines

1992 R.A. 7586

National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS)  1995 EO 247 Law on Bioprospecting 1998 R.A 8371 Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) 1999 R.A. 8749 Philippine Clean Air Act 2001 R.A. 9147 Wildlife Act 2004 Philippine Clean Water Act

Section 16, Article II of the Philippine Constitution, vests in the State the ultimate responsibility to preserve and protect the environment; the wildlife, flora and fauna, among others, are owned by the State and the disposition, development and utilization thereof are under its full control and supervision.

-Ratified in 1992 -is the classification and administration of all designated protected areas to: • maintain essential ecological processes and life

support systems •to preserve genetic diversity •to ensure sustainable use of resources •to maintain their natural condition to the greatest extent possible •it includes designation of buffer zones-established peripheral zone w/in the protected area that will protect the same from activities that directly or indirectly harm the prot. area.

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Biodiversity protection was first legislated in the Philippines with the passage of : 1916 Protection of Game and Fish ActAct - very limited in scope and severity of penalty 1932 R.A. 39153915 - first significant law that governed protected areas and provided the establishment of national parks

Integrated Protected Area Fund or IPAFIPAF - established for the purpose

of promoting the sustained financing of NIPAS

1981 Convention on International trade of Endangered Species (CITES)(CITES) - an international agreement focusing on biodiversity protection

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Batanes Landscape and Seascape Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park Turtle Island Wildlife Sanctuary Mt. Kanlaon National Park Apo Reef National Park Mt. Kitanglad Natural Park Mt. Apo Natural Park Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Mt. Pulog National Park Mt. Isarog National Park FB-Harison National Park Sibuyan Island Coron Island El Nido Marine Reserve Malampaya Sound Mt. Malindang National Park

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