7 LAWS OF NATURE

1. Nature knows best.

Mandaue City Wetlands

SHS

2. All life forms are important.

105 species of AMPHIBIANS 82 species are FOUND ONLY in the Philippines

More than 254 species of Reptiles

with 208 species endemic to the Philippines

BIRDS

A total of 576 species of birds

196 of these occur only in the Philippines

111

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

Heaney and Regalado

Around 20,940 species of insects

69.8% are endemics

estimated 15,000 species, 50% are endemics

70 80% Flowering plants

193 Threatened species

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

PHILIPPINE WETLANDS
1616 species of aquatic plants 3675 species of fauna

MANGROVES
Around 60 mangrove plant species in the world 54 mangroves and related species occur in the Philippines
Heaney and Regalado

Corals
462 coral species recorded (Werner and Allen, 2000) Highest in the world !!!

Eastern Papua New Guinea with 380 species; Ryukyu / Yaeyama Islands with 370 Great Barrier Australia with 350 Reef,

FISH
Philippine Total = 2,459/4,000 species in the IndoPacific region
(Fish Base 2000)

2,241 marine species (2/3 coral reef-associated) 209 freshwater species

82 (possibly 98) species are Philippine Endemics

Molluscs
22,000 freshwater, land and marine species Nine species Seven occur in of Philippine waters Giant Clams worldwide

photos by Evette Lee

3. Everything is connected to everything else.

Water security is food security

4. Everything changes.
Water cycle is very crucial. Balance of the elements in the cycle can affect all life on earth.

5. Everything must go somewhere.

PRECIPITATION

SURFACE RUNOFF TOPSOIL SOIL NUTRIENTS POLLUTANTS CHEMICAL HOUSEHOLD WASTES WASTES PERCOLATIO N

SURFACE RUNOFF FROM THE MOUNTAIN PEAK

6. Ours is finite earth.

Umapad.mpg

Umapad.mpg

7. Nature is beautiful. We are stewards of Gods creation.

LIVING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

Assessing our way of life

Evolution of the Landscape:
Primitive/Raw Nature (pristine, untouched by man) Early Settlements lived in harmony with natural forces Industrialization : Mass production
Too much extraction of natural resources Too much garbage/pollution generated

Rehabilitation, restoration and conservation

The pristine forest

When the first foreigners arrived in the Philippines from adjacent Asia many thousands of years ago, they found an archipelago that was remarkably rich in biodiversity & natural resources.

The lowland was blanketed almost entirely by rain forest that provided them with meat from wildlife, building materials, and seemingly everlasting supplies of clear, cool water.

The lost forest

Those natural resources have been squandered, so badly damaged by over-use, greed & mismanagement - many endemic species are now threatened - that biodiversity loss seems to be a real possibility & recovery is uncertain

The Philippines is also one of the most endangered areas. Historically logged for timber products, today, the forests are also being cleared for farming needs & for developments to accommodate the nations growing population.

Precious coral reefs

Thousands of years ago, our Philippine seas were inhabited by the Earth's most diverse marine communities, providing an abundant source of food throughout the year. Coral reefs are precious resource in the ocean because of their beauty & biodiversity. Coral reefs are habitat to thousands of fish species & other marine lifes.

Coral reefs are valuable source of organisms for potential medicines, they create sand for beaches & serve as a buffer for shorelines.

Destruction of coral reefs

Coral reefs are extremely sensitive to changes in light, temperature (coral bleaching), pollution & excess sediment from development & erosion, particularly the destruction of mangrove forests that naturally absorb sediment & nutrients that can suffocate coral reefs with silt & algae blooms.

Human activity is one of the greatest threats to coral reefs . Activities such as over fishing, damaging fishing methods, shell gleaning, collection of ornamental fishes & coral mining, threaten reef health & therefore jeopardize the benefits flowing from these services & goods.

Destruction of coral reefs

It is reported that some fish species are already disappearing because of stressed coral reefs. The coastal biodiversity is disappearing and it would be difficult or it would take a longer time to restore them

If we let our coral reefs disappear, we let a valuable food & economic resource disappear, too.
The government has established Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), areas in the coastal environment set aside by law to conserve & protect the enclosed environment. Fishing & other forms of human access & activities are restricted to protect the areas ecosystem & natural resources

GTZ, thru its EnRD project with DA, supports the establishment & management of MPAs in partner municipalities at the local & barangay levels

Mangrove Forest
As breeding & nursery grounds for many fish species, mangrove areas are sources of wild fry & juvenile fish for the aquaculture/ mariculture industry. In addition, mangrove seeds & propagules can be harvested & sold to reforest denuded areas.
Economic Value of Mangroves In the Philippines, it is estimated that the value of a complete mangrove ecosystem ranges from US$500 to US$1,550 per hectare per year or at US$600/ha/yr or US$60,000/sq. km/yr. The total gain to the Philippines for protecting its remaining mangrove ecosystem is substantial. Using the conservative estimate of value from direct benefits of only US$600/ha/yr, the Philippines gains at least US$83 million/year in fish production and potential sustainable wood harvest from the existing 138,000 ha.

Our fresh & pristine waters

Jose Rizal once spoke of clean, beautiful & wide rivers such as Pasig, Ilaya & Pansol.

May last year, former Secretary Lito Atienza said "History tells us that rivers have played an important role in the country's economic growth.

Our polluted rivers, our dirty waters

However the Secretary further said, "Yet, we have disregarded this

importance and continue to dirty our rivers and lakes by turning them into giant septic tanks and trash bins.

50 rivers in the country have been destroyed because people are using them to dump their rubbish, leaving some ecologically dead

of the country's 421 major rivers & 20 large river basins, 50 are highly degraded, few are ecologically dead because of man's abuse & neglect".

Our polluted rivers, our dirty waters

The government has been relocating thousands of squatters from its banks, but those who remain continue to throw their domestic waste into the river. 53% of the pollution in Philippine rivers is due to domestic waste. this further affected our drinking waters, eventually our lakes and seas .

Our fresh atmosphere, our beautiful land

the sea breeze the fresh mountain air the light breeze in the lowlands

Our polluted surroundings

Yet, we allow the atmosphere to stink

by slash & burn by spontaneous combustion from open dumps by

Climate change flooding, droughts, disasters

the consequences of misuse of resources & improper management of the environment

In terms of large events & daily life, he translated the 3 mortal sins into:
Wastefulness Creating too much trash Failure to recycle Environmental pollution and dumping of trash (as the

plastic gyre in the Pacific) Weather manipulation, especially that which could increase chemicals in the atmosphere Space trash - debris dumped by space vehicles and space stations into the atmosphere (as in adding particulates to the atmosphere, even if they burn up on re-entry) Leading animals & plants to extinction

Introduction: Why mortal sins of waste

The Reverend John Wauck from Rome's Pontifical University of the Holy Cross told CNN,

In different times, in moments of history, cultural moments, technological moments, sins dress themselves up, so to speak, in a different way. The underlying sin tends to be the same -- a variation of a theme of selfishness or lack of respect for others.
Technology is a blessing but it can also be a danger Pollution is a variation of the original mortal sin of gluttony or selfishness Protecting the environment comes from the Bible's book of Genesis, as God created the world & placed man in it to thrive & not destroy, but to respect & to cherish

Rationale:
To reflect
years

on the various reckless development undertaken over the past on our irresponsible management of natural resources & the
wrong actions man has committed towards the Earth

on the over utilization & exploitation of resources as a result of

greed & selfishness

on the adverse consequences of mans failure to respect the

laws of nature as well as the man-made laws crafted by man himself to protect the environment including his self

Our polluted seas & beaches

nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat nang basura?

Can we afford to loose our environmental heritage? Can we afford to let wastes ruin the beauty & bounty of our Philippine waters?

Solid waste altering the environment

- the indiscriminate disposal of un-segregated household & hazardous waste contributes to the burgeoning problem of wastes thrown into unprotected areas - it alters a beautiful landscape
into a foul & filthy mountain of garbage, where spontaneous combustion occurs almost everyday

Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) prohibits the operation of open dumpsites. The newly developed sanitary landfill of San Carlos City provides a barrier between the disposed wastes & land/groundwater thereby protecting the air, water & land from any hazard & pollution posed by the deposited household wastes.

Solid waste altering the environment

- a garbage dump, a piece of land were waste is indiscriminately dumped w/out consideration of the hazards from wastes that can contaminate land, water & air & pose significant negative impacts to the environment, public health & safety

-a SLF, an engineered waste disposal site designed & constructed to ensure minimal negative impacts to environment, health & safety

a dumpsite

vs

a sanitary landfill

Solid waste altering the environment

- a SLF is provided w/ leachate collection system & wastewater treatment so to prevent pollution of surface & groundwater - A SLF includes the provision of management & operation plan & trained employees to undertake systematic dumping, cover & compaction

a dumpsite

vs

a sanitary landfill

Hazardous waste altering the environment

untreated waste discharges from industries

Hazardous waste altering the environment

indiscriminate disposal into sewers and land of hazardous wastes from households & industries

Hazardous waste altering the environment

pollution at the Cebu harbor from ships Oil spill affecting the coastal areas of Guimaras Island province

Diesel oil slick

Opportunities & call for actions in solid waste management

RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste

Management Act of 2000

Call for action from all sectors, at all levels . Everyone has a responsibility Proper closure & rehabilitation of old open dumps Segregation into biodegradable & nonbiodegradable Biodegradable for proper composting Non-biodegradable for further recycling, reuse & other residual waste management options, i.e., plastics for AFR Ultimate waste disposal in sanitary landfills only; Properly designed, constructed & operated SLF with protective barriers Leachate treatment Proper & regular monitoring for early detection & correction

Opportunities & call for actions in Environmental Education

RA 9512 or the Environmental Awareness & Education Act of 2008 was ratified by Philippine Congress on October 8, 2008

It was signed into law by Pres. GMA on December 12, 2008

to promote environmental awareness through environmental education and for other purposes Integration of environmental education in school curricula at all levels cover both theoretical & practicum modules comprising of activities , projects & programs in order to aid the implementation of the different environmental protection laws

Opportunities & call for actions in Environmental Education

RA 9512 or the Environmental Awareness

& Education Act of 2008

- calls for the celebration of the environmental education & awareness - the month of November of every year shall be known as the Environmental Awareness Month

Opportunities & call for actions for mitigation & adaptation to climate changes
RA 9729 or the Philippine Climate Change

Act of 2009

- Ratified by the Philippine Congress on September 2, 2009 - Signed into law October 23, 2009 - calls for: mainstreaming of climate change into government policy formulations establishment of framework strategy & program on climate change

RA 9729 or the Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009 calls for the holistic preparation of a Climate Change Action Plan from all sectors

energy
agriculture

forestry

industry

waste

Promoting Peace through Environmental Sustainability

Economics of Conservation, Protection and Restoration

Stewardship (Managers not Owners) Permaculture Mind and Heart Care for the future Intergenerational responsibility

 Ecological Stewardship
Care for the Earth/ Environment/Web of Life Everything that sustains life Work for the conservation of ecological balance Proper utilization and sincere enjoyment of Gods creation

As co-creators, partners in His creative ability, we develop and harness the natural resources

 Take charge; active participation in the preservation of life; i.e. Quality and beauty of life (architecture, music and arts) Subdue creation with authority and accountability ( as a steward) Creation reflects the character of God (Perfect, complete and balanced; beautiful)
Harnessing the natural forces to serve mans needs

Care for each other: community health, social justice, general welfare and balanced ecology
Sharing (wealth, talent and time) and living in harmony; enjoyment of life Support each other in genuine fellowship Social Equity: equitable distribution of resources; equal access Rule-out conspicuous and ostentatious display of wealth in the midst of poverty

LGUs, NGAs & Civil Society / Private Sector

Environmental Management

Church and Schools as Model

Monitoring of Performance for Sustainability

GAINING MORE PARTNERS FOR ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Intergenerational Responsibility and Stewardship

We borrow this environment from future generations

Ecological Evangelization: Faith in Action

Responsible Stewardship of everything that sustains life.

God has entrusted creation to man. We are stewards of Gods creation.