Made up of more than 7,100 islands, the Philippines is the third-largest English-speaking country

in the world. The island nation lies in the South China Sea and serves as the crossroads of the
Orient. This country is well known for its popular tourism spots and its varied culture stemming
from occupation of several different nations over the centuries. But it is also a land of rich natural
resources that help sustain the nation and make it an important economy in the region.

The Ocean
Being surrounded by the ocean, it is no surprise that the Philippines relies on the waters as an
important natural resource. There are more than 640,000 square miles of territorial waters in the
Philippines and within these waters, there is an abundance of marine life and materials that are
valuable to the nation's people and those across the world. At least 65 species of the 2,400
available species in Filipino waters have solid commercial value, and the crabs, seaweed, pearls
and other ocean treasures make the sea among the top resources for this archipelago.

Minerals
The Philippines is not a petroleum-rich country, but the land is still full of many valuable
minerals. There are an estimated 21.5 billion metric tons of metal deposits in the Philippines and
19.3 billion metric tons of nonmetal minerals in the ground. Nickel is the most abundant deposit
in the Philippines, while iron and copper are also present in significant amounts.

Major Crops
The volcanic history of the archipelago combined with the wide plains available throughout the
nation make the Philippines a prime spot for growing crops for domestic use and export. The
Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley and Negros are among the many places with fertile soil in the
Philippines. This land is the nation's primary source of livelihood. The chief crops of the nation
include rice, corn, sugarcane, abaca and tobacco, according to the Philippine History website.
The rice and corn are used domestically, but the rest is used as a major export. The Philippines
also exports a number of pineapples and bananas.

Flora
The tropical climate in the Philippines makes it an ideal location for flowers and plants. The
islands have more than 2 million species of plants, and several of them are found nowhere else
on the planet. Much of the flora in the Philippines, while diminished by over harvesting, is used
as an important natural resource as ingredients in commercially exported products.

Natural Resources and Environment in the Philippines

The Philippines, Pearl of the Orient Seas, is very rich in natural resources. Filipinos are by
nature creative and intelligent. The richness of the environment is an advantage for their
livelihood.
Land
Around 15 million hectares, or almost half of the Philippines' total land area, are classified as
timberland. Most of the land here was densely forested before the 1900s. However, the
following century saw the loss of half of Philippine forests. Statistics show that deforestation
claimed 204,000 hectares per year from 1950 to 1978. From 1989 to 1995, only 116,332
hectares were vanishing annually. Environmentalist groups are trying to protect Philippine
forests, but a lot needs to be done in the campaign for reforestation as well as the fight
against illegal logging.

Philippine forests produce timber for local consumption and for export. Hardwood products
coming from these timbers are globally known for their distinct appearance and high quality,
which makes them appropriate as home furnishings. Wooden furniture, such as tables and
chairs, are usually made of hardwood, popularly known as narra.
Most Philippine forests are of the tropical rainforest type. Besides extensive reserves of
tropical evergreen hardwoods, the country also has considerable areas of pine in the
mountainous regions of Northern Luzon.
Sea
With a coastal ecosystem stretching almost 20,000 km, the Philippines is likely to become one
of the earliest victims of rising ocean temperatures and levels. Centuries-old coral reefs are
dying almost overnight, and the destruction is being witnessed not only by divers in remote
spots. Regional marine science studies estimated in the middle of 1999 that the Philippines'
magnificent underwater world would be gone by around 2100. Reports say that increased sea
temperatures were causing "mass coral bleaching events" in the world's best coral reefs.
Something has to be done to reduce global warming caused by the burning of oil, coal, and
gas.
For smaller bodies of water, the Philippines has extensive but small river systems and
streams, which are mostly depicted by the mountain ranges. The fluvial system of Luzon is
made up of (1) Rio Grande de Cagayan and its tributaries (a stream that flows into a larger
body of water), which drain the Cagayan Valley; (2) the Agno Grande which drains Benguet
and the valleys of Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Tarlac; (3) the Abra River system, which
receives its tributaries from the Cordillera and drains Lepanto, Bontoc, and the Abra; and (4)
the Rio Grande de Pampanga and its tributaries, which drain the fertile valfeys of Nueva Ecija,
Pampanga, and Bulacan.
Flora & Fauna
The Philippines is rich in flora and fauna. There is an estimated two million species of plants
and animals, many of which are unique to the islands. For various reasons, some kinds have
been lost or endangered while others were exploited for commercial purposes. By the turn of
the century, many species of plants and animals decreased dramatically in number but some
survived through a natural process.
There is so much that the Philippines can offer to the nature lover. Its tropical rainforests are
among the most species-rich ecosystems on earth. In fact, substantial parts of the
archipelago, both land and underwater, remain unexplored. There are also many virgin
forests. The country is known for its dwarf and pygmy species of many ecological families.
Unfortunately, a lot of these natural resources are being destroyed at an alarming rate.
Logging and mining, illegal fishing (the use of dynamites), and the growing population have a
negative effect on ecology because of increasing demand for diminishing food and livelihood
sources.
FLORA-PLANT LIFE
Due to its volcanic nature, Philippine soil is very fertile. Abundant rain and sunshine, as well as
the wide range of habitats and elevations account for an incredible variety of plant life in
every category, from mosses and lichens (including 1,000 species of fern) to giant trees
(about 3,000 species). Since neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia have a similar climate,
plants found here are mainly of the type found in those countries. However, Australian (e.g.,
eucalyptus) and Sino-Himalayan types are also present in the Philippines. About 60% of the
10,000 plant species grow only in the archipelago. There are 54 species of bamboo
throughout the islands. Bamboo is a fast-growing woody grass used for multiple purposes,
mainly as furniture. It can also be used to build houses, bridges, fences, fish traps, wall

matting, baskets, hats, and flutes.

Mangroves are found at sea level, bays and estuaries. They form a fringe or what seems like a
fence along the sides of these bodies of water, a palms, commonly used in the construction of
native hats, also thrive in salty water. Coconut palms are generally found below 30 meters
while at 300-1,000 meters, dense tropical rainforest contains vines, ferns, orchids, and huge
trees with buttressed trunks. The dipterocarp - hardwoods, known collectively as Philippine
mahogany, can supply many natural resource needs. Mahogany seed as an herb is known to
have healing properties.
Narra, the national tree of the Philippines, produces a pretty yellow flower and is the source of
hardwood for many uses. The nipa palm, however, must be the unofficial national tree. The
traditional nipa hut comes from the nipa palm, with the leaves serving as roof. Many homes in
the countrysides and in farms are made of nipa. Today, the nipa hut can even be found in
resorts all over the country where it functions as a residential and recreational place.
The national flower is sampaguita, which is white and has a distinct fragrance. But the orchid
also has a claim to fame, with almost 1,000 stunning species, including the waling-waling of
Mindanao.
One crop unique to the Philippine is the pili nut, although crop species such as tobacco and
corn have already been introduced. The delightful nut may be used in the production of
chocolate, ice cream, candies, and even soap. It is harvested from May to October, around
Sorsogon and other provinces in the Bicol region. In Mindanao, abaca is harvested in huge
quantities. Called the Manila hemp, it is mainly used to make ropes. This island is also famous
for its durian, a fruit with a terrible smell but a heavenly taste. In the little island of Guimaras,
near Panay, the rich red soil has produced some of the sweetest mangoes in the world.
FAUNA- LAND CREATURES Birds
Birds
The best-known Philippine member of the bird family is the haribon or Philippine eagle,
formerly called the "monkey-eating eagle" (because it eats monkeys). This is an endangered
species; only about 100 are left in their natural habitat of Mindanao. Farther south, the hornbill
of Sulu, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi is another amazing and elusive mountain-dwelling bird. The
Palawan peacock pheasant is also a remarkable bird. A large game bird with brilliant feathers
in the male and long pointed tail feathers, it nests on the ground and flies only short
distances. The males of this species have a metallic blue crest, long white eyebrows and large
metallic blue or purple "eyes" on the tail. Pheasants are native to Asia but are now established
in many parts of America and Europe. Unfortunately, they are also nearing endangered levels.
Reptiles
Of the reptile family, South-East Asia travelers will be most familiar with the gravity-defying,
mosquito-chomping gecko (anyone of a group of small insect-eating lizards often having
adhesive pads on the feet for climbing) and its raspy "tap tap tap7' mating call. More elusive
scaled beasts include the sail-fin dragon and the flying lizard discovered by Jose Rizal while he
was exiled in Dapitan on Mindanao, as well as a wide variety of poisonous and non-poisonous
snakes, including pythons and sea snakes.
The country is said to be home to the sea cow or dugong (also known locally as duyong), once
found in great numbers in Philippine waters but now rare. You're more likely to spot dolphins,
whales and, if your timing is right, butanding (whale sharks) near Sorsogon in South Luzon.
The tourism industry in that province hopes that these plankton-feeding gentle giants will
continue their habit of surfacing from around November to May each year.
Insects

There are about 25,000 species of insects found in the Philippines. Among these are
butterflies that come in a wide array of colors. Some are sought-after by collectors while
others are merely for spectacle. Palawan, Mindanao and Sulu are prime butterfly territories
with an estimated 800 species. A prominent butterfly, Papilio trojano, is the largest of its kinJ
with an average wingspan of 18 centimeters. This black and green butterfly can only be found
in Palawan.
Moths, winged insects very much like butterflies, but lacking knol at the ends of the antennae,
having less brightly colored wings, and flyii mostly at night, also abound. The huge atlas moth
has pale brown wings (with black and gray markings) that extends 24 centimeters wide. This
insect is commonly found around the months of February to June all over the islands.
Mammals
The most popular beast of burden in the Philippines is the carabao, a native water buffalo
highly prized for its vast power and patience as a plough-puller.
MARINE LIFE
Fishes
An authentic rainbow of species pours out of Philippine waters ani| into aquariums around the
world each year. The Philippines' underwafc landscapes surpass the terrestrial in beauty for
inexpressively rich marinl life. There are more than 500 sea species containing variants of
hard soft coral reefs. The seas support about 2,400 species of fish. Individui and commercial
fishermen have caught tuna, mackerel, squid, curtlefisl shrimp, lobster, crab, and a host of
other marine creatures. Some reei fishermen destroy marine life through cyanide poisoning
and dynamite fishing just to get a daily catch. Other fishes such as swordfish, marlin, sailfish,
sharks, eels and sea snakes can also be found. There is also a multitude of small fishes in
various colors and sizes, most of them still unnamed.
The world's largest fish, the harmless whale shark, known to reach approximately 20 meters
in length, is occasionally seen in Philippine waters. Meanwhile, the world's smallest fish called
dwarf pygmy (Pandaka pvgmaea) is common. It usually inhabits the Malabon River and the
streams of Bulacan. In Lake Buhi, the world's smallest commercial fish, tabios, is found.
However, that creature is nearing extinction.
Other forms of marine life, ranging from whales to dolphins to jellyfish, sponges and
starfishes, can be found in Philippine waters.
Because of poisoning and dynamiting, there has been widespread destruction of local fish
populations and ecosystems. Many of the fishes die from severe liver damage within days of
being transported. The use of sodium cyanide - a chemical first introduced in the Philippines in
the 1960s to stun fish and now widely used as an easy (and seemingly harmless) way to catch
large numbers of fish for both domestic ad foreign markets - has greatly devastated marine
life.
Turtles
Pawikan (marine turtles) are found in Philippine waters. The most common are the green sea
turtle and hawksbill although loggerhead, olive ridley, and leatherback can also be found. The
turtle's value as a food source, combined with its commercial exploitation (stuffed turtles and
turtle-shell products are found in many souvenir stores), have reduced their number. Thus, the
population of turtles has stepped into the endangered level.
Shells

The Philippine islands have been the source of rare individual shell specimens that are
attractive to collectors. Shells are plentiful in eastern Samar, Palawan, Sorsogon, Quezon and
Sulu.
Shells are known for having a poisonous part. The live cone shells have a dart at the narrow
end. Touching and mishandling it can be harmful. They also range in size, from the tiny
Picidium to the giant clam Tridacna &gas. Over 1,000 species of land snails with lustrous
shells, and spiral patterns are found all over the country. Tourists usually buy shells for
souvenirs from local vendors selling beautiful specimens retrieved by fishermen. The buying
and selling of shells affects the Philippines' natural resource production
Since the Philippines is one of the world's richest shellfish habitats, Filipinos have used shells
in jewelry and handicrafts. Kapis shells are the most common that can be found and fashioned
into lampshades, chimes, and windowpanes. Old Spanish houses are decorated with thin and
transluct kapis shells.
Pearls
Pearls are found within shells. According to research, the largest pearl in existence was found
in a giant clam (a mollusk somewhat like an oyster, with a soft body and a shell in two halves
joined by a hinge) in Palawan in 1934. It measures 24 cm by 14 cm and weighs 6.4 kg. This
pearl is known as the "Pearl of Lao-tze" or "Pearl of Allah."
Diving for pearls is widely practiced by the Muslims in Sulu and Southern Palawan. Pearls are
also raised in some parts of the country, such as the Davao Pearl Farm. The priceless
magnificence and lasting value of this natural resource makes the Philippines truly worthy of
being called "Peai of the Orient Seas."
Preserving Our Resources
The Philippines realizes that in order to preserve its precious natural heritage, a process of
education, combined with the proper legislation and enforcement, is necessary. Legislation
dealing with environmental issues has been introduced. The government has established
national parks, recreation areas, and wildlife sanctuaries throughout the country. Conservation
programs exist for the Philippine eagle, eastern sarus crane, tamaraw, Philippine crocodile,
dugong, marine turtles, and some rare deer species. There is a growing consciousness among
people of the need to conserve forests and marine life. A law banning log exportation has
been passed (unfortunately, the prohibited practice continues secretly). In 1992 Palawan was
cited as a national treasure because its forests and sea life are relatively well-preserved. A
total ban on logging is now being enforced all over Palawan.
National Parks
The Philippine government has established national parks to protect many species of plant,
animal and sea life. The project to preserve the Philippines' natural resources officially started
in 1992.
The N1PAP or National Integrated Protected Areas Program aims to enlist the support of
indigenous people living in or around these protected
- Palanan Wilderness Area (North Luzon) The Philippines' largest protected area making up
10% of the country's remaining primary forests.
- Mt. Isarog National Park (Bicol) Isarog is the Bicol region's second highest volcano at about
1,966 meters above sea level.
- Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park. (Mindoro) The endangered tamaraw is found here. Farmers
encroaching upon the area have caused a steady reduction in grasslands, which has resulted
in problems for the Mangyan people.
- Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park (Romblon) The spectacular slope of this mountainous forest

has nurtured and protected a world that would have long ago been destroyed by human
activities if not for its isolation. Among the ancient teak trees of the park can be found several
bizarre species of fruit bats, large monkeys, and more than 100 known bird species.
- Coron Island The Island boasts virgin forests and stunning cliffs. The Tagbanua people,
Coron's indigenous residents, delight in the beauty of their native habitat.
- El Nido Marine Reserve Rich in beaches and wondrous jagged cliffs, El Nido is one of the
country's most popular tourist
sites.
OTHER PROTECTED AREAS IN THE PHILIPPINES
-

Mt. Pulog, Northern Luzon

Hundred Islands, Northern Luzon
Mt. Arayat, Central Luzon
Mt. Mayon, Bicol
Bulusan Volcano, Bicol
Apo Reef, Mindoro
St. Paul Subterranean, Palawan
Turtle Island, Palawan
Sohoton Natural Bridge, Samar
Lake Danao, Western Leyte
Lake Mahagnao Volcanic, Eastern Leyte
Mt. Kanlaon Nature Park, Cebu
Twin Lakes, Southern Negros
Mt. Malindang, Northwestern Mindanao

About the Philippines

Bodies of Water
The Philippines boast of many different kinds of natural water forms, such as bays, rivers, lakes falls,
gulfs, straits, and swamps. Because it is made up of islands, the country's coastline, if laid end-to-end,
would measure around 17.5 thousand kilometers. The Philippines is blessed with excellent natural harbors
for ports like Manila Bay. Other excellent harbors with port potentials are found in Ilocos, Pangasinan,
Visayas, and Mindanao. The three largest rivers in the country are the Cagayan River in Northern Luzon,
the Rio Grande de Mindanao, and the Agusan River, also in Mindanao. Also noteworthy in terms of size are
the Agno, Pasig, Angat Pampanga, and Bicol rivers in Luzon. Most popular among tourist is the famous
underground river in Palawan. Aside from rivers, the country also abounds with lakes. Easily the most
famous is the heart-shaped Laguna de Bay. Other famous lakes are Taal in Batangas, Sampaloc in Laguna,
Buhi and Bulusan in Bicol, Naujan in Mindoro oriental, and Lanao and Mainit in Mindanao. Generating
power for the Nations growth are the magnificent waterfalls that serve as tourist attractions, as well. The
biggest is waterfalls is the Maria Cristina falls, it can be found in the North Western part of Lanao province
in Mindanao, while the most popular is Pagsanjan falls in Laguna, where tourist came in droves.

Natural Resources
The Philippines is rich in natural resources. It has fertile, arable lands, diverse flora and fauna, extensive
coastlines, and rich mineral deposits. About 30% of the land area of the country was determined be
geologically prospective by the Philippine Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau. But Only 1.5% of country's land
area is covered with mining permits. Despite the rich natural resources of the Philippines, the government
is restricting its exploitation. A logging ban is imposed on many areas of the country and only in select

areas are "sustainable logging" allowed. However illegal logging and small-scale illegal mining continues is
many areas. In July 2012, President Benigno Aquino III ordered a stop to all mining activities in all (78
areas) protected and eco-tourism sites. A positive step in the right direction to protect the natural
resources of the Philippines.

Our Land
The Philippines primary source of livelihood is its fertile land. Rich, wide plains suitable for farming are
found in the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, South western Bicol, Panay, Negros, Davao, Cotabato, Agusan
and Bukidnon. The country s six major crops are rice, corn, sugarcane,coconut, abaca and tobacco.
Except for rice and corn, all these products are exported, along with bananas and pineapples.

Our Forests
The Philippines also boasts of wide tracts of lush, green forests. In fact, almost half of the countrys total
land area is forested. Sixty percent of these forests are found in Mindanao.

Mineral resources
Except for petroleum and a number of metals, mineral resources abound in Philippine soil. The countrys
mineral deposits can be classified into metals and non-metals. Our metal deposits are estimated at 21.5
billion metric tons, while non-metal deposits are projected at 19.3 billion metric tons. Nickel ranks first in
terms of deposits and size, it is found in Surigao del Norte, Davao, Palawan, Romblon and Samar. Iron is
found in Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Norte and Cotabato. While copper in Zambales, Batangas,
Mindoro, Panay and Negros. Among non-metal deposits, the most abundant are cement, lime, and marble.
Other non-metals include asbestos, clay, guano, asphalt, feldspar, sulfur, talc, silicon, phosphate, and
marble.

Fishery Resources
With its territorial waters measuring as much as 1.67 million square kilometers and located in the worlds
fishing center, the Philippines is definitely rich in marine resources. Of the 2,400 fish species found in the
country. 65 have good commercial value. Other marine products
include corals,pearls, crabs and seaweeds. Some of the countries best salt water fishing areas are found
in Sintangki Island in Sulu Estancia in Bohol, Malampaya in Palawan, Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan, San
Miguel lake in Camarines Norte, Bantayan Channel in Cebu, and the seas of Quezon and Sorsogon.