Biodiversity and Climate Change What's Inside? BIODIVERSITY • Definition of biodiversity and it importance • The Philippine Environment and the Rich Biodiversity • Status of the Philippine Environment CLIMATE CHAGE • The Science of Climate Change • World Impact of Climate Change • Climate Change in the Philippines variety of plants and animals and other living things in a particular area or region number/abundance of different species living within a particular region Okay, So Why Is It Important? • We are part of the web of life • Every species plays a vital role in the circle of life • Species interact and depend upon one another "It is reckless to suppose that biodiversity can be diminished indefinitely without threatening humanity itself." -Edward O. Wilson (Father of Biodiversity) Categorizing Value Direct Use Value(Goods) Food, medicine, building material, fiber, fuel Indirect Use Value (Services) Atmospheric and climate regulation, pollination, nutrient recycling Cultural, Spiritual and Aesthetic Direct Use Value: Goods • Food • Building Materials • Fuel • Paper Products • Fiber (clothing, textiles) • Industrial products (waxes, rubber, oils) • Medicine FOOD • Today, most people rely on ~20 types of plants, and only 3 to 4 are staple crops. • Diversity is critical for developing new strains and breeds, i.e. that suit a particular environment or are resistant to pests or disease and as a source of new crops MEDICINE • About 80% of the people in developing countries use plants as a primary source of medicine. • 57% of the 150 most-prescribed drugs have their origins in biodiversity Indirect Use Values: Services • Regulating global processes, such as atmosphere and climate • Soil and water conservation • Nutrient cycling • Pollination and seed dispersal • Control of agricultural pests • Genetic library • Inspiration and information • Scientific and educational • Tourism and recreation • Cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic • Community Resilience • Strategic CLIMATE REGULATION Forests and other vegetation modify climate: by affecting sun reflectance, water vapor release, wind patterns and moisture loss. Forests help maintain a humid environment, for example, more than half of all rainfall in a tropical ecosystem is produced locally from forestatmosphere cycle Pollination and Seed Dispersal • Many flowering plants depend on animals for pollination to produce food. • 75% of human crops depend on free services of pollinators; replacement value estimated billions in the tropical ecosystem STATUS OF PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY THE PHILIPPINE LANDSCAPE • The world's second largest archipelago country after Indonesia, the Philippines includes more than 7,100 islands covering 297,179 km² in the westernmost Pacific Ocean. • One of top 10 countries in the world in terms of species richness, diversity and endemism developed through a complex mix of ecosystem and habitat types. THE PHILIPPINE LANDSCAPE (continued) • Belong to the elite list of the 17 megadiversity countries • 65% of the species of the 50,000 species of flora and fauna known in the world THE PHILIPPINE LANDSCAPE (continued) • Philippines is the longest discontinuous coastline in the world (22,450). • International marine scientists have regarded the Philippines as the "Center of Marine Biodiversity" in the world, surpassing the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. • About 488 coral species in 78 genera are found in the Philippines out of the 800 known coral species worldwide. THE PHILIPPINE LANDSCAPE (continued) MINERAL RESOURCES •considered to be 5th mineralized country in the world (in terms of minerals per unit of area of land) •2nd to South Africa in Gold production THE PHILIPPINE LANDSCAPE (continued) Inland Waters Are Composed of: •421 principal rivers •69 natural lakes •more than 100,000ha of freshwater swamps • further groundwater sources in every major island THE PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY The Philippines is considered as a mega diversity country and a global biodiversity hotspot, by the fact that the Philippines have been dubbed as the "hottest of the hotspots" by no less than the Conservation International. The Philippines is the Home of Unbelievable Unique and Rare Animals these are …. Monkey-eating eagle The Philippine eagle Flying Lemur Pithecophaga jefferyi Parent eagles wait for their offspring to make it on their own before producing another. Did you know that there are only about 400 pairs of Philippine Eagle left in the world? Read more at https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/newsWorld's Smallest Hoofed Mammal Largest and Smallest Bats feature/2015/10/15/1511043/15-facts-about-critically-endangered-philippine- The Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) is a filterfeeding shark, very slow moving, and the largest known fish species in existence. The Giant Clams belong to the genus Tridacna (Bruguière 1797), of which Tridacna gigas is the largest living immobile bivalve mollusk in the world. The Giant Clam is known as “Taklobo” in the Philippines. There are about 105 species of amphibians with about 82 found only in the Philippines (Alcala, pers.comm) 254 species with about 208 endemic species With 557 species of birds (Kennedy et al, 2000) with about 196 species occurring only in the Philippines With 183 terrestrial mammals (Sinha and Heaney, 2006), 120 species are endemic to the Philippines ENDEMIC SPECIES…. Species cannot be found in other parts of the world….. ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES ENDANGERED SPECIES HOW DO WE KNOW IF A SPECIES IS ENDANGERED? We use a system called the IUCN Red List It is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species. How do we know if a species is endangered? Extinct EX Extinct Least Concern Threatened EW Extinct in the Wild CR EN VU Critically Endangered Vulnerable Endangered NT LC Near Threatened Least Concern How do we know if a species is critically endangered? Critically Endangered Threatened CR the highest risk category assigned by the IUCN for wild species. Critically endangered means that a species numbers have decreased, or will decrease, by 80% within three generations Examples: Philippine Crocodile, Philippine Eagle, black rhino, gorilla Status of the Philippine Environment PRESENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS • Forest cover is already depleted and about 23% of the endemic species are threatened with extinction. • Poor environmental quality has adversely affected human health and lowering quality of life • Human migration resulted in the conversion of forest land • Recent tragedies brought about by natural disasters PHILIPPINE WATERS • Water pollution due to poor water management • Adverse impact cost the economy of estimated 67B annually • Pasig river, Laguna lake etc. • NCR rivers are heavily polluted with both industrial and domestic effluent. • Reasons: poor governance FOREST LAND • 270,000 sq km at the end of 1898 to only 8,000 sq km in 2006 • Urbanization, commercial logging, slash and burn, agriculture, and forest fires. • Leads to severe soli erosion and water pollution • Most deforested areas in the Philippines is the CALABARZON region. Most varied landscape in the country. BEFORE AFTER LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY • Prevailing problem in the country • Loss or alteration of critical habitats gravely affects the resident species’ chance for survival • Loss of habitat threatens to destroy the ecological balance • Such loss of habitat is the critically endangered Philippine Eagle. AERIAL TERRITORY • 4th largest polluted capital in the world next to Mexico City, Shanghai, and New Delhi • 5000 premature deaths which occur in the country are caused by respiratory disease. • 1.5 M Filipinos suffer from respiratory sickness • 1,768,033 million registered vehicles traversing the roads of MM in 2009. MINING SECTOR • Deforestation, loss of wildlife • Loss of quantity and quality of water supply • Decrease of agricultural production, erosion, and flash floods water and air pollution • Toxic waste from the mining sites are not properly dispose What is climate change? Climate change is caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas emissions can come from both natural sources and manmade activities. But it is man made activities like fossil fuel use, deforestation, intensive livestock farming, use of synthetic fertilizers, and industrial processes that worsen the problem. (https://www.rappler.com/brandrap/climatechange_) The Science of Climate Change Energy In = Energy out Out To maintain the Earth’s normal temperature, the amount of incoming radiation should be equal to the amount of outgoing radiation. The Science of Climate Change The Greenhouse Effect The Science of Climate Change Documented Global Indicator of Climate Change Emission by Country Documented Global Indicator of Climate Change Emission by Source Documented Global Indicator of Climate Change The loss of ice from Greenland doubled between 1996 and 2005, as its glaciers flowed faster into the ocean in response to a generally warmer climate. (JPL/NASA, 2006) Matterhorn, Swiss Alps 1960 1980 Muir Glacier, Alaska (1941) Muir Glacier, Alaska (2004) Himalayas Today Helheim Glacier, Greenland (Spring 2001) Helheim Glacier, Greenland 2005 Mount Kilimanjaro, February 1993 & February 2000 Chacaltaya glacier, Andes Mountain 1998 and today Glacier National Monument 1938 & 2005 Change in precipitation patterns Change in animal community composition Change in ocean food web dynamics Changes in plant community composition Harm to corals and animals with shells Climate warming Increase in Atmospheric CO2 Change in plant growth Change in ocean chemistry (acidic) Increase in dissolved CO2 in ocean Change in terrestrial food wed dynamics The Effect is Cascading Through the Earth System End of civilization: climate change apocalypse could start by 2050 if we don't act, report warns This aerial photo shows flooding along the Arkansas River in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Tuesday, June 4, 2019. (Photo: DroneBase via AP) This map shows why the Philippines is so vulnerable to climate change Climate Change in the Philippines Many well-known impacts of global warming (GW) are not applicable to RP - Deadly heat waves are unlikely, no melting glaciers around Tropical, marine conditions tend to keep our weather and climate stable Sea Level Rise in the Philippines indicates that a onemeter rise in sea level is projected to affect 64 out of 81 provinces, covering at least 703 out of 1,610 municipalities, and inundating almost 700 million square meters of land. The red mark indicates provinces that are at threat. Cebu and Mactan Island Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte. A one meter rise in sea level is projected to inundate 3,781.89 hectares in Zamboanga del Sur, 3,274.02 hectares in Zamboanga Sibugay and 1,057.05 hectares in Zamboanga del Norte. Camarines Sur, a one meter rise in sea level is projected to inundate 2,268 hectares of land. It has a population of at least 1,551,549 people. A one meter rise in sea level is projected to inundate 6,428.16 hectares of land. It has a population of at least 755,412 people from 81 cultural groups. A one meter rise in sea level is projected to inundate 7,972.83 hectares of land. At least 90% of the land area of the Municipality of Pata and 34% of the Municipality of Marunggas It has a population of at least 619,668 people which includes the Badjaos of the Sulu seas . Trends in Regional Surface Temperature Nearly all non-urban stations in the region show a rise in mean temperatures between 1960 to 1998 More hot days, warm nights, fewer cold days and nights Not enough to cause heat waves, but may affect agriculture IRRI (2004): Rice yields decline with higher nighttime temperatures Trends in Tropical Cyclones Typhoons need warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs) to form; higher SSTs means more frequent, stronger storms. Number of storms in the West Pacific has been increasing. Rise in typhoon crossings is most pronounced over Visayas. Changes in Mean Annual Rainfall over the Philippines •Significant reduction over Northeastern Luzon •Significant increase over Western Visayas during La Niña •Under investigation: Change in the start of rainy season Emergent risks from climate change related to sustainable development 1.losses of ecosystem services, 2. challenges to land and water management, 3.effects on human health, 4.particular risks of severe harm and loss in certain vulnerable areas, 5. increasing prices of food commodities on the global market, Emergent risks from climate change related to sustainable development 6. consequences for migration flows at particular times and places, 7. increasing risks of flooding, 8. risks of food insecurity, 9. Systemic risks to infrastructures from extreme events, 10.loss of biodiversity, and 11. risks for rural livelihoods Downstream Effect of Climate Change in the Philippines Making a Bad Situation Worse Energy: Bulk of local power supply in RP comes from hydroelectricity Any decrease in rainfall means more reliance on imported coal and oil Agriculture –Less rain or too much rain means less harvest –Changes in timing of rain also critical –CO2 rise favors crops, but weeds like it more –CO2 rise can enhance corn growth, but only in roots and stalk, not its edible parts Forests and Biodiversity - Most forests will shrink, turn into dry forests prone to fires - Global warming raises flood risk, worsening habitat degradation and species loss] -However, human impact still much more damaging Health -Disease vectors (e.g. mosquitoes) will expand their range -Displacement due to disasters will be a worsening human health issue Water Resources Rainfall is decreasing over Luzon and parts of Mindanao where major dams are found Rainfall is increasing in the Visayas where there are no major dams Sea level rise may cause salinity intrusion; Laguna Lake at risk Marine Resources – Warmer temperatures can kill corals (as in 1998) – Higher CO2 in atmosphere can disrupt carbonate chemistry, make shell and bone formation difficult CHALLENGES OF PHILIPPINE WILDLIFE BIODIVERSITY SPECIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE • Environmental Indicator Species • Habitat changes and its behavior • Physiological Changes DOWNSTREAM EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE PHILIPPINES ON FLORA & FAUNA FLORA EFFECTS OF CC TO PLANTS • Plants bloom earlier. • Not enough to cause heat waves, but may affect agriculture. IRRI (2004): “Rice yields decline with higher nighttime temperatures”. • Less rain or too much rain means less harvest • Changes in timing of rain also critical EFFECTS OF CC TO PLANTS (continued) • CO2 rise favors crops, but weeds like it more • CO2 rise can enhance corn growth, but only in roots and stalk, not its edible parts • Moist forests will shrink, turn into dry forests prone to fires FAUNA EFFECTS OF CC TO ANIMALS • Birds lay eggs earlier in the year than usual. • Mammals are come out of hibernation sooner. • Many species moving closer to the poles as a response to the rise in global temperatures. Migration are not as far away as they used to be and in some countries the birds don’t even leave anymore. EFFECTS OF CC TO ANIMALS (continued) Rising temperatures bias the sex ratio toward females sea turtles because temperature during incubation determines the sex of the egg. Sea level rise will affect significant nesting of fish EFFECTS OF CC TO ANIMALS (continued) • Frogs rely on water to breed, any reduction or change in rainfall could reduce frog reproduction • Warmer temperatures can kill coral • Higher CO2 in atmosphere can disrupt carbonate chemistry, make shell and bone formation difficult THERE IS ONLY ONE BIOLOGICAL MACHINERY THAT CAN STOP CLIMATE CHANGE…………. and it is called……. end of presentation …. Thank you and good day!!! Evaluative Questions Instructions: Follow the direction for each question. Submit your output on or before the third contact session. Answer taken form the net/copy paste answer will be strictly monitored. Late submission will not be accepted. Activity #1 Biodiversity is life of our life. Explain by enumerating three 3 concrete reasons. Activity #2 Does Biodiversity Make Communities More Resilient? Explain your answer by citing at least three (3) important evidences Activity #3 Watch the two videos entitled “The great global warming swindle” and “An inconvenient truth” (After watching the two documentaries, provide evidences coming from the film that convinced you in believing that climate change is real or not. (Minimum 300 words) Activity #4 Elaborate the phrase “ Plants Is The Only Machinery That Can Eliminate Climate Change”. Cite several examples and activities / project local and international. Gentle Reminder: Please affix your references (books, journal, net) for your answer.
