Ecology and Environmental Protection: A Review

What is Ecology?

Ecology - The study of interactions between organisms and environments.

⮚ It is the science that seeks to describe and explain the relationship between
living organisms and their environment.
⮚ “Oikos” - house

⮚ “Logia” – study of life

Factors of Ecology

Biotic – tangible/living organisms

Abiotic – intangible/non living organisms

Branches of Ecology

1. Population Ecology - Study of how populations grow.

2. Ecosystem Ecology - Study of how populations interact with their physical
environment.
3. Community Ecology - Species Interactions
4. Conservation Ecology - Study of how to preserve and create a healthy,
lasting biosphere.
5. Behavioral Ecology - The study of how animal behavior develops, evolves,
and contributes to survival and reproductive success.

Ecological Organization

1. Biosphere - The highest level of organization for living things

2. Ecosystem - A group of living organisms that live in and interact with each
other in a specific environment
3. Community - A group of Populations that live together
4. Population - A group of organisms of the same species that live together.
5. Organism - A single living thing

Status of Ecology

Past Status

⮚ Calm and Quite

⮚ Human don’t disturb the nature

⮚ Ecosystem had been going on its natural cycle

Present Status

⮚ Population Increasing

⮚ Negative Effect

⮚ Ecological Crisis

Ecological Crisis

The main causes of Ecological Crisis are:

⮚ Over Population

⮚ Environment Pollution

⮚ Deforestation

⮚ Greenhouse Effect

⮚ Global Warming

⮚ Climate Change

Importance of Ecology

⮚ Simple change in environment can have profound effect to other living things.

⮚ Knowledge in ecological principles and concepts explains how environmental

conditions and problems are happening.

Four Laws of Ecology

⮚ Nature knows best (cybernetics)

⮚ Everything is interconnected with something else

⮚ Everything must go somewhere else – everything changes

⮚ Nothing comes free – all forms of life are important

Environmental Protection

⮚ It is a practice protecting the natural environment on individual, organizational

or governmental levels, for the benefit of both natural environment and
people.

Environmental Problems
⮚ Pollution - Is the contamination of the environment (air, water, and soil) which
is harmful to humans, plants and other animal life.

Results of Pollution

Acid Rain: Rain falls through air polluted by burning fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels: Coal, oil and natural gas

Damage caused by acid rain effects damages forest, lakes and farmland

Solutions: International agreements to reduce emissions of substances that

cause acid rain.

⮚ Depletion of the Ozone Layer - The ozone layer is a layer of gases in the
atmosphere that protects the Earth from sun’s dangerous ultra violet rays. The
ozone layer is depleting because of the chlorofluorocarbons and chemical
pollutants.

Effects of Depletion

Exposes people to solar radiation which results in skin cancer and eye
disease.

Damage crops and marine life.

⮚ Global Warming - Is the gradual rise in global temperatures because warm

air is trapped in the lower atmosphere.

Causes and Solutions

Cause: Use of Chlorofluorocarbons, burning of fossil fuel and the destruction

of forests.

Solution: UN summit (1997) set limits on emissions thought to contribute to

global warming.

⮚ Desertification - Is the change of the land form arable (able to be farmed) to

desert because of human activity.

Cause:

Overgrazing by livestock.
 Cutting down forests.

Effects:

-Eliminates grasses that hold the soil together to prevent erosion.

-Robs the land of a barrier to soil erosion.
-Wind erosion removes fertile topsoil so the land cannot support plant life.
-Loss of farms.
-Decrease food production.

Controlling Desertification

⮚ Restricting livestock

⮚ Planting new trees

⮚ In developing countries, farmers want to work as much land as possible, but;

⮚ Teaching new farming methods such as improved irrigation may help.

⮚ Deforestation - Deforestation is the destruction of forests, especially rain

forests.

Causes:

Caused by harvesting of lumber or cleaning of land to grow crops, graze

animals or build homes.

50 million hectares of tropical forest are lost each year.

Effects:

-Changes in local weather patterns

-Buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (leading to greenhouse effect)
-Soil erosion
-Extinction of certain plants and animals

Global Solutions:

To balance economic needs of developing nations with needs of global

population.

International debates and discussions, such and the United Nations Earth
Summit in 1992.

How can Environment Problems be resolved?

 -Use reusable things instead of disposable ones.
-Conserve electricity and water.
-Encourage eco-friendly behaviors.
-To preserve natural resources, recycle garbage.

What is a fundamental right of the environment?

The environment is considered as a third-generation fundamental right, also

known as a “Solidarity Right”. This category of rights is complementing the
civil and political rights of the first generation, and also the economic and
social rights of the second generation.

The fundamental duties are defined as the moral obligations of all citizens to
help promote a spirit of patriotism and to uphold the unity of the Philippines.
These duties, concern individuals and the nation.

⮚ Nuclear Safety

⮚ Endanger Species

⮚ Climate Change

Environmental Protection, Treaties, Laws and Policies

What is an Environmental Law?

• Environmental law means the laws that regulate the impact of human
activities on the environment. Environment law covers a broad range of
activities that affect air, water, land, flora or fauna.

It includes laws that relate to:

• Protection of animals and plants

• Planning for the use and development of land
• Mining, exploration and extractive industries
• Forestry
• Pollution
• Fisheries
• Land and fire management
• Agriculture and farming
• Waste management
• Climate change and emissions
• Water resource management (lakes, wetlands, rivers and oceans)
• Chemicals and pesticides
• Weeds and invasive species
• Marine life
• Conservation of natural and cultural heritage
What is an environmental treaty/protocol?

• An environmental protocol is a type of international law, “an intergovernmental

document intended as legally binding with a primary stated purpose of
preventing or managing human impacts on natural resources.

What is an Environmental policy?

• Environmental policy refers to the commitment of an organization to the laws,

regulations, and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental issues
and sustainability.

Environmental Laws

Presidential Decree 1151

Philippine Environmental Policy - Governs the general policies on the
pursuits of a better quality of life for the present and future generations and
mandates undertaking the environmental impact assessments for all projects,
which may significantly affect the environment.

Presidential Decree 1152

Philippine Environment Code - To achieve and maintain such levels of air
quality as to protect public health and to prevent to the greatest extent
practicable, injury and/or damage to plant and animal life and property, and
promote the social and economic development of the country.

The Forestry Reform Code P.D. 389 (P.D. 705)

• Section 2. Policies. The state hereby adopts the following policies:

a. The multiple uses of forest lands shall be oriented to the development and
progress requirements of the country, the advancement of science and
technology, and the public welfare;
b. Land classification and survey shall be systematized and hastened;
c. The establishment of wood-processing plants shall be encouraged and
rationalized; and
d. The protection, development and rehabilitation of forest lands shall be
emphasized so as to ensure their continuity in productive condition.

Water Code of the Philippines (P.D.1067)

The Code covers underground water, water above the ground, water in the
atmosphere and the waters of the sea within the territorial jurisdiction of the
Philippines.

The Water Code has the following objectives:

To establish the basic principles and framework relating to the appropriation,

control and conservation of water resources to achieve the optimum
development and rational utilization of these resources;
To define the extent of the rights and obligations of water users and owners
including the protection and regulation of such rights;

To adopt a basic law governing the ownership, appropriation, utilization,

exploitation, development, conservation and protection of water resources
and rights to land related thereto; and

To identify the administrative agencies which will enforce the law.

National Pollution Control Decree of 1976 (P.D.984)

Section 8. Prohibitions. No person shall throw, run, drain, or otherwise

dispose into any of the water, air and/or land resources of the Philippines that
shall cause pollution.

No person shall perform any of the following activities without first securing a
permit from the commission for the discharge of all industrial waste and other
waste which could cause pollution:

Chain Saw Act (2002) R.A.9175

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State, consistent with

the Constitution, to conserve, develop and protect the forest resources under
sustainable development. The State shall therefore regulate the ownership,
possession, sale, transfer, importation and/or use of chainsaws to prevent
them from being used in illegal logging or unauthorized clearing of forest.

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (R.A. 9003)

Segregation and collection of solid waste shall be conducted at the barangay

level specifically for biodegradables, compostable and reusable wastes:

(Section 10) Provided, that the collection of non-recyclable materials

and special wastes shall be the responsibility of the municipality or city.

Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

R.A.8749

Section 2. Declaration of Principles.

The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

The State shall promote and protect the global environment to attain
sustainable development while recognizing the primary responsibility of local
government units to deal with environmental problems.

The State shall recognize that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and
environment is primarily area-based.
 Finally, the State recognizes that a clean and healthy environment is for good
of all and should therefore be the concern of all.

Animal Welfare Act of 1998

R.A.8485

An act to protect and promote the welfare of all animals in the Philippines by
supervising and regulating the establishment and operations of all facilities
utilized for breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating or training of all animals
either as objects of trade or a household pets. Any form of cruelty shall be
penalized.

Philippine Mining Act of 1995

R.A.7942

Sec. 2 Declaration of Policy

⮚ All minerals resources in public and private lands within the territory
and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines are
owned by the State.
⮚ It shall be the responsibility of the State to promote their rational
exploration, development, utilization and conservation through the
combined efforts of the government and private sector in order to
enhance national growth in a way that effectively safeguards the
environment and protect the rights of affected communities.

Republic Act No. 8550 (The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998)

Republic Act No. 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear
Wastes Control Act of 1990)

Republic Act No. 7586 (NIPAS ACT – An Act Providing for the
Establishment and Management of National Integrated Protected Areas
System)

Commonwealth Act No. 73 of 1936 (An Act Prohibiting the Hunting,

Killing, Wounding, or Taking of the Tamaraw)

Republic Act 3983 of 1932 (An Act for the Protection of Wild Flowers
and Plants)

LOI 11/2011 “Kagubatan” Anti-Illegal Logging Campaign dated March 23,

2011 directs all PNP units, in support of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR), and in coordination with the Anti-Illegal Logging
Task Force to undertake concerted efforts to protect the natural and residual
forests from illegal logging operations pursuant to Executive Order No. 23
“Declaring a Moratorium on the Cutting and Harvesting of Timber in the
 Natural and Residual Forests and Creating the Anti-Illegal Logging Task
Force”.

Environmental Laws under PNP

LOI 17/94 KALIKASAN (PNP’s Campaign Plan to Protect Our Environment

and Natural Resources)

LOI 28/96 NIYOG (PNP’s Campaign Plan to Protect the Coconut Industry)

LOI 36/93 DUHAT (PNP’s Campaign Plan Against Illegal Logging)

LOI 46/93 CHESA (PNP’s Campaign Plan Against the Destruction of Marine
Life)

Bali Action Plan

⮚ Adopted in 2007

⮚ As part of the Bali Action Plan, all developed country Parties have agreed to
"quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives, while ensuring the
comparability of efforts among them, taking into account differences in their
national circumstances. “

Transboundary air Pollution, 1979

⮚ This agreement encourages scientific collaboration and policy negotiation to

target air pollution that spreads from its source into the atmosphere.
⮚ The aim of the convention is to limit and gradually reduce and prevent air
pollution.