•Manufacturing: The nanometer scale is expected to become a highly efficient length scale for

manufacturing once nanoscience provides the understanding and nanoengineering develops the tools.
Materials with high performance, unique properties and functions will be produced that traditional
chemistry could not create.
• Electronics: Nanotechnology is projected to yield annual production of about $300 billion for the
semiconductor industry and several times more for global integrated circuits sales within 10 to15 years
(see R. Doering, page 84-93 of this report).
• Improved Healthcare: Nanotechnology will help prolong life, improve its quality, and extend human
physical capabilities.
• Pharmaceuticals: About half of all production will be dependent on nanotechnology — affecting over
$180 billion per year in 10 to 15 years (E. Cooper, Elan/Nanosystems, personal communication, 2000).
• Chemical Plants: Nanostructured catalysts have applications in the petroleum and chemical processing
industries, with an estimated annual impact of $100 billion in 10 to 15 years.
• Transportation: Nanomaterials and nanoelectronics will yield lighter, faster, and safer vehicles and more
durable, reliable, and cost-effective Roads, bridges, runways, pipelines, and rail systems.
• Sustainability: Nanotechnology will improve agricultural yields for an increased population, provide
more economical water filtration and desalination, and enable renewable energy sources such as highly
efficient solar energy conversion; it will reduce the need for scarce material resources and diminish
pollution for a cleaner environment. For example, in 10 to 15 years, projections indicate that
nanotechnology based lighting advances have the potential to reduce worldwide consumption of energy
by more than 10%, reflecting a savings of $100 billion dollars per year and a corresponding reduction of
200 million tons of carbon emissions (“NNI: The Initiative and Its Implementation Plan,” page 93).
National Science Board's Science and Engineering Indicators 2012
“24% of Americans report having heard ‘a lot’ or ‘some’
about nanotechnology, up four percentage points
from 2008 and 2006”
“44% of Americans report having heard
‘nothing at all’ about nanotechnology”

 To cover a football field with a 1nm thick

layer of paint, you would need just
1 teaspoon of paint!
Scientific importance of genetic diversity
1. Genetic engineering makes it possible to use the genetic resources of organisms on a wide scale
2. It has taken hundreds of million s of years for
Evolution to produce the genetic diversity found in organisms today

Characteristics of endangered species 4.Habitat fragmentation

1.Small (localized) ranges 5.Low reproductive success
2.Requiring a large territory 6.Needing specialized breeding areas
3.Living on islands (endemicspecies) 7.Having specialized feeding habits.

The Philippines is one of 18 mega-biodiverse countries of the world, containing two-thirds of the earth’s biodiversity
and between 70% and 80% of the world’s plant and animal species. The Philippines ranks fifth in the number of plant
species and maintains 5% of the world’s flora. Species endemism is very high, covering at least 25 genera of plants
and 49% of terrestrial wildlife, while the country ranks fourth in bird endemism. The Philippines is also one of the world’s
biodiversity hotspots with at least 700 threatened species, thus making it one of the top global conservation areas. The
national list of threatened faunal species was established in 2004 and includes 42 species of land mammals, 127
species of birds, 24 species of reptiles and 14 species of amphibians. In terms of fishes, the Philippines counts at least
3,214 species, of which about 121 are endemic and 76 threatened. In 2007, an administrative order issued by the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources established a national list of threatened plant species, indicating
that 99 species were critically endangered, 187 were endangered, 176 vulnerable as well as 64 other threatened
species.

This unique biodiversity is supported by a large variety of ecosystems, landscapes and habitats, most of which are also
greatly threatened by human activities. According to the FAO definition, the Philippines has 7.2 million ha of forest
ecosystems, comprising approximately 24% of the total land area. It is however estimated that, between 2000 and
2005, the Philippines lost 2.1% of its forest cover annually, representing the second fastest rate of deforestation in
Southeast Asia (second to Myanmar) and seventh in the world. The country’s agricultural ecosystem is also noteworthy.
The Philippines is part of the center of diversity of rice, coconut, mung bean, taro and yam, as well as the center of
origin and diversity of bananas in Southeast Asia. Yet this agricultural biodiversity is nowadays experiencing general
decline, as is the land area devoted to these activities.

The trend is similar for inland water biodiversity, with findings indicating a decreasing trend in water quality, fish,
biodiversity and cultural value in the country’s largest lake (Laguna de Bay) and its tributary rivers. The Philippines
presents unique coastal, marine and island biodiversity. It is indeed located within the Coral Triangle, at the center of
highest marine biodiversity. A study conducted in 2005 noted that there is a higher concentration of species per unit
area in the country than anywhere in Indonesia and Wallacea. Yet this ecosystem is also greatly at risk. While the 2005
review of the state of the marine and coastal environment indicated an increase in the mangrove cover, reef cover,
seagrass cover and fishery production are nowadays decreasing substantially.

The Philippines derives large benefits from ecosystems. In particular, the country recognizes the important role played
by watersheds, river basins and coastal areas in the environment and in society as a source of livelihood (supporting
fisheries, recreation and tourism and many other activities). For instance, a watershed with adequate forest cover
provides water that supports lowland agriculture, prevents soil erosion and siltation of coasts and water bodies, and
sustains the supply of surface and groundwater for domestic use. Likewise, the forest ecosystem provides ecological
services that benefit agriculture, industries, water and power needs. Production forest areas for tree plantations and
agroforestry activities are sources of jobs and revenues, with agriculture having represented 18.4% of the country’s
GDP in 2007.