Biodiversity, Ecosystem

Stability and Endangered

Species Acts
BIODIVERSITY
• The variety of life in the world or in a particular
habitat or ecosystem.
• A measure of variation at the genetic, species,
and ecosystem level.
“The variability among living organisms from
all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial,
marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are part;
this includes diversity within species, between
species and of ecosystems.”

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992

“The variety of life at every hierarchical level and
spatial scale of biological organizations: genes
within populations, population within species,
species within communities, communities within
landscapes, landscapes within biomes, and biomes
within the biosphere”.

E.O Wilson 1998

 LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
• Ecosystem Diversity
• Species Diversity
• Genetic Diversity
• Functional Diversity
Genetic Diversity – the variety of genetic material within a
species or a population.
Ecosystem Diversity – the variety of terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems found in an area or on the earth
Species Diversity – the number and abundance of species
present in different communities.
Functional Diversity – the biological and chemical processes
such as energy flow and matter recycling needed for the survival
of species, communities, sand ecosystems.
HEALTH
• is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-
being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity.
• It is also;
❑one of the most basic human rights,
❑one of the most important indicators of sustainable
development and,
❑the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is
vital for the continued functioning of ecosystems at all
scales as well as for the delivery of ecosystem services.
Links between Biodiversity and Health
Planetary scale – biodiversity and ecosystems play a critical role in
determining the state of the Earth System, regulating its material and
energy flows and its responses to abrupt or gradual change.
The human microbiota – the symbiotic microbial communities
present on our gut, skin, respiratory and urogenital tracts,
contributes to our nutrition, can help regulate our immune system,
and prevent infections.
ECOSYSTEM
• A biological community of interacting organisms and
their physical environment.
• Biotic and abiotic components are linked together
through nutrient cycles and energy flows.
 CHARACTERISTIC OF AN ECOSYSTEM
• Ecosystems have structures with physical (abiotic)
and biological (biotic) components, spatio-temporal
patterns and some degree of predictability.
• Ecosystems carry on multiple, interdependent
processes.
• Ecosystems are dynamic (regulated by biological,
physical, and social agents of change).
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stability
Ecological Integrity
• An ecosystem with ecological integrity is one that has persistence and
adaptability.
• Ecosystems that have lost their ecological integrity are considered
“biologically dead”
Healthy Ecosystems
• A healthy ecosystem has the ability to maintain itself with minimum human
intervention and repair itself when some natural or anthropogenic
disturbances occur.
• An ecosystem is said to be healthy if it can maintain its structure and
functions over a period of time even in the presence of environmental stress.
Degraded Ecosystems
• A degraded ecosystem is often referred to as the one that is “unhealthy”
or “deteriorated”.
• An unhealthy ecosystem is one that is incapable of maintaining its
integrity over time.
 What are the signs of unhealthiness in terrestrial
Ecosystems?
• Decline in species diversity and a shift in species composition
to more stress-tolerant species (displacement of native by alien
species).
• Disease outbreaks and pest infestations e.g. pantropical
disease (which could be due to monoculture).
• A decrease in the symbionts of plant roots (e.g. mycorrhizae).
Environmental Indicators:
• Environmental indicators are biological, physical,
chemical and socio-economic parameters or measures
used in assessing the quality and sustainability of a
given ecosystem.
• It gauges the condition and vitality of an ecosystem.
Benchmark Sites
• A yardstick against which comparisons can be made.
• Attributes of a pristine or minimally disturbed natural area are commonly
used in setting the standards for a healthy ecosystem.
Ecosystem Approach (EA)
• is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living
resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an
equitable way.
Ecosystem Services
• Benefits people obtain from Ecosystems.
• Classified based on the benefits and functions we derived
from biodiversity.
❑Provisioning services- the products people obtain from
ecosystems
❑Regulating services- benefits obtained from the regulation of
ecosystem processes
❑Supporting services – that are necessary for the
maintenance of all other ecosystem services
❑Cultural services- the non-material benefits people obtain
from ecosystems
Deforestation and Forest Management
Deforestation is the natural or anthropogenic that
converts forest land to non-forest (IPCC 2012).
 Slash-and Burn Agriculture-Deforestation
• This traditional form of farming referred to as “swidden
farming” or “shifting cultivation” or locally known as
“kaingin”.
• Involves 3 basic steps:
❑clear-cutting of trees
❑burning of forest debris
❑clearing the site for crop production.
Rehabilitation through Reforestation in the Philippines
 Use of Exotic Species in Reforestation

• The use of fast-growing species in place of native species in

reforestation has persisted because of several reasons:
✓inadequate supply of native seeds/seedlings for reforestation
✓slow regeneration and growth rates of native species
✓poor appreciation or understanding of the watershed value of
natural forest stand against that of a reconstructed forest or tree
plantation
✓misguided notion of the general public that simply greening an
area is as good as ecosystem restoration
✓absence of adequate data on forest biodiversity
Natural Regeneration
Ecological enrichment through Agroforestry
Rehabilitation of forest reserves and Protected Areas

DENR-PAWB 2003
Biodiversity Indicator: Species Approach
KEYSTONE SPECIES - The type on which many others
depend for biological needs such as food and shelter.
SENSITIVE SPECIES - The type which exhibit the tendency to disappear
from a site or habitat when subjected to external disturbances, they have a
narrow range of tolerance to environmental changes.
TOLERANT SPECIES - can withstand changes to their environment
and are thus useful for studying the impacts and consequences of
the said changes on the species itself and the ecosystem within
which it exists.
ENDEMIC SPECIES - In light of the exclusive nature of endemic
species within a certain area, they also serve well as indicators of
habitat and ecosystem health.
UMBRELLA SPECIES - This type of
species covers those with a large habitat
or range, therefore exerting a major
ecological influence on the community.
FLAGSHIP SPECIES - This
qualification covers species which
have caught the sympathy and
support of the public, thus serving
a role as an aspirational icon for
ecological conservation.
CHARISMATIC SPECIES - charismatic species are
well known to the public and are regarded as symbols
of the conservation agenda. The reason for their
popularity is their distinctive features, such as size,
colorful appearance, and the like.
What are the threats to Species?
H – is for Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation
I- is for Invasive Species
P- is for Population growth (human pressure)
P- is for Pollution
C- is for Climate Change
O- is for Overexploitation
National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)
• The National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 (Republic
Act No. 7586, NIPAS Act).
• The NIPAS Act provides the legal framework for the establishment and
management of protected areas (PAs) in the Philippines, and that the use
and enjoyment of these protected areas must be consistent with the
principles of biological diversity and sustainable development.
• It is the classification and management of all designated PAs, in order to
maintain essential ecological processes and life support systems,
preserve genetic diversity, ensure sustainable use of resources found
therein, and maintain their natural conditions to the greatest extent
possible.
https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/ph/ph070en.pdf
 Category Description
Strict nature reserve An area possessing some outstanding ecosystem, features and/or species of flora and fauna of national scientific
importance maintained to protect nature and maintain processes in an undisturbed state in order to have ecologically
representative examples of the natural environment available for scientific study, environmental monitoring,
education, and for the maintenance of genetic resources in a dynamic and evolutionary state.

Nature Park Purpose A relatively large area not materially altered by human activity where extractive resource uses are not allowed and
maintained to protect outstanding natural and scenic areas of national or international significance for scientific,
educational and recreational use.

Natural Monument A relatively small area focused on protection of small features to protect or preserve nationally significant natural
features on account of their special interest or unique characteristics.

Wildlife sanctuary An area which assures the natural conditions necessary to protect nationally significant species, groups of species,
biotic communities or physical features of the environment where these may require specific human manipulations
for their perpetuation.

Protected Landscapes Areas of national significance which are characterized by the harmonious interaction of man and land while providing
and seascapes opportunities for public enjoyment through the recreation and tourism within the normal lifestyle and economic activity
of these areas.

Resource Reserve An extensive and relatively isolated and uninhabited area normally with difficult access designated as such to protect
natural resources of the area for future use and prevent or contain development activities that could affect the
resource pending the establishment of objectives which are based upon appropriate knowledge and planning.

Natural Biotic Areas An area set aside to allow the way of life of societies living in harmony with the environment to adapt to modern
technology at their pace.

Other categories Any category established by Law, conventions or international agreements which the Philippine government is a
 International Union for the Conservation of Nature
• IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the
world’s most comprehensive information source on the global
conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species.
Convention in the International Trade of Endangered Species
of flora and fauna (CITES)
• Broadly accepted global environmental agreement to use trade
measures as a way to protect the environment.