MANONGSONG, Clifford Michael B.

SCI-TECH
BSSW 1 ACTIVITY 1 - FINALS

1. How has the COVID-19 pandemic effected biodiversity? What is the

impact on the survival and growth of various ecologically important
species of plants and animals in the Philippines? You may attach
pictures in order to clearly show the impact of the pandemic on our
environment.

The COVID-19 epidemic has wreaked havoc on both people and

businesses. Government-imposed curfews and other
public-health measures to shield civilians from the
virus have triggered an unparalleled economic
downturn. COVID-19 has spread over the world at
breakneck speed, killing hundreds of thousands and
infecting millions. The development of COVID-19 has
highlighted the reality that destroying
biodiversity destroys the system that sustains
human life. The more rich and diverse an ecosystem is,
the more difficult it is for a single virus to spread fast or
dominate; on the other hand, biodiversity loss permits illnesses to
transfer from animals to humans. Covid-19 garbage has developed as a
new sort of pollution, according to several stories and articles I've
seen and read, as single-use personal protection equipment (PPE)
floods our waters, endangering the lives of marine species. Although
the impact on marine habitats is unknown, the pandemic is likely to
have hampered organizations that preserve national waterways and
marine protected zones. As a result of the pandemic reaction, there
has been evidence of a rise in plastic pollution.

The ongoing economic and social upheavals caused by the COVID-19

pandemic are anticipated to offer major problems for
existing and future biodiversity conservation
projects. When the epidemic hit the Philippines,
the country's lockdown, which was one of the
harsdest in the world at the time, fueled demand
for greens among Filipinos yearning for nature.
Despite the relaxation of limitations, the
gardening passion has persisted, and there have
been accusations that vendors are digging up
endangered species in the highlands and woods. Natural
habitats are steadily dwindling, causing animals to dwell in closer
proximity to one another and to people than ever before. We destroy
ecosystems and risk viruses from animals finding new hosts, which is
us, since some people choose to invade forests and natural
environments for economic gain, while others are compelled to seek
resources for survival.
MANONGSONG, Clifford Michael B. SCI-TECH
BSSW 1 ACTIVITY 1 - FINALS

Lacking protection, also with rising pressures from large

scale immigration and poverty in biodiversity-
rich developing and underdeveloped countries,
hunting, quarrying, forestry, and illnesses
might jeopardize the biodiversity of
concern. The current epidemic was
triggered by human activities, and
modifying human behavior toward animals
might assist to avert future pandemics.
We must stop unchecked habitat destruction and regulate the
trafficking in wild animals to prevent future epidemics. Additionally,
environmental factors are moving displaced animal species into new
areas, allowing them to mingle with other species or prospective
hosts. As people migrate deeper into woods, these changes, together
with greater human-animal interaction, enhance the chances of a rabid
virus crossing species. People are blaming bats for the outbreak, but
it's critical, in my opinion, that people understand that our
adversaries are diseases, not bats. And, in order to more successfully
combat these viruses, we must first comprehend their evolutionary
relationship with bats, as well as how human activity influences that
relationship.

The urgency to restore destroyed biodiversity has

never been greater than it is now.
Ecosystems are essential for all life on
Earth. The stronger our biodiversity,
the better the world and its inhabitants
feel that investing in nature and
focusing on a green recovery is the best
way ahead in order to avert not just
prospective pandemics, but also present environmental concerns like
climate change and biodiversity disintegration. Biodiversity and
healthy ecosystems are critical to our long-term health and
prosperity. During COVID-19, we have been educated about the value of
nature to our well-being and everyday lives by practicing physical
distancing and spending more time than normal in our houses to keep
our families and communities safe. We must continue to invest in
environmental preservation and the battle against climate change while
we work together to re-establish our economy, because you can't have a
plan for the economy without a plan for the environment. I encourage
my fellow students, Filipinos, as well as all people throughout the
world to make a part in making the world more ecological and
equitable, as well as taking steps to safeguard our environment. We
MANONGSONG, Clifford Michael B. SCI-TECH
BSSW 1 ACTIVITY 1 - FINALS

must conserve our biodiversity in the face of a pandemic in order to

rescue ourselves.