Final Exam for MMEP-614

A glass of water taken from the pond is an ecosystem or not? Could you observe the
cardinal principles of ecosystems in it?
An ecosystem is a biological community where all of the biologically relevant organisms and the
non-living resources interact to maintain a balance. Ecosystems provide us with clean air, water,
food, and many other necessities. Nowadays it is difficult to find an ecosystem that is protected
from human impacts and development.
Therefore, a glass of water taken from the pond is not an ecosystem because there is no balance
in it. To observe the principles of the ecosystem, one needs to consider both living and non-
living resources, which are missing in a glass of water taken from the pond.
a) Energy is another important concept of ecosystems, which describes the capacity of an
organism to transform energy into forms, needed for its growth and development. Ecosystems
require sunlight as a major source of energy for many organisms including plants, animals, and
microorganisms.
b) The third concept of the ecosystem is stability. The stability of an ecosystem is the capacity of
the system to resist change and retain its integrity. There should not be any change in the quality
of resources provided by the environment.
c) Mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism are three types of symbiotic relationships between
organisms. In symbiosis, two different organisms live together in a close association, each
benefiting from the other or from their interaction with each other.
Furthermore, it takes time to conclude if the glass of water from the pond becomes an ecosystem
because the life cycle requires a process to complete.
Identify a type of ecosystem (whether terrestrial or aquatic) and enumerate at least two
major issues/challenges being faced by that ecosystem. What actions or policies will you
propose to address such issues/challenges)?
Forest ecosystems dominated by deciduous trees (or trees that lose their leaves annually) are
called deciduous or temperate deciduous forests. Mid-latitude regions, between the polar and
tropical regions of the Earth, are characterized by year-round rainfall (30-60mm) and cold
winters (below freezing).
Countries like Canada, the United States, Japan, China, and Russia, as well as many in Europe,
have a higher incidence of this than other regions. Broadleaf deciduous trees such as oak
(Quercus genus) and maple (Acer genus) are found in deciduous forests, along with numerous
other plant species, including mosses, lichens, and smaller plants. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus
virginianus), bison (genus Bison), and Asian black bears are all residents of this biome (Ursus
thibetanus.).
There are two major challenges faced by deciduous forests. First, deforestation is a major
problem. If large forests are cut, then the forest loses its value as a habitat for many species of
animals and plants. The second challenge is air pollution. Smog, which is produced from burning
fossil fuels like coal and petroleum, can cover vast portions of deciduous forest and cause mass
die-offs of plants and trees within that area.
The following policies may be used to address those challenges. The first policy that might be
suggested would be limiting logging to preserve certain sections of the forest (i.e. National
Forest areas or on national parks) to protect the different species of animals and plants that live
there, as well as the ecosystem itself. The second policy would be to use alternative fuels, like
natural gas and charcoal, which will not cause as much pollution, but also may cause problems
for other animals that rely on the forest for food.
What is the end goal of protected areas? What are the possible factors that can contribute
towards the attainment of that goal?
The end goal of the protected areas movement is to provide a suitable habitat for wildlife and
plants. This goal can be achieved by combining the factors of biodiversity, sustainable use, and
ecosystem services. the possible factors that can contribute to the attainment of this goal are
conservation genetics, landscape-level threats, species distribution, and extinction risk.
The conservation genetics movement is a relatively new but rapidly growing field of
conservation biology concerned with the genetic basis of biological diversity. It explores the
consequences of the different ways in which populations evolve through time. The means by
which this happens include breeding between species and population bottlenecks. There are
many examples that illustrate how these processes have caused recent extinctions.
The DENR-BFAR or DENR-DA, among others, have overlapping mandates towards
management or utilization of a typical resource (e.g. uplands, coastal/marine, etc.). How
can we address such overlapping mandates of these government entities?
Overlapping mandates of these government agencies on the utilization and management of
typical resources (e.g. uplands, coastal/marine) may create conflicts in the management of such
resources. This may result in a prolonged period of inaction for final decisions and interventions
on such issues as in their respective management activities, policies, and decision-making
processes (e.g., soil erosion control, water pollution treatment). To address this issue, these
government agencies should come up with a clear delineation of their respective mandates in
order to maximize the efficiency of their services. This could be done through policy
coordination and/or boundary review.
Overlapping government agencies have resulted in conflicts in the utilization and management of
typical Philippine natural resources. This can be seen, for example, in the overlapping mandates
between DENR-BFAR or DENR-DA, among others, on the management of a typical resource
(e.g., uplands). These agencies should work together in order to maximize the usage and
protection of such resources.
Once a clearer delineation of their respective mandates is made by these agencies, they will be
able to coordinate their efforts in the utilization and management of a typical resource. In this
case, DENR-BFAR or DENR-DA might collaborate with each other in order to protect and
improve the utilization of the uplands in their respective jurisdictional areas. This can also
benefit additional government agencies that also have overlapping mandates on a typical
resource.
Minerals (those that are being mined out), fossil fuels (coal and petroleum), and other
natural resources could soon be depleted due to overexploitation and unsustainable use.
What management interventions could you recommend to avoid depletion of these natural
resources?
The increased demand for fossil fuels is due to the rise in industrialization and mechanization.
Minerals are being used for constructing buildings, manufacturing machines, making fertilizers
and pesticides, producing plastic products and other chemicals, and road building and as a result
of industrialization depletion of these minerals is becoming very important. There are ways how
to properly utilize these natural resources and avoid overexploitation and unsustainable use.
First, the mineral extraction industries should be well regulated to ensure that the protection of
the environment and human health are taken into account while mining is being carried out.
Secondly, the extraction of minerals should be done in a sustainable way with the presentation of
financial incentives as well. This is because, although most of these minerals are found in remote
areas that are not easily accessible it is still possible to use them sustainably with proper
management techniques. The unbalanced use and over-exploitation lead to depletion. Therefore,
the industries should be encouraged to adopt conservation measures and renewable energy
sources should be used instead of fossil fuels.
State the major differences of RA 7586 and RA 11038. What is your reaction about such
differences? Discuss.
To discuss the difference between RA 7586 and RA 11038, there are two points of distinction to
be discussed below.
As for the emphasis on the full implementation by involving the Local Government Units, the
RA 11038 recognizes the profound impact of human activities on all components of the natural
environment, especially the effects of increasing population, resource exploitation, and industrial
advancement, and recognizing the critical importance of protecting and maintaining the natural,
biological, and physical diversities of the environment, particularly on areas with biologically
unique features to sustain human life and development, as well as plant and animal life. These
areas, while distinct, possess common ecological values that may be incorporated into a holistic
plan to conserve and protect our natural heritage. Effective administration of these areas is
possible only through cooperation among the national government, local governments,
concerned nongovernment organizations, private organizations, and local communities. The use
and enjoyment of these protected areas must be strengthened. To safeguard ecologically rich and
distinctive places, biogeographic zones, terrestrial, wetland, and marine ecosystems, a National
Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) is constructed. Recognize LGUs, local communities,
and indigenous peoples (IPs).
As for the emphasis on the full implementations by involving the Local Government Units, the
RA 7586, Recognizes the profound impact of man's activities on all components of the natural
environment, especially the effects of increasing population, resource exploitation, and industrial
advancement, and recognizing the critical importance of protecting and maintaining the natural
biological and physical diversities of the environment to sustain human life and development, it
is hereby declared. It is recognized that these areas, while distinct in features, possess common
ecological values that may be incorporated into a holistic plan representative of our natural
heritage; that effective administration of this area is possible only through cooperation among the
national government, local government, and concerned private organizations; and that use and
enjoyment of these protected areas must be consistent with biological diversity and
sustainability. NIPAS is aimed to protect outstandingly noteworthy places, biologically
important public lands, biogeographic zones, and related terrestrial, wetland, and marine
ecosystems.

Submitted by: Henry D. Carbo

Submitted to: Prof. Bondee L. Penaflor