COURSE UNIT 13

Environmental Laws:
Its Categories and
Sources
CRDI422 - Introduction to Environmental Laws and

Protection
TOPICS
ISSUES TO TACKLE

Philosophies and Principles of

Environmental Law

Historical Development and Current

Status of Environmental Law in the

Philippines

Fundamental legal Basis of

Environmental Protection and

Conservation

The Green, Blue and Brown Laws.

OUR COMMON GROUND

The Earth is what we

all have in common.
WENDELL BERRY
WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL LAW?
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IS A BODY OF LAW
DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT FROM DEGRADATION
BECAUSE OF HUMAN INFLUENCES.
https://nationalaglawcenter.org/ ENVIRONMENTAL LAW DESCRIBES A
NETWORK OF REGULATIONS AND
CUSTOMARY LAWS THAT ADDRESS THE
EFFECTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITY ON THE
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THESE LAWS ARE
ALSO REFERRED TO AS ENVIRONMENTAL
AND NATURAL RESOURCE LAWS AND
CENTER ON THE IDEA OF ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION.
https://unity.edu/environmental-careers
 WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION?
Environmental Protection includes programs that are aimed at reducing
risks to the environment from contaminants such as hazardous materials
and wastes, fuels, and oils. These programs address pollution prevention
measures and regulatory compliance by providing procedures for safely
working with these materials, inspecting the storage vessels and
locations, and designating preventative maintenance procedures. Also
included are environmental emergency plans, which provide the
appropriate actions to be taken in the event of a spill or release.
https://ehs.psu.edu/environmental-protection
 ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION
PRESERVATION
Environmental Conservation is the practice of
Preservation, in contrast to conservation, attempts to
preserving the natural world to prevent it from
maintain in their present condition areas of the Earth
collapsing as a result of human activities, such as
that are so far untouched by humans. The lands and
unsustainable agriculture, deforestation, and burning
their natural resources should not be consumed by
of fossil fuels. It is the wise management and
humans and should instead be maintained in their
utilization of natural renewable resources in a
pristine form.
sustainable manner to ensure the maintenance of

biodiversity.
 COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL
VIOLATIONS AND CRIMES

GREEN LAWS BLUE LAWS BROWN LAWS

Green laws are those that

deal with the protection,

conservation, utilization

and development of

forests, other land-based

natural resources, and

wildlife. Green is the

color used since lands

and forests are generally

PD 705 REVISED FORESTRY CODE
supposed to be green.

Land-based wildlife also

AND E.O. 23, SERIES 2011
consider the forests as
RA 7586 (NIPAS 1992) & RA
their habitat, thus, they
11038 (E-NIPAS)
are included under the
RA 9072 NATIONAL CAVES AND
green laws. CAVE RESOURCES ACT &
RA 9147 WILDLIFE RESOURCES
Referring to the color of

the seas, oceans, and

other bodies of water,

blue laws refer to laws

which deal with the

PD 1067 WATER CODE &
protection, conservation RA8550 FISHERIES CODE
and utilization of waters, (RA10654) &
marine life, and aquatic

resources. Blue laws

RA9275 CLEAN WATER ACT
encompass both inland

waters such as rivers,

lakes, and streams, and

the seas and oceans,

whether part of the

country’s territory or not.

Brown laws refer to laws

and rules which deal with

pollution control and the

regulation of activities
RA 6969 TOXIC SUBSTANCES
which could affect the & RA 8749 CLEAN AIR ACT
environment. These laws
RA 9279 CLIMATE CHANGE
and rules include those

which control hazardous

ACT (RA 10174) & RA 9175
and toxic wastes and CHAINSAW ACT OF 2002
chemicals, solid waste RA 9003 ECOLOGICAL SOLID
management, and rules

on the conduct of
WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT
environmental impact
2003
assessments.