Lesson 3.

3: Flora & Fauna Assessment

Lesson Summary

Flora and fauna have enormous contribution on socioeconomic stability,

biodiversity conservation, and sustainable production of water in a given
watershed. Information on the various species of plants and animals is vital
for their sustainable use and management. As the tropics are in the verge of
destruction due to various threats like logging, wildlife hunting, mining, and
others, we need to know the remaining flora and fauna in watersheds so that
their protection and conservation will form part in the watershed management
plan. As we go over this lesson, we will learn why we need to characterize or
assess them. Students in this class are also expected to read related articles
from various sources. There are a number of materials on flora and fauna that
can be obtained from the internet. They can help students broaden their
knowledge on this topic.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this class, students are expected to:
1. Outline the threats affecting flora and fauna in watersheds; and
2. Discuss the importance of assessing flora and fauna in watersheds.

Motivation Question
What is the most serious threat to flora and fauna in your locality?

Discussion

Philippines watersheds are unique haven of various flora and fauna with
ecological and economic importance. According to the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD, 2021), 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 (CBD,
2021).
Furthermore, CBD (2021) pointed out that 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 (CBD, 2021).

CBD (2021) added that threats to biodiversity differ from one ecosystem
to another. In the forest ecosystem, the primary causes of forest loss are
commercial exploitation and population growth (including lifestyle and
consumption patterns) and the introduction of invasive alien species. Loss
of biodiversity in the agricultural ecosystem is a direct consequence of
habitat destruction via conversion of agricultural land to other uses; the
possible negative impacts of biotechnology; natural calamities or extreme
weather events associated with climate change; introduction of invasive
alien species, pests and diseases; and inherent institutional problems of
government agencies responsible for conserving agrobiodiversity. Yet the
observed decline is also the indirect result of the increased demand for
food, land and other agro-based resources; pursuit of economic growth
through intensive agriculture, export-oriented policies and the promotion
of extractive industries, such as mining, that are potentially damaging to
the environment; and lifestyle change of farmers brought about by
urbanization. Major threats to inland water biodiversity, as well as marine
and coastal environments, include chemical pollution and eutrophication,
fisheries operations, habitat alteration, invasion of alien species and
global climate change (CBD, 2021).

Due to the various threats of flora and fauna in the Philippine watersheds,
there is a need to assess them so that necessary control measures can
be formulated as part of watershed management plan .

Learning Tasks/Activities
1. Identify three species of flora and three species of fauna from your
locality that are threatened by various resources extraction. Provide
photos and explanation as necessary.
2. Identify major ordinances or policies in your locality supporting the
protection and conservation of those threatened flora and fauna.

Assessment
1. Explain the role of flora and fauna in enhancing the environmental
services of a given watershed.
 2. Provide at least one method of assessing floral species and one method
for faunal species.

Instructions on how to submit student output

Submit your answers on the learning tasks and assessment above one week
after I posted this module in our virtual classroom or after you receive this
module.