ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

I. Definition and concepts of biodiversity

Biological Diversity is coined in 1980 by a conservation biologist (Thomas Lovejoy)
Biodiversity coined by W.G. Rosen in 1985, then first appeared in publication in 1988 the variety of
life in all its forms
Biodiversity is:
variation of life at all levels of biological organization
essentially the variety of life in all its forms (a synonym of 'Life on Earth')

Types of the biodiversity:

1) Ecosystem diversity
The coarsest scale of biodiversity is community level diversity: Groups of species together occupying a
locality (an ecosystem).
Communities are shaped by:
The physical environment of an ecosystem, Succession, Niche, carrying capacity, Food webs & guilds,
Keystone species crucial to the community.
Keystone resources (e.g. mangroves, elevational gradients)
2. Genetic diversity
Genetic diversity is the sum total of the genes in each organism that inhabit the earth.
The gene, as a factor of heredity is passed on from parent to
offspring and determines the physical characteristics that will be
expressed in every generation.
The gene is a storage facility, a repository of genetic information.
3. Species diversity
An estimated 1.7 million species have been described to date; estimates for the total number of
species existing on earth at present vary from five million to nearly 100 million.
A conservative working estimate suggests there could be around 14 million.

II. The values of biodiversity

Biodiversity value
Ecological Values:
All living creatures are supported by the interactions
among organisms and ecosystems. Loss of biodiversity makes ecosystems less stable, more
vulnerable to extreme events, and weakens its natural cycles.

Carbon and oxygen cycles: Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is generated by animal respiration,
plant decay and the burning of fossil fuels
Nitrogen cycle: Nitrogen is needed by all living organisms, and it makes up a large component of
Earth's atmosphere. In its natural atmospheric form, nitrogen is not directly accessible to most
organisms, so it needs to be converted, primarily by bacteria living on the roots of certain plants.
Their daily activities help ecosystems functioning. In turn, these ecosystems support life. Healthy
ecosystems are more stable and more adaptable to any change, such as extreme events like drought

Economic Values: A biologically diverse natural environment provides humans with the necessities of
life and forms the basis for the economy. Everything we buy and sell originates from the natural
world.
Nature provides the raw materials we need for survival, and forms the basis for the global economy
Everything we use in our daily lives was originally derived from the natural world Scientists have
identified and named about 270,000 species of plants. Tropical rain forests support some of Earth's
highest levels of biodiversity. At least 1,650 known tropical forest plants have the potential to be
grown as vegetable crops
Nature is also the source for many medicines such as aspirin, heart stimulants, antibiotics, anti-
malarial and cancer fighting compounds
Climate regulation, water purification, soil regeneration, nutrient cycling. waste recirculation, crop
pollination and production of timber, fodder, and biomass are provided by our living environment for
free.

Cultural Values: Most people feel connected to nature, often for reasons
hard to explain. Some feel a strong spiritual bond that may be rooted in our common biological
ancestory. Others are inspired by its beauty. Human cultures around the world profoundly reflect our
visceral attachment to the natural world. Thus cultural diversity is linked to Earth's biodiversity.
From aboriginal creation myths and other ancient religions to the work of generations of artists,
poets, musicians and storytellers, nature has been the foundation of human cultural identities,
spiritual practices and creative expression throughout the ages
"The co-evolution of culture, life forms, and habitats has conserved the biological diversity of this
planet. Cultural diversity and biological diversity go hand in hand."

FOREST: Treasure Chest of BIODIVERSITY

• Almost 1/2 of today's main food crops were originally discovered in the rainforest
• Plants that originated or still live in the forests provide us with various fruits, nuts, and grains, etc.,

FOREST: PHARMACY IN THE JUNGLE

MEDICAL DEPENDENCE ON BIODIVERSITY
Only 5,000 plants have been studied as potential medicine sources
40% of all prescription drugs are extracted from plants and animals
Traditional healers in Southeast Asia use at least 6,500 plant species as medicines

We Need Biodiversity!
# By the numbers
Number of trees used for paper
yearly: 4 Billion
Tons of carbon dioxide consumed by photosynthetic organisms each year
250 Billion
Worldwide yearly production of top 4 major types of livestock (tons):
875 Billion
Worldwide yearly production of top 10 major food crops (tons): 5 Trillion
Number of beneficial microbes living in and on a single human: 100 Trillion

Diverse organisms help us

The organisms below directly and indirectly affect humans.
Trees
Shelter and manufacturing
Photosynthetic organisms Produce sugars; consume CO
Animals Food; crop pollination
Crop plants Food; clothing and fabrics
Microbes Food and medicine production: protection from pathogens

III. Role of biodiversity in climate change mitigation

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO BIODIVERSITY (Effects of climate change on forests and forestry)
1) Increased drought stresses forests
2) More forest fire and forest damage
3) Drought-tolerant species invade
4) Lower seedling survival
5) Drought-intolerant species regenerate poorly
6) New pest infestations
7) Changes to when forests are harvested
8) Replanting with more drought-tolerant species
9) Lower water table reduces soil moisture
IV. Philippine forests and biodiversity
PHILIPPINES
One of the richest in terms of biological resources
240 Protected Areas 228 Key Biodiversity Areas
One of only 17 mega-diverse countries for harboring wildlife species found nowhere else in the world
More than 52,000 described species, about half of which are endemic
Home to 5 of 7 known marine turtle speciesin the world green, hawksbill, olive ridley, loggerhead,
and leatherback turtles
Second-largest archipelago in the world
comprising more than 7,500 islands
At least 118 species of amphibians, 82% are endemic
At least 352 species of reptiles, 69% are endemic
4th most important country endemism with at least 700 birds species, 34% are endemic
25th in
the world in terms of total plant species, half of which are endemic

V. Philippines as a biodiversity hotspot

4 Philippine Endemic Genera of Ferns

 Psomiacarpa apiifolia
 Tectaridium macleani
 Podosorus angustatus
 Nannothelypteris (5)

14 Philippine Endemic Genera of Angiosperms

 Fenixia pauciflora
 Reutealis trisperma
 Thaumasianthes amplifolia
 Astrocalyx calycina
 Phragmorchis teretifolia
 Amesiella (3)
 Antherostele (5)
 Greeniopsis (6)
 Swinglea glutinosa
 Gloeocarpus patentivalvis
 Gongrospermum philippinense
 Leptosolena haenkei
 Villaria (11)
 Vanoverberghia (5)

THE CYCADS
The most primitive seed plants
Gymnosperms comprising plants with palm-like leaves and habit
115 known species worldwide
13 (12) species in the Philippines, 5 are Palawan endemic
• Cycas curranil
 • Cycas edentata
• Cycas sancti-lasallei
• Cycas wadei
• Cycas nitida

THE MAGNOLIAS
• an ancient genus believed to exist 95 mya
• 336 known species worldwide (Linsky et al. 2022)
• 88 spp. in SE Asia, 9 in the Philippines
• known for its large, colorful, fragrant flowers, with undifferentiated corolla
• Magnolia angatensis
• Magnolia liliifera
• Magnolia platyphylla
• Magnolia pterpcarpa
• Magnolia liliifera
• Magnolia fovoelata

THE ORCHIDS
Biggest plant group in SE Asia
28,000 species, 763 genera
About 15% of Philippine flowering plants
• Aerides
• Amesiella
• Paphiopedilum
• Vanda
• Arachnis
• Bulbophyllum
• Calanthe
• Vanilla

THE PITCHER PLANTS (Nepenthes)

Carnivorous plants, "Monkey cup
Around 170 species mostly in Sumatra, Borneo and Philippines (59)
Male and female flowers on separate plants
• Nepenthes attenboroughii
• Nepenthes ventricosa
• Nepenthes argenti
THE MEDINILLAS
418 species worldwide, 91 species in the Philippines
with large panicle flowers, colorful bracts
Can live as ground shrub and/or epiphyte
• Medinilla cephalophora
• Medinilla polilensis
• Medinilla annulata
• Medinilla teysmani
• Medinilla inaequifolia
• Medinilla magnifica
Amorphophallus
Amorphos = without form + phallos - penis
200 species worldwide, 20 spp. in the Philippines
Known as corpse flower because of its pungent odor
• Amorphophallus cidarioides
• Amorphophallus yaor
• Amorphophallus pelawanensis
• Amorphophallus minimus
• Amorphophallus declinatua
• Amorphophallus caudatus
• Amorphophallus netoll
• Amorphophallus flammeus
• Amorphophallus paeonitfullus
• Amorphophallus
• Amorphophallus calcicole
THE RAFFLESIA
• World's largest solitary flower
• Endoparasitic plant that fully depends on its host
• 42 known species all in SE Asia
• Known as corpse flower
WHERE TO FIND THEM
Unknown to many, the Philippines is the center of species diversity of Rafflesia.
15 species distributed on major islands - Luzon, Panay, Negros and Mindanao
Unconfirmed reports on Mindoro, Bohol and Jolo
Possible new species from Surigao, Cordillera Central and Bicol Peninsula
Luzon Species
1) Rafflesia aurantia
2) Rafflesia baletei
3) Rafflesia banahawensis
4) Rafflesia banaoana
5) Rafflesia camarinensis
6) Rafflesia consueloae
7) Rafflesia leonardi
8) Rafflesia panchoana

DIVERSITY OF PHILIPPINE NATIVE TREES

PRO-SEEDS 2017 (onwards)
ENDEMIC: 1,487
NATIVE: 3,283
DICOTS: 3,155 (96.1%)
• PALMS: 87 2.7%
• GYMNOSPERMS 41, 1.25%
FAMILIES 132
TAXA 3,391
GENERA 645
Mapilig (Xanthostemon bracteatus)
Palawan Mangkono (X. speciosus)
Sierra madre Mangkono (X. fruticosus)
Mangkono (X. verdugonianus)
More than 150 new species were described in the last 10 years
NEW SPECIES ALERT!
Scaevola subalpina (Goodeniaceae)
Medinilio simplicymosa
Helicia danlagunzadii

Hundreds are still waiting for publication

Lepidaria canivelii A.B. Tobias, Malabrigo, A.G.Umali & Eduarte (in review)
Rafflesia balatociana Tobias, Malabrigo & Thorogood (in review)
Sonerila multiflora A.G.Umali, Malabrigo

CURRENT STATE OF PHILIPPINE FORESTS

From 2002 to 2020, Philippines lost 151kha of humid primary forest, making up 12% of its total tree
cover loss in the same time period. Total area of humid primary forest in Philippines decreased by
839 Threatened plant species
• 179 CR
• 254 EN
• 406 VU
The Rare and Threatened Flowers
Many species are restricted to only one locality, and due to various threats, all species are
facing high risk of extinction
TEN < CRITICALLY >
FOUR <ENDANGERED>
ONE <VULNERABLE>

• How to contribute for biodiversity conservation

CARBON VALUATION
How much carbon is in this tree?
Each ton of dry tree weight (biomass) equals one-half ton of carbon.
Ex. This tree weighs 10 tons, so 1025 tons of carbon stored in the tree.

How much carbon dioxide (CO₂) will be released if this tree is burned?
One ton of carbon produces 3.67 tons of (CO₂) if the tree is burned.
Ex. This tree has 5 tons of carbon, so 5 x 3.67 18.35 tons of CO₂ that could be released.
MAINSTREAM BIODIVERSITY
UNDERSTAND BIODIVERSITY
Ex. of books: ALAY PHILIPPINE NATIVE TREES, Alay
BIODIVERSITY CRISIS
Documenting what is here before it is gone....

MORE SERIOUS BIODIVERSITY CRISIS

Taxonomists an endangered species
"People who can not sustain environment will soon live in an environment that can not sustain
people" -Mahatma Ghandi