PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT

AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

Name
Instructor
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT

 1. NATURE KNOWS BEST

This principle is the most basic and, in fact, encompasses all the
others. In essence people must not go against the natural process if
they would like to ensure a continuous and steady supply of
resources. In nature, nutrients pass from the environment to the
organism and back to the environment. Any disruption in the cycle
can bring about imbalance.
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT

 2. ALL FORMS OF LIFE ARE IMPORTANT

Each organism plays a fundamental role in nature. All living things

must be considered valuable in the maintenance of stability in an
ecosystem. It is easy to appreciate the beautiful butterflies ,
especially knowing their important role in pollination.
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT

 3. EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING ELSE

In an ecosystem, all components interact with each other to

ensure the system is continued. Any outside interference may
result in an imbalance. Deforestation in the mountains may affect
the lowlands, resulting in floods, drought, or erosion. What
happens in one country may even affect other countries.
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT

 4. EVERYTHING CHANGES

The only permanent thing is change. Change may be linear,

cyclical, or random. An example of linear change is the
evolution of a species. Cyclical changes is the eruption of
a volcano, like Mt. Pinatubo bringing great upheaval in
many parts of Luzon.
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT

  5. EVERYTHING MUST GO SOMEWHERE

When a piece of paper is thrown away, it disappears from sight

but it does not cease to exist. It simply goes somewhere else.
Wastes can either be pollutants or resources. We need to change
or "throw-away" society attitude in order to develop better methods
of waste management and recycling.
 PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT

  6. OURS IS A FINITE EARTH
The earth's resources can be classified as either renewable
or
nonrenewable. Renewable resources, like water, air, plants,
and animals, can easily be replenished by natural cycles.
Nonrenewable resources, like minerals, oil, and coal cannot
be replenished through natural cycles. Awareness of the
earth's limited resources should lead to a conscious effort to
change one’s attitude as a consumer.
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT

7. NATURE IS BEAUTIFUL AND WE ARE STEWARDS

OF GOD’S CREATION

This principle is inherent in most religious and tribal beliefs,

teachings of Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam enjoin everyone to
respect all life and order of nature. This law also tells us that
there
are limits to the population that an area can support to prevent
exhaustion of resources, limits to the amount of yield that
an area can produce at a particular time to maintain its ability
to sustain life.  
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT
8. THE AMOUNT OF LIFE NATURE CAN SUPPORT IS LIMITED
Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a
given species which can be supported by a particular habitat or
ecosystem without damaging it. For example, a typical Filipino
bahay kubo can only support a limited number of family members;
the presence of too many residents results in overcrowding.
Therefore, nature has its own processes or mechanisms to
regulate the population of a species within or environment.
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT
9.
 HUMAN PROGRESS MUST CONSIDER ITS EFFECT
on NATURE

Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without

comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs. Development is viewed as essential in improving the
quality of human life, yet human activities often change
the environment and destroy or damage natural resources.
Sustainable development strives for human progress without
threatening the environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
REPUBLIC ACT 9003
ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT of 2000

 Provides the legal framework for the country’s

systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid
waste management program that shall ensure
protection of public health and the environment.
It underscores, among other things, the need to
create the necessary institutional mechanisms and
incentives , as well as imposes penalties for acts in
violation of any of its provisions.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9729
CLIMATE CHANGE ACT OF 2009

 Anact mainstreaming climate change into

government policy formulations, establishing the
framework strategy and program on climate
change, creating for this purpose the climate
change commission and for other purposes.
REPUBLIC ACT 9275
PHILIPPINE CLEAN WATER ACT OF 2004

The law aims to protect the country's water bodies from

pollution from land-based sources (industries and commercial
establishments, agriculture and community/household
activities). It provides for comprehensive and integrated
strategy to prevent and minimize pollution through a multi-
sectoral and participatory approach involving all the
stakeholders.
REPUBLIC ACT 8749
PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT OF 1999

The law aims to achieve and maintain

clean air that meets the National Air Quality
guideline values for criteria pollutants,
throughout the Philippines, while minimizing
the possible associated impacts to the
economy.
REPUBLIC ACT 6969
TOXIC SUBSTANCES, HAZARDOUS AND NUCLEAR
WASTE CONTROL ACT OF 1990

The law aims to regulate restrict or prohibit the importation, manufacture,

processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures
the present unreasonable risk to human health. It likewise prohibits the entry, even
in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into the Philippine
territorial limits for whatever purpose; and to provide advancement and facilitate
research and studies on toxic chemicals.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7942
PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995

 Is the governing law that regulates mineral

resources development in the country.
 One of the primary objectives of this act is to
revitalize the ailing Philippine mining industry by
providing fiscal reforms and incentives and
maintaining the viable inventory of minerals
to sustain the industry.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485
ANIMAL WELFARE ACT OF 1998

 Act to protect and promote the welfare of all

animals in the Philippines by supervising and
regulating the establishment and operations of all
facilities utilized for breeding, maintaining, keeping,
treating or training of all animals either
as object of trade or as household pets.
 Pet animal should include bird