PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY

Reports show that in many islands of the Philippine archipelago, there is a high number of endemic plants and animals (endemic means found only in the Philippines). The country hosts more than 52,177 described species of which more than half is found nowhere else in the world. They say that on a per unit area basis, the Philippines shelters more diversity of life than any other country on the planet.

Conserving and Protecting Natural Resources

There are two types of natural resources on Earth - renewable and nonrenewable. What is the difference between these two kinds of resources?

The food people eat comes from plants and animals. Plants are replaced by new ones after each harvest. People also eat animals. Animals have the capacity to reproduce and are replaced when young animals are born. Water in a river or in a well may dry up. But when the rain comes the water is replaced. Plants, animals, and water are resources that can be replaced. They are renewable resources.

Most plants grow in top soil. Rain and floods wash away top soil. Can top soil be replaced easily? Soil comes from rocks and materials from dead plants and animals. It takes thousands of years for soil to form. Soil cannot be replaced easily, or it takes a very long time to replace. It is a nonrenewable resource.

Metals like copper, iron, and aluminum are abundant on Earth. But people are using them up fast. They have to dig deeper into the ground to get what they need. Coal, oil and natural gas (fossil fuels) were formed from plants and animals that lived on Earth millions of years ago. It takes millions of years for dead plants and animals to turn into fossil fuels. Soil, coal, oil and natural gas are nonrenewable resources.

Table 2. Ways People Destroy Natural Resources

Activities(1)

Effects on Natural Resources(2)

When roads are built, mountains are blown off using dynamite.

Damage natural habitats and/or kill plants and animals.

Rice fields are turned into residential or commercial centers.People cut too many trees for lumber or paper or building houses.More factories are being built to keep up with the demands of a fast growing population and industrialization.Too much mining and quarrying for the purpose of getting precious metals and stones and gravel.Some farmers use too much chemical Too much fertilizer destroys the quality

Activities(1)

Effects on Natural Resources(2)

fertilizers to replenish soil fertility. of the soil and is harmful to both human and animals.

Plastics and other garbage are burned.Cars, trucks, and tricycles that emit dark smoke (smoke belchers) are allowed to travel.

Protecting Resources in Your Own Way

All resources used by humans, including fuels, metals, and building materials, come from the Earth. Many of these resources are not in endless supply. It has taken many thousands and millions of years to develop and accumulate these resources.

To conserve natural resources is to protect or use them wisely without wasting them or using them up completely. Conserving natural resources can make them last and be available for future generations. This is what sustainability of natural resources means. Each one of us should think about how to make things sustainable. Remember: The lives of future generations depend on how we use natural resources today.