7 Laws of Nature

8/13/2019 7 Laws of Nature

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7 LAWS OF

NATURE


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1. Nature knows best.


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Mandaue City Wetlands

SHS


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2. All life forms are important.


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82 species are FOUND ONLY

in the Phi l ippines

105 species of AMPHIB IANS


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with 208

species

endemicto

the Phi l ippines

More than 254 spec ies

o f Rep ti les


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BIRDSA to tal of 576 species o f b irds

196 o f these occu r on ly in the

Phi l ippines


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Of the 179 species o f land mammals,111 spec ies are found on ly in the Phi l ipp ines

Heaney and Regalado


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Around 20,940 spec ies

o f insects

69.8% are endem ics


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estim ated 15,000 species , 50% are endemics

7080% Flowering p lants

193 Threatened spec ies


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211 Lakes, 18 major rivers ,

22 marshes, swamps and

reservoir

INLAND WATERS

PHIL IPPINE WETLANDS1616 spec ies o f aquatic p lan ts

3675 spec ies o f fauna


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MANGROVES

Around 60 mang rove plant

species in the wor ld54 mangroves and related

species occu r in thePhi l ippines

Heaney and Regalado


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Corals

462 co ral species

recorded(Werner and

Allen, 2000)Highest inthe world!!!

Eastern Papua New

Guinea with 380 species;

Ryukyu / YaeyamaIslands with 370

Great Barrier Reef,

Australia with 350


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FISH

Phil ipp ine Total = 2,459/4,000 species in the Indo -

Paci f ic region

(Fish Base 2000)

82 (po ss ibly 98) sp ecies are

Phi l ipp ine Endem ics

2,241 marine species (2/3

co ral reef-asso ciated)

209 freshwater species


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Molluscs22,000 freshwater, land and marine species

photos by Evette Lee

Seven occur in

Philippine waters

Nine species

of

Giant Clamsworldwide


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3. Everything is connected to

everything else.


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Water security is food security


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4. Everything changes.Water cycle is very crucial. Balance of the elements in the cycle can affect

all life on earth.


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5. Everything must go somewhere.


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SURFACE RUNOFF FROM THE MOUNTAIN PEAK

SURFACE RUNOFF

TOPSOIL

SOIL

NUTRIENTS

HOUSEHOLD

WASTES

CHEMICALWASTES

POLLUTANTS

PERCOLATIO

N

PRECIPITATION


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6. Ours is finite earth.


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Umapad.mpg Umapad.mpg


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7. Nature is beautiful. We are

stewards of Gods creation.


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LIVING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE


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Assessing our way of life

Evolution of the Landscape:

Primitive/Raw Nature (pristine, untouched by

man)

Early Settlements lived in harmony withnatural forces

Industrialization : Mass production

Too much extraction of natural resources Too much garbage/pollution generated

Rehabilitation, restoration and conservation


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The pristine forestWhen the first foreignersarrived in the Philippines fromadjacent Asia many thousands

of years ago, they found anarchipelago that wasremarkably rich in biodiversity& natural resources.

The lowland was blanketed almost entirely byrain forest that provided them with meatfrom wildlife, building materials, andseemingly everlasting supplies of clear, coolwater.


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The lost forest

Those natural resourceshave been squandered,so badly damaged byover-use, greed &mismanagement - manyendemic species arenow threatened - thatbiodiversity loss seemsto be a real possibility &

recovery is uncertain

The Philippines is alsoone of the mostendangered areas.Historically logged fortimber products, today,

the forests are also beingcleared for farmingneeds & fordevelopments toaccommodate thenations growing

population.

i l f


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Precious coral reefs

Coral reefs are

valuable source oforganisms forpotential medicines,they create sand forbeaches & serve as abuffer for

shorelines.

Thousands of yearsago, our Philippineseas were inhabitedby the Earth's mostdiverse marinecommunities,providing an abundantsource of food

throughout the year.

Coral reefs areprecious resource inthe ocean because oftheir beauty &biodiversity. Coralreefs are habitat tothousands of fishspecies & other

marine lifes.


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Destruction of coral reefs

Coral reefs are extremely sensitiveto changes in light, temperature

(coral bleaching), pollution & excesssediment from development &erosion, particularly the destructionof mangrove forests that naturallyabsorb sediment & nutrients thatcan suffocate coral reefs with silt &

algae blooms.

Human activity is one of thegreatest threats to coral reefs .Activities such as over fishing,damaging fishing methods, shellgleaning, collection of ornamentalfishes & coral mining, threaten reefhealth & therefore jeopardize thebenefits flowing from these

services & goods.


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Destruction of coral reefsIt is reported that some fish speciesare already disappearing because ofstressed coral reefs. The coastalbiodiversity is disappearing and itwould be difficult or it would take alonger time to restore them

If we let our coral reefs disappear,we let a valuable food & economicresource disappear, too.

The government has establishedMarine Protected Areas (MPAs),areas in the coastal environment setaside by law to conserve & protectthe enclosed environment. Fishing &other forms of human access &activities are restricted to protect the

areas ecosystem & natural resources

GTZ, thru its EnRD project with DA,supports the establishment &management of MPAs in partnermunicipalities at the local &

barangay levels

M F t


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Mangrove ForestAs breeding & nursery grounds formany fish species, mangrove areasare sources of wild fry & juvenile

fish for the aquaculture/mariculture industry. In addition,mangrove seeds & propagules canbe harvested & sold to reforestdenuded areas.

The total gain to the Philippines

for protecting its remainingmangrove ecosystem issubstantial.

Economic Value of MangrovesIn the Philippines, it is estimated that the value of acomplete mangrove ecosystem ranges from US$500 toUS$1,550 per hectare per year or at US$600/ha/yr orUS$60,000/sq. km/yr.

Using the conservative estimate of value from directbenefits of only US$600/ha/yr, the Philippines gains atleast US$83 million/year in fish production and potential

sustainable wood harvest from the existing 138,000 ha.


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Our fresh & pristine waters

Jose Rizal once spoke of clean,beautiful & wide rivers such as Pasig,

Ilaya & Pansol.

May last year, former SecretaryLito Atienza said "History tells usthat rivers have played animportant role in the country's

economic growth.


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Our polluted rivers, our dirty waters

However the Secretary further said,

"Yet, we have disregarded thisimportance and continue to dirty ourrivers and lakes by turning them intogiant septic tanks and trash bins.

of the country's421 major rivers &20 large river

basins, 50 arehighly degraded,few are ecologicallydead because ofman's abuse &neglect".

50 rivers in thecountry have beendestroyed because

people are usingthem to dump theirrubbish, leavingsome ecologicallydead


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Our polluted rivers, our dirty waters

The government has beenrelocating thousands of squattersfrom its banks, but those who

remain continue to throw theirdomestic waste into the river. 53%of the pollution in Philippine riversis due to domestic waste. thisfurther affected our drinkingwaters, eventually our lakes and

seas .


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Our fresh atmosphere, our beautiful land

the sea breeze

the fresh mountain air

the light breeze in the lowlands


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Our polluted surroundings

Yet, we allow the atmosphere tostink

by slash & burn by spontaneous combustionfrom open dumps by

Cli h


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Climate change flooding, droughts, disasters

the consequences of misuse of resources & impropermanagement of the environment


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In terms of large events & daily life, he translated the 3mortal sins into:

WastefulnessCreating too much trash

Failure to recycleEnvironmental pollution and dumping of trash (as theplastic gyre in the Pacific)Weather manipulation, especially that which couldincrease chemicals in the atmosphere

Space trash - debris dumped by space vehicles and spacestations into the atmosphere (as in adding particulates tothe atmosphere, even if they burn up on re-entry)Leading animals & plants to extinction


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Introduction: Why mortal sins of waste

The Reverend John Wauck from Rome's Pontifical University ofthe Holy Cross told CNN,

In different times, in moments of history, cultural moments,technological moments, sins dress themselves up, so to speak, in adifferent way. The underlying sin tends to be the same -- avariation of a theme of selfishness or lack of respect for others.

Technology is a blessing but it can also be a danger

Pollution is a variation of the original mortal sin of gluttony orselfishness

Protecting the environment comes from the Bible's book ofGenesis, as God created the world & placed man in it to thrive &not destroy, but to respect & to cherish


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Rationale:

To reflect on the various reckless development undertaken over the past

years

on our irresponsible management of natural resources & the

wrong actions man has committed towards the Earth

on the over utilization & exploitation of resources as a result ofgreed & selfishness

on the adverse consequences of mans failure to respect the

laws of nature as well as the man-made laws crafted by manhimself to protect the environment including his self

O ll t d & b h


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Our polluted seas & beaches

Can we afford to loose ourenvironmental heritage?

Can we afford to let wastesruin the beauty & bounty ofour Philippine waters?

nakaligo ka na ba sa dagatnang basura?

Solid waste altering the environment


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-the indiscriminate disposal ofun-segregated household &hazardous waste contributes tothe burgeoning problem of

wastes thrown into unprotectedareas

-it alters a beautiful landscapeinto a foul & filthy mountain ofgarbage, where spontaneouscombustion occurs almosteveryday

The newly developed sanitary

landfill of San Carlos City providesa barrier between the disposedwastes & land/groundwaterthereby protecting the air, water &land from any hazard & pollutionposed by the deposited householdwastes.

Republic Act 9003 (Ecological SolidWaste Management Act)prohibits theoperation of open dumpsites.




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a dumpsite vs a sanitary landfill

- a garbage dump, a piece ofland were waste isindiscriminately dumped w/outconsideration of the hazards

from wastes that cancontaminate land, water & air &pose significant negativeimpacts to the environment,public health & safety

-a SLF, an engineered wastedisposal site designed &constructed to ensure minimalnegative impacts to environment,

health & safety




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a dumpsite vs a sanitary landfill

- a SLF is provided w/ leachate collection system & wastewater treatment so toprevent pollution of surface & groundwater- A SLF includes the provision of management & operation plan & trainedemployees to undertake systematic dumping, cover & compaction

H d t lt i th i t


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Hazardous waste altering the environment

untreated waste dischargesfrom industries



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indiscriminate disposal into

sewers and land of hazardouswastes from households &industries



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Diesel oil slick

Oil spill affecting the coastalareas of Guimaras Islandprovince

pollution at the Cebu harbor fromships


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Opportunities & call for actionsin solid waste management

RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid WasteManagement Act of 2000

Call for action from all sectors, at all levels .Everyone has a responsibility

Proper closure & rehabilitation of old open dumps Segregation into biodegradable & non-

biodegradable Biodegradable for proper composting Non-biodegradable for further recycling, reuse &

other residual waste management options, i.e.,plastics for AFR

Ultimate waste disposal in sanitary landfills only;

Properly designed, constructed & operated SLFwith protective barriers Leachate treatment Proper & regular monitoring for early detection &

correction

Opportunities & call for actions in Environmental Education


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RA 9512 or the Environmental Awareness& Education Act of 2008was ratified byPhilippine Congress on October 8, 2008

It was signed into law by Pres. GMA onDecember 12, 2008

to promote environmental awareness

through environmental education and forother purposes

Integration of environmental educationin school curricula at all levels

cover both theoretical & practicummodules comprising of activities , projects& programs in order to aid theimplementation of the differentenvironmental protection laws



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RA 9512 or the Environmental Awareness& Education Act of 2008

- calls for the celebration of theenvironmental education & awareness

- the month of November of every year

shall be known as theEnvironmental Awareness Month



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RA 9729 or the Philippine Climate Change

Act of 2009

- Ratified by the Philippine Congress onSeptember 2, 2009

- Signed into law October 23, 2009

-calls for:mainstreaming of climate change into

government policy formulations

establishment of framework strategy &program on climate change

Opportunities & call for actions for mitigation & adaptation to climatechanges

RA 9729 or the Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009 ll f th h li ti ti f Cli t Ch A ti


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forestry

energy

industry

agriculture

waste

calls for the holistic preparation of a Climate Change ActionPlan from all sectors

Promoting Peace thro gh


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Promoting Peace through

Environmental Sustainability

Economics of Conservation, Protection and Restoration

Stewardship (Managers not Owners)


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Permaculture Mind and HeartStewardship (Managers not Owners)

Care for the futureIntergenerational

responsibility


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Ecological Stewardship

Care for the Earth/ Environment/Web of LifeEverything that sustains life

Work for the conservation of ecological

balance Proper utilization and sincere enjoyment of

Gods creation

As co-creators, partners in His

creative ability, we develop and harness

the natural resources


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Take charge; active participation in the

preservation of life; i.e. Quality and beauty of

life (architecture, music and arts)

Subdue creation with authority and

accountability ( as a steward) Creation reflects the character of God

(Perfect, complete and balanced; beautiful)

Harnessing the natural forces to serve mans

needs


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Care for each other:community

health, social justice, general welfare andbalanced ecology

Sharing (wealth, talent and time) and living inharmony; enjoyment of life

Support each other in genuine fellowship

Social Equity: equitable distribution of resources;

equal access

Rule-out conspicuous and ostentatious display

of wealth in the midst of poverty


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LGUs, NGAs & Civil Society / Private Sector

E i t l M t


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Environmental Management

Church and Schools as Model


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Church and Schools as Model

Monitoring of Performance for


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Monitoring of Performance for

Sustainability


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GAINING MORE PARTNERS FOR


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GAINING MORE PARTNERS FOR

ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE FUTURE


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Intergenerational

Responsibility

and Stewardship

We bo rrow this

envi ronmentf rom future

generat ions

Ecological


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co og ca

Evangel izat ion:

Fai th in Ac t ion

Responsible

Stewardship of

everything that sustains

life.

God has entrusted

creation to man.

We are stewards of

Gods creation.

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7 Laws of Nature