PHILIPPINE

BIODIVERSITY
Prof. Natividad F. Lacdan
Department of Biology
University of the Philippines Manila
WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?
* Alfonso & Dallmeier
(SI) / WRI / WWF)

variety of living things
on earth, to include
billions of species
inhabiting land, air, &
aquatic ecosystems
(Haribon) wealth of lifeforms on earth
encompassing billions of plants, animals, &
microorganisms, the genes they contain, and
the intricate ecosystems they weave into the
environment
provides basis for life on earth
* Zamora (UP Diliman, QC)
sum total of variations
among living organisms at
the genetic, species, and
ecosystem levels reflecting
the vast wealth of life that
has evolved through time
indicates patterns of
distribution of a variety of
genetic and biological
resources in both terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems
a biological resource
(gene, species, ecosystem)
that has actual /potential
value to people
E.O. Wilson:
the stuff of life
found wherever there
is life, be it in the
cities, countrysides,
backyard, homes
IMPORTANCE OF
BIODIVERSITY
Ethical basis for deciding what
is good or bad; right or wrong.
World Charter for Nature UN
Gen Assembly
every form of life is unique,
warranting respect regardless of
its worth to man and to accord
other organisms such recognition,
man must be guided by a moral
code of action
* Food Resource
7 species provide
75% of human nutrition w/
rice, maize, potato
providing 50%
about 20% of protein
requirements of man
only 5000 our of 75000
edible plant species have
been used by man for food
Temperate plants : 10 fruit
species
Tropical plants : almost 200
species with 3000 still
available
* Health
1% tropical plants for medical
use
only 5000 species of higher
plants have been studied as
potential medicinal sources
About 119 pure chemical
substances are extracted from 90
species of plants
40% of prescription drugs used
are derived from plant and
animal species
Amazonian Indians used 1,300
plant species as medicines
Southeast Asian traditional healers use 6500
plant species as medicines
80% of people from Third World rely on
traditional medicines
At least 68 common plants in the Philippines
being used as medicines
3000 plants (70% in tropical rainforests)
identified by US National Cancer Institute
as having anti cancer properties

most toxic substances from marine species
500 marine species with anti cancer act
horseshoe crabs anti cancer act
det bacterial toxins in blood
shark livers enhance resistance to
cancer
clams delay cancer dev in mice
+ Mexican yam mass birth control agent
+ rosy periwinkle leukemia patients
+ white willow (Salix) w/ meadowsweet
(Spirea ulmaria) produce aspirin
+ Cinchona tree quinine for malaria
+ Other major drugs derived from plants
include : Atropa belladonna, Camella sine
color, Cinnamomium camphora,
Erythroxylum coca, Papaver somniferum,
Digitalis purpurea, Colchicum authumale,

Industries
+ Phil forests contribute only 1.7% to GNP
+ 40M bananas consumed yearly
+ 1.3M mangoes and 1.5M papayas
+ minor forest products (rattan, bamboo,
fruits, nuts, spices) worth $10B yearly
+ 2100 plants w/ pest controlling property
+ natural starches (for fabrics, glue, soaps,
cosmetics, drugs, foods, film, explosives,
colourings, tires, preservatives for plasma)
+ rubber as the worlds top crop
+ timber as the biggest wild plant contributor
to world trade valued at $40B yearly
+ 10,000 years worth of solar energy in one
year supply of coal alone

+ Uses: livelihood, recreation, aesthetic values
benefits in stabilizing water functions.
regulates climate, protects / produces
soil, maintain life processes,
THE STATE OF PHILIPPINE
BIODIVERSITY
* Philippines as one of the worlds
megadiversity centers
+ rich and highly unique
+ TRF supports thousands of species
44% bird species
64% mammals
+ many unique species exclusive in islands
+ 67% of flora and fauna are endemic
+ out of 556 bird species, 44% endemic
+ out of 180 mammals, 115 endemic
+ reptiles & amphibians, 73% endemic
** High percentage of endemicity
+ 17460 km coastline, highly diverse
marine life (about 5000 marine species)
>coral reefs 4000
> seagrass beds 481
> mangroves - 370



* Out of 500 known coral species
in the world approx 400 species
are in the Philippines serving
home to some 1,030 fishes and a
thousands of invertebrates
BIODIVERSITY IN PERIL
+ Philippines as one of the hotspots
+ with highest number of threatened species
+ fast habitat destruction causing fast
extinction rates
+ third in the world in the number of
globally threatened bird species
+ first in the # of critically endangered /
endangered endemic bird species
+ marine habitats suffer the worst
- only 5% of coral reef are healthy
to support aquatic life
- mangroves reduced from 500,000 ha
(1018) to 112,400 ha (1997)
- 50% seagrass beds lost (same period)
** 57% land area forested (1930s), with the
rate of deforestation, by 2010, the forests
will only be 7%
THREATS TO
BIODIVERSITY
** Alarming trend
towards massive
ecological degradation
and loss of diversity
with the continuous
destruction of habitats
and ecosystems
supporting diverse life
forms
Causes / consequences of biodiversity loss
+ habitat alteration / destruction
+ overharvesting
+ improper use of agric chemicals
+ microclimatic change due to
altered land use patterns
+ poverty
+ population explosion
+ inequitable land distribution
+ pol/eco policies & constraints
Impacts of Biodiversity
Loss
* lack of sustainable supply of fuelwood
* rampant erosion of lands
* increase release of carbon dioxide
(1890-1987: 60B metric tons of CO2)
* annual CO2 release 2.8B metric tons
* 33% of human based CO2 accounted
Forest ecosystems store 1,200 gigaton CO2;
80,0000 sq miles of young forest: absorbs 1B tons
CO2 yearly
ISSUES AND CONCERNS
* Biodiversity policy
* Sustainable use
* Sustainable agriculture
* Biotechnology and property rights
* Community based management
* Public participation (incl women)
* in situ / ex situ conservation measures
* climate change impacts
* Biodiversity inventory and
research
* Recognition of ancestral
domain and
traditional knowledge and
practices
* Gender issues
* Public education and
awareness
* Institutional capacity
building