Sustainability Watch

State of theSusta ab ty atc

State of the Philippine SocietyPhilippine Society & E i t& Environment

Sustainability Watch

WHAT IS AT STAKE IN THEWHAT IS AT STAKE IN THE

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WHAT IS AT STAKE IN THE WHAT IS AT STAKE IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PHILIPPINE PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT …ENVIRONMENT …

the Philippines is a MEGA-DIVERSITY COUNTRY -one of the Earth’s biologically wealthiest nations. We have been cited as having hectare for hectare one of the Sustainability Watchbeen cited as having, hectare for hectare, one of the highest degree of biological diversity on the globe. (e.g. there are more tree species for example in one hectare of the Luzon island than in all of Northern Europe)

Sustainability Watch

Th Phili i i diThe Philippines is a mega diverse country

While we are one of the Mega-Diversity Countries, the Philippines is also one of the HOTTEST OF ALL HOT SPOTS th t l d d th Sustainability WatchSPOTS – the most severely endangered among the mega-diversity countries. Of all the 25 global hot spots identified, the Philippines has the smallest remaining primary vegetation only 3% of the original extent

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primary vegetation – only 3% of the original extent.

Furthermore, In a recent international study it was realized that except forstudy, it was realized that except for Vietnam, the Philippines was the least prepared to protect communities and the environment from the ecological

But… we are also one of the HOTTEST OF

gstresses created by economic growth.

ut… we a e a so o e o t e O S OALL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS

Poverty Sustainability WatchPovertyMore than 40% poverty rate.Rural poverty & the continuing migration to urban centers

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p y g gcause rapid growth of urban poor communities in the cities. Because rural communities, especially those on the upland live in ecologically fragile areas poverty directly forces thesein ecologically fragile areas, poverty directly forces these communities to exploit the remaining natural resources unsustainably.Yet the problem of poverty in the Philippines is not mainly aYet, the problem of poverty in the Philippines is not mainly a problem of lack, but a problem of equitable sharing of resources. The top 10% own more than 40% of all income

hile the lo est 10% o n less than 2%while the lowest 10% own less than 2%Resources needed to reduce and eliminate poverty are limited. The Philippines is still saddled with a debt burden that cannot be supported.

Sustainability WatchBad Governance & Lack of People Empowerment

The Philippines ranks 9th in an Asian regional correlation study on corruption

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study on corruption. It is estimated that at least 30% of government funds, including funds for sustainable development including

i l i & i i l ienvironmental protection & conservation; is lost to corruption every year. For every peso of collected tax, .57 cents goes to government y p , g gexpenditures, while .43 cents goes to private pockets. We have given birth to so many laws and policies that enshrine people participation And yet people continue toenshrine people participation. And yet, people continue to complain about inaccessibility of information and seat for representation, thus hampering their ability to fully participate

D P l ti G th Sustainability WatchDangerous Population GrowthPhilippine Population was estimated 80M last 2000 with an annual growth rate of 2.4% - a 1.4M annual increase &

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gprojected by 2025 to be 100M. This means that the total population will double in just one generation. For the first time in our history almost half of the entireFor the first time in our history, almost half of the entire population will be living in cities. In 1990 43% is urban with an urban migration rate of 3.6% which has raised the current urban population to about 48%urban population to about 48%.In 1990 18 million live in the upland communities with about 30% of them living in ecologically sensitive area. Today, it h h d t i b f b t 24 t 26 illihas reached a staggering number of about 24 to 26 million with densities of 160 to 175 person per sg. km. This means that we have already surpassed the carrying capacity of our

l d iti i 1990upland communities since 1990.

Nature Abuse Sustainability WatchNature AbuseLoss of Forest Cover and Watersheds. In 1934, the Philippine had 17 million hectares of forest. In 1990, this has

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been reduced to only 6 million with only 800,000 to 900,000 considered virgin or old growth forests. Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Destruction. The major y jproblem in marine/coastal ecosystem is over fishing. Destructive fishing practices result in decreasing catch of small fishers due to increasing fisher population or g p pencroachment of commercial fishing vessels with their highly exploitative gears into fragile coastal waters. Of the 50 traditional fishing grounds, 11 have already been destroyed.. g g , y yThe country is already harvesting about 1.3 million tons in fish catch every year. We are now nearing the estimated maximum production of 1.45 to 1.8 million tons.a u p oduct o o . 5 to .8 o to s.

Sustainability WatchNature Abuse

Rapid Loss of Biological Diversity. Due to the rate of destruction of our forests it is estimated that the country has

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destruction of our forests, it is estimated that the country has lost 50% of our endemic plant species. Only 5% of the country’s 30,000 sg. Km of coral reefs is in excellent

di i 1918 h h d 00 000 fcondition. In 1918 the country had 500,000 mangrove forests. In 1990 only 139,000 to 142,000 remains. Of this only about 10,000 to 20,000 are old growth or virgin mangrove forests. , , g g gWe have lost nearly 80% of our mangroves in the past 75 years. 30 to 50% of our seagrass beds have been lost in the last 5050 years.

Sustainability WatchNature Abuse

Bio-Piracy and the Imposition of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Our biological resources are important to us not only for

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(IPR). Our biological resources are important to us not only for their intrinsic value and the role they play in ensuring our food security and the various benefits they give to out earth’s

i d f i i i l i b lcontinued functioning. It is also important because a large part of our nature heritage is tied up with the knowledge and practice concerning the utilization of these biological resources. Based g gon present trends, companies and institutions that develop useful products and processes from traditional knowledge and biological innovations apply for intellectual property rightsbiological innovations apply for intellectual property rights (IPR) over so-called innovations. Through IPR, they acquire monopoly rights to prohibit others from using the innovation without paying for such use.

Sustainability WatchNature Abuse

Modern Biotechnology and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO ) The promise of GMOs in plants to solve malnutrition

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(GMOs). The promise of GMOs in plants to solve malnutrition and food insufficiency are veiled with uncertainties. As a technological innovation that recently swept the Philippines at a rate beyond its capacity to regulate, health-related risks particularly to individuals with impaired immune systems have been raised but not adequately answered. Even the scientificbeen raised but not adequately answered. Even the scientific community does not have consensus opinion on safety and the range of risks possible in the absence of tests to human volunteersvolunteers.

Sustainability WatchNature Abuse

Climate Change & Renewable and Clean Energy. The Phili i i 50% d d t i t d f l i l

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Philippines is 50% dependent on imported fuel, mainly petroleum. The burning of petroleum produces prodigious amounts of heat and gases that are not only hazardous to human health but are greenhouse substances that exacerbate global warming. With increased population, industrialization and electrification our contribution to global warming willand electrification, our contribution to global warming will also grow.

Sustainability WatchNature Abuse

Sustainable Agriculture.The country is using too much of fertilizers and pesticides We are using 4 5 million tons of

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fertilizers and pesticides. We are using 4.5 million tons of fertilizers per year and 16,000 tons (a 3 fold increase from 4,000 tons 5 years ago) of pesticides. Fertilizers are leached

d d i h i d h d d hand end up in the rivers and seas. Too much use degrades the soil. Pesticides on the other hand poisons our water supplyThere is a corporate monopolization of seeds, technologies andThere is a corporate monopolization of seeds, technologies and all other agricultural inputs. Government policies and standards prevent farmers from exercising their rights to h th ki d f d th t t l t i th dchoose the kind of seeds they want to plant in the manner and

time they prefer.

Sustainability WatchAttack at Cultural Diversity

Rapid Loss of Cultural Diversity. There are more than 100 f i di l (IP ) iti i th

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groups of indigenous peoples (IPs) communities in the Philippines. Because of development aggression, most of these indigenous communities who for centuries have continued to practice sustainable living are losing their land and their cultural identity; and with it the value of sustainability Traditional stewards of our upland and forestsustainability. Traditional stewards of our upland and forest areas primarily Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) Communities challenged by massive changes in their physical as well as

lt l i t t ti t j t th i t i blcultural environment are starting to reject their sustainable ways and abandon their original role.

Sustainability Watch

A promising solution to the many problems

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confronting Philippine society today is the genuine implementation of Sustainable Development – a development that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainability Watch

State of theSusta ab ty atc

State of the Philippine SocietyPhilippine Society & E i t& Environment