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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 ¬ 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.
Solid waste altering the environment
Solid waste altering the environment
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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
Solid waste altering the environment
Solid waste altering the environment
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Solid waste altering the environment
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
Hazardous waste altering the environment
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Hazardous waste altering the environment
indiscriminate disposal into
sewers and land of hazardouswastes from households &industries
Hazardous waste altering the environment
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Hazardous waste altering the environment
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
Opportunities & call for actions in Environmental Education
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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
Opportunities & call for actions in Environmental Education
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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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