Environmental Science Overview

Environment and Environmental Science

• The environment refers to everything that surrounds us, including living and non-living entities.
• Environmental science focuses on human activity's impact on the environment, including long-term implications for living organisms.

Issues in the Environment

• Rapid population growth puts strain on natural resources and reduces the benefits of development, with the global population in 2024 exceeding 119 million.
• Poverty heavily contributes to environmental degradation, as many rely on natural resources for basic needs.
• Water shortages and contamination are a significant threat to agricultural production, domestic and industrial uses.
• Depletion of non-renewable fossil fuels is a consequence of increased industrialization and a growing population's overuse.
• Deforestation and its threat to biodiversity are alarming, leading to a loss of species and a reduction in biological variety.
• Improper disposal of solid and hazardous waste poses a significant environmental threat.

Forest Resources

• Forests are ecosystems where trees, shrubs, vines, herbs, and animal life live together in interdependence.
• The Philippines ranked 5th in the world for the largest increase in forest area between 2010 and 2015, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.
• Specific areas are designated as Wildlife Forest Reserves (WFRs), including the Andap, Bagangga, Malagos, and Mati WFRs.
• Presidential Decree 705 (PD 705) revises the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines, outlining requirements for classifying lands, including slopes, as alienable and disposable.

Environmental Impact Assessment System (EIS)

• The Environmental Impact Assessment System (EIS) aims to achieve harmony between humans and nature.
• PD 1586 promotes a balance between socio-economic growth and environmental protection.
• The EIS System categorizes projects based on potential environmental impacts, requiring an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for projects deemed highly risky or with significant negative environmental impacts.
• The system includes thresholds for various project types, such as iron and steel mills, petroleum and petrochemical industries, smelting plants, reclamation projects, roads and bridges, and golf courses.
• Projects deemed unlikely to cause significant adverse impacts on the environment fall under Category D and are not covered by the Philippine EIS system.
• The EIS System requires the completion of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the development of an EIS report for environmentally critical projects.

Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs)

• Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs) are designated under Proclamation 2146 based on specific criteria.
• Areas classified as ECAs include national parks, watershed reserves, wildlife preserves, sanctuaries, areas set aside as potential tourist spots, Class 1 and 2 caves, habitats for endangered species, key biodiversity areas, and areas of unique historic, archaeological, geological, or scientific interests.

Challenges and Issues of the EIS System

• Overlapping and conflicting implementation strategies among interrelated agencies pose challenges for the effective implementation of the EIS System.

This quiz explores fundamental concepts in environmental science, including human impacts on ecosystems and resource management challenges. Key issues such as population growth, poverty, water shortages, and deforestation are examined in detail. Test your knowledge on how these factors contribute to environmental degradation and affect biodiversity.