Sustaining Natural Resources PDF

https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=ecology+hd+natural+resources&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiF0JHpmqvrAhXPxIsBHfQ5BJEQ2- Rosemarie L. Villanueva, Ed.D. Hilario S. Taberna Jr., MSci. Liane D. Delfiño, Ed.D. gb Natural resources, including forest, water, mineral, energy and fertile...

https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=ecology+hd+natural+resources&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiF0JHpmqvrAhXPxIsBHfQ5BJEQ2- Rosemarie L. Villanueva, Ed.D. Hilario S. Taberna Jr., MSci. Liane D. Delfiño, Ed.D. gb Natural resources, including forest, water, mineral, energy and fertile land, are the basis for our life on Earth. However, the rapid growth of the human population leads to the growing consumption of these resources thus causing severe damage. Our climate is changing; freshwater reserves, fish stocks, and forests are shrinking; fertile land is being destroyed and species are becoming extinct. To continue to thrive on this planet, our lifestyles will need to become more sustainable, so that we can protect our natural resource base and the fragile ecosystems on our planet. In this module you will learn the following lessons: Lesson 1 – Natural Resources and Man Lesson 2 – Natural Resources and Associated Problems Lesson 3 – Management and Conservation of Natural Resources Module Outcomes: At the end of the module, you must have: 1. identified the different natural resources; 2. discussed the human impacts on natural resources; 3. listed and elaborated the problems associated with our natural resources; 4. discussed the different management and conservation approaches related to natural resources; and 5. developed strategies in the management and conservation of natural resources. |2 Before you start with the lessons in this module, familiarize yourself with the terms listed in Table 1. Table 1. Terms you need to know in this module. Natural Resources Any material given to us by nature which can be transformed in a way that it becomes more valuable and useful Sustainability Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs Renewable Resources that can be renewed along with their exploitation Resources and are always available for use Non-renewable Resources that when used in an unlimited way, cannot be Resources easily replaced and their exploitation at large scale will result in their fast depletion Cyclic Resources Resources that there is no final use as they can be used continuously Biotic Resources Resources derived from living organisms Abiotic Resources Resources derived from the non-living world Human Development Clear indicators of sustainable lifestyles in human life. It Index includes: (1) Increased longevity; (2) An increase in knowledge; and (3) An enhancement of income. High-Quality Indicated by the following: (1) A stabilized population; (2) The Ecosystem long term conservation of biodiversity; (3) The careful long- term use of natural resources; and (4) The prevention of degradation and pollution of the environment. Mineral A naturally occurring substance of definite chemical composition and identifiable physical properties. Ore A mineral or combination of minerals from which a useful substance, such as a metal, can be extracted and used to manufacture a useful product. Natural Resource The sustainable utilization of major natural resources, such Management as land, water, air, minerals, forests, fisheries, and wild flora and fauna. |3  Lesson Outcomes At the end of the lesson, you must have: 1. identified the different natural resources; and 2. discussed the human impacts on natural resources. "Natural resources determine the course of development and constitute the challenge which may or may not be accepted by the human mind” W. Arthur Lewis. Natural resources are useful raw materials that we get from the Earth. They occur naturally, which means that humans cannot make natural resources. Instead, we use and modify natural resources in ways that are beneficial to us. The materials used in human-made objects are natural resources. What does the earth, the environment ‘do’ for humans and other species? In very general terms, the earth serves three functions for humans:  First, it provides them with living space.  Second, it serves as a stock of resources that humans use to meet various needs.  Third, it serves as a waste repository. We have to put our waste somewhere. It is not just human waste but also solid waste and toxic waste – there are air and water pollution, etc. Now, most societies figure out that the better they separate these three functions, the better their living conditions will be. You don’t live in the middle of the forest; you’re cutting down for your houses. You don’t dump your waste in your back yard, ‘foul your nest,’ so to speak. And of course, the environment provides us with more than material wealth. We will discuss the role of natural resources in all this. |4 Engage You will perform the activity, “Natural Resources “. Air inside the plastic Glass of Water https://clientearth.org https//sitn.hms.harvard.edu Handful of Soil Piece of Rock Piece of Rock https://theconservation.com https://reddit.com What is the first thing you think when you see the objects above? List down your intellectual guesses. Explore List down the different natural resources found in your community and record their importance to you. Furthermore, answer the following questions:  What are the natural resources?  How do people use natural resources?  Could we survive without natural resources?  Which resource do you think is the most important? Why? |5 Explain I. Types of Natural Resources Resources can be classified based on their origin as biotic and abiotic. Another way of classification of resources is the amount of the resources available for the consumption of man. Through this, resources can be classified into renewable and non-renewable natural resources. Biotic Resources – are derived from living organisms. Abiotic Resources – are derived from the non-living world (e. g. land, water and air). Renewable Resources – are resources that can be renewed along with their exploitation and are always available for use. Non-renewable Resources – are resources that when used in an unlimited way, cannot be easily replaced and their exploitation at large scale will result in their fast depletion As the human population is increasing at an enormous rate, we have reached 7.4 billion today. Naturally, this means that we are utilizing more and more natural resources. If we go at this rate, we will soon reach a day when nature will not be able to provide us with resources such as plants and trees, animals, mineral ores, fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. If the use of these resources is not monitored carefully, these will be no food for our coming generations to eat, no energy for them to power their machines, and no material for them to build a shelter with. This is why it is important to understand which resources are exhaustible and which are not and to practice sustainable development. This is nothing but the development needs to meet the needs of the present generations. II. Importance of Natural Resources A. Nature helps maintain the environmental balance and satisfy our needs to the fullest. B. A wide range of industrial material and biological material from plants and animals directly or indirectly is used in the production and manufacturing of medicine. C. Resources are known as capital converted to commodity inputs to the infrastructural capital process. |6  D. The “3R Concept” which means “Reduce”, “Reuse” and “Recycle” can be applied in the conservation of our natural resources. An example is a paper; our used papers can be reused by recycling it and turn into a new paper product. E. Resources are important for the development of any country. For example, to generate energy, one needs fossil fuel; and for industrial development, we require mineral resources. F. Irrational consumption and overutilization of natural resources have led to socio-economic and environmental problems. G. Natural resources are available in fixed quantity and they are non- renewable. H. Natural resources are getting scarce with the increasing population, so it is essential to conserve them. This empowers us as well as our future generation to utilize natural resources to the full extent. I. It takes millions of years for the formation of natural resources. J. They play a vital role in the economic development of the country by enriching agricultural trade, imports and exports, etc. III. Human Impact in the Environment The human population is growing rapidly. Population growth and other factors such as emerging technologies of every nation have had a detrimental effect on the environment. Humans threaten to make the earth inhabitable as the population increases, more waste materials are being produced, thus, rapidly polluting the soil, air and water. This makes human activity increasingly destroying the natural habitats, risking biodiversity, and endangering future species. IV. Causes of Depletion of Natural Resources A. Overpopulation The total global population is more than seven billion people. Still, there is a consistent increase in the overall earth populace and this has been a critical factor in accelerating the depletion of natural resources. An increase in the populace expands the need for resources and conditions necessary to sustain it. Also, it contributes to increased ecological contamination. Research further indicates that developing countries are using more and more resources to industrialize and support their ever- |7  increasing population. Hence, the depletion of natural resources will continue as long as the world population increases. B. Poor Farming Practices Humans are causing a lot of stress to land resources due to the over- reliance on food production for daily nutritional requirements. Poor irrigation practices, for example, are a key contributing factor to salinization and alkalization of the soil that sustains plant growth. Poor soil management practices and the use of heavy machinery and farming equipment also destroy the soil structure making it unsuitable for plant growth. Some farming practices such as excessive use of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides equally kill important soil micro-organisms that are essential in replenishing nutrients in the soil. C. Logging The World Bank reported that the net loss of global forest between 1990 and 2016 was 1.3 million square kilometers. On the same note, tropical deforestation is estimated to occur at a rate of one percent annually, especially in Latin America regions. People are clearing forests primarily for agricultural reasons due to the increase in the population pressure. Humans are also cutting down trees to make space for residential complexes and multiplexes. Through deforestation, the planet not only loses tress but also thousands of animals and great plant biodiversity due to the destruction of their natural habitats. Moreover, increased logging activities lead to soil erosion that degrades natural soil minerals. D. Overconsumption of Natural Resources The 1760 industrial revolution saw large-scale mineral and oil exploration and the practice have been gradually growing, leading to more and more natural oil and mineral depletion. And together with the advancements in technology, development, and research in the contemporary era; exploitation of minerals has become easier and humans are digging deeper to access different ore. The increased exploitation of different minerals has led to some of them entering into a production decline. For example, minerals such as gasoline, copper and zinc production are estimated to decline in the next 20 years. Plus, oil mining continues to |8  rise due to the upsurge in the number of engines that use petroleum thereby magnifying its depletion. The peak oil theory supports this fact by putting forward that it will come a time when the globe will experience uncertainties on alternative means of fuels owing to the over-harvesting of petroleum. E. Pollution An increase in population and modern anthropogenic activities is a major contributor to the disposal of pollutants into the natural environment and as such, the value of natural environments is gradually exposed to degradation. The soil, air, lakes, and seas are being contaminated with sewage, radioactive, materials, and toxic chemicals among other pollutants. Uncontrolled release of carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, sulfur oxide, and carbon dioxide, for example, have resulted in the degradation of the ozone layer and global warming – environmental changes with their resultant depletive impacts on different natural habitats. Millions of different animal and plant species have thus lost their natural habitats and are on the verge of extinction. F. Industrial and Technological Development The present-day world is incessantly becoming industrialized as more and more countries make major technological breakthroughs. But as technological advancements continue, there is similarly a considerable growth in industries that release toxins and chemical by-products which are eventually deposited in lakes, soils and lands. As a result, the by- products and toxic materials alter natural habits such as aquatic systems and wildlife. Examples of the impacts include acidic lakes, dead zones, and the death of wildlife as well as aquatic life. Industrial and technological advancements have also driven the demand for virgin materials for research, development and production. More resources are hence being used to satisfy the industrial demands, increasing the rate of natural resource depletion. Elaborate Create a story or short poem about the Earth’s natural resources that you most benefit. |9 Evaluate Name: Date: Program and Section: Score: Direction: This activity will help you assess your knowledge of the definition and types of natural resources provided by the Earth. Determine whether the following statements are true or false. Underline or circle the answer. 1. Extreme radiation from the sun can be harnessed to generate electricity. True | False 2. Renewable energy originates from natural sources such as coal, natural gas, or nuclear power. True | False 3. Fossil fuels like petroleum and coal are not classified as biotic resources. True | False 4. Water is the most abundant resource on the planet. True | False 5. Plants are biotic, non-renewable resources that provide food, materials for shelter, and habitat for wildlife. True | False 6. Conservation of natural resources is necessary considering some of these would deplete if overused. True | False 7. It is not impossible for humans to create natural resources. True | False | 10 8. Minerals, such as diamond, are naturally occurring inorganic materials with definite chemical composition. True | False 9. Coal is formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned to produce water. True | False 10. Renewable energy sources do not deplete and are constantly replaced. True | False | 11  Lesson Outcomes At the end of the lesson, you must have: 1. identified the problems associated with the use of our natural resources; and 2. recognized the consequences of human actions on the use of natural resources. The Philippines is endowed with rich natural resources. It has fertile and arable lands, is one of the world’s 17 mega-diverse countries, has some of the most extensive water resources in the world, and is one of the world’s most highly mineralized countries with 39 percent of the national land area having high mineral potential. The natural resources are essential to our country’s development and to our survival, but if the natural resources are consumed at a faster rate than their natural regeneration, they can be depleted. Also, the transformation of natural resources into valuable and useful goods results in the formation of waste products that could pollute the environment unless the industry and the people carefully manage its generated wastes. Engage List down the natural resources that can be found in your area and answer the following question: 1. Are all the people in your area have equal access to it? 2. Are the people using those resources sustainably? 3. What are the problems that you encountered in the use of these resources? Natural Equal Access Sustainable Problems Resource Use Yes No Yes No | 12 Explore Watch the following videos and write a synthesis paper on the topics presented: 1. https://youtu.be/9aQbMrHbKWE 2. https://youtu.be/SW0dXB9KH8g 3. https://youtu.be/ZwfGHRs_IqM Explain I. Problems Associated with Natural Resources A. The unequal consumption of natural resources: A major part of natural resources is today consumed in the technologically advanced or ‘developed’ world, usually termed ‘the North’. The ‘developing nations’ of ‘the South’, including India and China, also overuse many resources because of their greater human population. However, the consumption of resources per capita (per individual) of the developed countries is up to 50 times greater than in most developing countries. Advanced countries produce over 75% of global industrial waste and greenhouse gases. Lack of access to natural resources by most of the population is a key cause of poverty, a driver of conflict, and an obstacle to national development. B. Planning Land Use: Land itself is a major resource, needed for food production, animal husbandry, industry, and for our growing human settlements. These forms of intensive land use are frequently extended at the cost of ‘wildlands’, our remaining forests, grasslands, wetlands, and deserts. Thus, it is essential to develop a rational land-use policy that examines how much land must be made available for different purposes and where it must be situated. C. The need for sustainable lifestyles: Human standard of living and the health of the ecosystem are indicators of sustainable use of resources in any country or region. Ironically, both are not in concurrence with each other. Increasing the level of one usually leads to the degradation of the other. Development policies, therefore, should be formulated to strike a balance between the two. | 13 II. Different Kinds of Resources and Associated Problems A. Forest Resources Forest is an important renewable resource. Forest varies in composition and diversity and can contribute substantially to the economic development of any country. The Philippines has a total of 30 million hectares of land area. Before Spanish colonialization, 90 percent of the land area was made up of forestland. The Philippine forest is home to different species of flora and fauna, has helped in carbon sequestration, and is also a source of livelihood, food, fuel and/or shelter for Filipinos. However, over time, forest land has decreased due to deforestation, increased population, conversion to agricultural lands, and logging. To date, the Philippines’ forestland is at 57.2 percent (15.8 million hectares), while alienable and disposable land is at 47.3 percent. However, not all forest lands have forested areas. Only 6.84 million hectares are forested areas which are composed of open forest (67 %), closed forest (28 %), and mangrove (5%). The current deforestation rate is around 2.1 percent per year, representing a significant drop from the 1990’s rate, but still the second-highest rate in Southeast Asia (after Myanmar). The main direct cause of forest degradation in the Philippines is over-exploitation from logging, fueled by weak governance, the capture of resources by elite groups, failure to collect rents from licensees, short-sighted and unpredictable policies, rapid population growth and increased conversion of forest land to agricultural, residential and commercial uses. Additional threats come from mining operations, collection of fuel wood, and poor management by the government and tenured stakeholders. Deforestation effects include: the extinction or near extinction of endemic species (e.g., Philippine tamaraw or wild buffalo, Philippine eagle); loss of valuable topsoil; landslides, and silted streams; and destruction of coastal mangroves. B. Water Resources Water is one of the most essential needs of human beings and is necessary for almost all economic activities such as growing food, manufacturing all kinds of products, and generating renewable energy, among others. The Philippines has extensive water resources, including 31,000 hectares of rivers; 200,000 hectares of lakes; 19,000 hectares of reservoirs; and more than 100,000 hectares of wetlands. There are 421 river basins, of which 20 are considered major river basins. Major rivers are the Cagayan – the country’s longest river – the Agno, Pampanga, | 14 Pasig and Bicol rivers in Luzon, and the Rio Grande de Mindanao. There are 59 significant lakes; 16 lakes cover 400 hectares or more. The largest lakes are the Laguna de Bay on Luzon and Lake Lanao on Mindanao. Philippine rivers and lakes are home to more than 316 fish species, some of which are endemic (Philippine coastal waters are considered the center of marine biodiversity in the world). Groundwater reservoirs have a storage capacity of 251,100 million cubic meters and a dependable supply of 180,000 million cubic meters per year. Total renewable water resources equal to 479 cubic kilometers. The average annual rainfall is 2348 millimeters. The largest share of total water withdrawal is for agriculture, with irrigation, livestock, and fisheries representing 82 percent of total water use, while industry and domestic sectors share the rest. 96 percent of total water withdrawals are from surface water with 4 percent from groundwater. Groundwater use is reserved primarily for domestic drinking purposes and is distributed as 63 percent for domestic use; 17 percent for industry; 13 percent for agriculture; 1 percent for power generation; and 6 percent for other sectors. Many people fish for home consumption or small-scale commercial activities. 3.4 percent of the workforce was employed in the fishing industry in 2014. Ten major lakes are used for aquaculture production. Water supplies are generally sufficient for local needs but there are water deficits in highly populated areas, particularly in regions with limited supplies. Only 43 percent of the population has access to piped water into private premises although the figure drops to 25 percent in rural areas. And the water quality is worsening. The discharge of municipal and industrial wastewater and agricultural runoff has caused extensive pollution. Only 10 percent of municipal wastewater undergoes secondary or tertiary treatment. Experts have concluded that 50 river systems are biologically dead or dying due to pollution from human trash, commercial agricultural chemicals, untreated raw sewage, animal wastes, and industrial wastes. Fewer than 4 percent of urban households have access to sewerage systems. In Metro Manila, nine river sub-basins are used as dumpsites. One-third of the country’s river systems remain as potential sources of drinking water. Up to 58 percent of groundwater is contaminated due to the leaching of industrial, agrochemical, and animal wastes and infiltration of subsurface discharge from septic systems and polluted urban runoffs. Over- | 15  extraction of groundwater has led to a decline in levels, drying up of wells and springs, and contamination of wells by saltwater intrusion in coastal areas. Over-exploitation of forest resources and inappropriate land-use practices have disrupted the hydrological condition of watersheds, resulting in accelerated soil erosion, siltation of rivers and valuable reservoirs, increased incidence and severity of flooding and decreasing water supply. Groundwater, the source of most drinking water, is projected to be inadequate to meet the demand in major cities by 2025. Without new investment in water supply infrastructure, future projections of water requirements suggest that water availability will be marginal or unsatisfactory in eight of the 19 major river basins before 2025, and most major urban centers will experience water deficits. Climate change is projected to have a significant impact on the Philippines. Water availability and management are likely to become more challenging over time due to the severity of both droughts and deluges are expected to heighten. C. Mineral Resources A mineral is a naturally occurring substance of definite chemical composition and identifiable physical properties. An ore is a mineral or combination of minerals from which a useful substance, such as a metal, can be extracted and used to manufacture a useful product. Minerals are formed for millions of years in the earth’s crust. Iron, aluminum, zinc, manganese and copper are important raw materials for industrial use. Important non-metal resources include coal, salt, clay, cement and silica. The stone used for building material, such as granite, marble, limestone, constitute another category of minerals. Minerals with special properties that humans value for their aesthetic and ornamental value are gems such as diamonds, emeralds and rubies. The luster of gold, silver and platinum is used for ornaments. Minerals in the form of oil, gas and coal were formed when ancient plants and animals were converted into underground fossil fuels. Minerals and their ores need to be extracted from the earth’s interior so that they can be used. This process is known as mining. The harnessing of this resource contributes significantly to the economic development of the country in terms of employment generation, export earnings, taxes and fees paid to the government and infrastructure development. The Philippines is the fifth most mineralized country in the world. About 39 percent of the national land area has high mineral potential. Globally, the country ranks third in gold reserves, fourth in copper and fifth in | 16 nickel. In total, estimated levels of metallic mineral resources are 14.5 billion metric tons and 67.7 billion metric tons of nonmetallic resources. Nickel is the largest metallic reserve; limestone and marble are the most significant nonmetallic mineral resources. The country has proven crude oil reserves of 138.5 billion barrels and 98.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas. There were reports in 2015 of the discovery of a new oil field near Cebu containing an estimated 104 million barrels and a report of a large new natural gas deposit in Isabela. In 2013, there were 113 large-scale mines employing 20 or more people. 300,000 people are employed in small-scale mining. In 2009 there were over 1,000 small-scale metallic mines, and 2,359 nonmetallic mines in operation. Small-scale mines produce about 80 percent of the country’s gold supply. In addition to large reserves of gold and copper and nickel, the country also has significant deposits of iron, chromite, manganese, cobalt, lead, zinc, molybdenum, mercury and aluminum. And a large palladium deposit was discovered offshore in 2014. The Philippines has over 11 million hectares of potential sites for mineral resource development, but only a small fraction of that area is under exploration or development. Untapped mineral wealth is estimated at more than US $1.4 trillion and could be more based on a 2006 estimate of as much as US $1 trillion in untapped minerals on Mindanao alone. Mineral lands are mostly in upland areas which are also rich biodiversity areas and often within the ancestral domains of indigenous people. More than half of active mining concessions and two-thirds of exploratory concessions are in areas of high seismic risk. There are security risks for some companies, especially those mining in the Mindanao area (several activist groups have damaged mining sites and company equipment). Mining often leads to deforestation and the destruction of ecological systems, subsidence and sinking of communities, and displacement of communities. The spilling of mine wastes/tailings causes flooding, damages farmlands, and results in the biological death of rivers. For example, in 1996 the Marcopper Mining Disaster on Marinduque Island involved an old mine-pit used as a disposal pond for mine waste which ruptured and discharged about 1.6 million cubic meters of tailings along 27 kilometers of the Boac river system and the coastal areas near its mouth. The disaster heavily damaged the river system and destroyed low-lying farmlands in the area. Concerns over negative environmental and social impacts have led to opposition to the proposed Tampacan gold mining project in Mindanao. | 17 D. Land Resources Land and soil resource, particularly those devoted to agricultural uses, are important resources of the country because it is directly related to food production, which necessitates the understanding of its nature and characteristics to optimally manage and conserve them. The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands covering 300,000 square kilometers (30 million hectares) – 298,170 square kilometers of land and 1,830 square kilometers of water. It has three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The Philippines is recognized as one of the world’s 17 mega-diversity countries, with more than 50,000 species of flora and fauna (more than 65 percent of which are endemic). It is also one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, with a large number of endangered and threatened species making it a global conservation priority area. The Philippines had an estimated population of 100,699,395 in 2015, of which 44.4 percent is urban and 55.6 percent is rural. The country’s labor force is around 41 million people or 61.3 percent of the total population age 15 and over, of whom 30 percent are employed in agriculture, 16 percent in industry, and 54 percent in services. Of the total land area, arable land constitutes 18.7 percent, with 17.9 percent in permanent crops. In 2012, there were 16,300 square kilometers of irrigated land. Approximately 45 percent of agricultural lands are moderately or severely eroded; approximately 27.3 percent of the country is vulnerable to drought, floods, and typhoons. Land degradation exacerbates the effects of natural disasters, causing massive landslides and flooding. Land distribution is skewed. In the rural sector, there are an estimated 4.2 million small farms that average less than 1.5 hectares and 8,475 large private landholdings of up to 25,000 hectares. 89 percent of farm holdings are less than 3 hectares. There are 10.2 million marginal farmers and farm workers, 70 percent of whom are landless. The number of informal settlements in rural areas is unknown. Since the 1930s, the State has instituted various land reforms, the most recent of which is the 1988 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law. While considerable swaths of land have been redistributed, the most contentious private agricultural lands, which are also the most productive and fertile, remain with wealthy private landowners. | 18  Rural poverty and a high population growth rate have resulted in rapid urbanization. Of an estimated urban population of 44.1 million people, more than 9 million live in informal settlements (as of 2011). In Metro Manila, the largest urban center, approximately 25 percent of the population (584,000 households) lives on riverbanks, bridges, railroad easements, cemeteries, garbage dumps, and idle lands. Elaborate Watch the following videos: 1. https://youtu.be/zeaE-8rlXGY 2. https://www.facebook.com/DENROfficial/videos/202794033993819/ ?v=202794033993819 3. https://youtu.be/Hrmp5kz2nM8 4. https://youtu.be/3Ibkt0gWKho 5. https://youtu.be/Zf_owl4bIZM 6. https://youtu.be/_AdYPWfOLnQ In a tabular form, identify the problems and enumerate the consequences associated with the use of natural resources. Natural Resource Problem Consequences To understand the interrelationships between humans and the Earth system (involves the extraction, refinement and distribution of the planet’s mineral wealth), do a research on a mineral commodity that is mined in your locality, in the province or the country. What products are made from this mineral? Do you use these products? Describe the mining and refining of the mineral and the local impact these processes have on each of Earth’s spheres (atmosphere, hydrosphere, solid Earth, and biosphere). Are any of the effects negative? If so, what, if anything, is being done to end or minimize the damage? In your opinion does the environmental impact of extracting this mineral outweigh the benefits derived from the products produced from this mineral? | 19 Evaluate Name: Date: Program and Section: Score: Multiple Choice Direction: Encircle the letter that corresponds to the BEST answer. 1. Materials we take from the environment and use are called: A. Minerals B. Natural Resources C. Energy D. Pollutants 2. ___________ and ____________ are the two major factors responsible for environmental degradation in developing countries. A. Anarchy and conflict B. Population and social media C. Greed for material goods and population explosion D. Politics and social media 3. It is essential to come up with a rational land-use policy that examines how much land must be made available for different purposes and where it must be situated. A. Location map B. Land-use planning C. A stabilized population D. Location planning 4. It is a mineral or combination of minerals from which a useful substance, such as a metal, can be extracted and used to manufacture a useful product. This material is referred to as: A. Ore B. Mining C. Alloy D. Soil E. Rock 5. Minerals are an important resource that comes from the earth. Which is NOT an example of a mineral? A. Salt B. Chromite C. Glass D. Iron E. Calcite 6. The two indicators of the sustainable use of resources are: A. The poor quality of human life and the ecosystems on earth B. Food security and the world’s food problem C. Loss of genetic diversity and soil pollution D. Over-utilization and pollution of groundwater E. The quality of human life and the quality of ecosystems on earth | 20  Lesson Outcomes At the end of the lesson, you must have: 1. discussed the different management and conservation approaches related to natural resources, and 2. developed strategies in management and conservation of natural resources. The earth has a limited supply of natural resources which includes all things that help support life, such as water, soil, minerals, plants and animals. The use of these resources keeps increasing as the population grows and the standard of living rises which will result in depletion of natural resources. Conservationists work to ensure that the environment can continue to keep human needs, like; water, forest, minerals, plants and animals sustain the current and future generations of humans as well as other forms of life on earth. Engage Environmental Spending Account When you were born, you were granted an environmental account. Imagine further that this environmental account contained all of the resources you would ever have. Once the resources run out, you would be unable to gain more from any other source. Imagine, finally that the number of resources in your account was not accurately known. You couldn’t even compute how many resources you had spent, let alone figure out how many were left. How would you spend your environmental account? | 21 Explore Watch the video and answer the following questions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l1gNtrBQMI What is conservation? Why is it important? In your home how do you conserve water? Explain I. Management and Conservation Approaches Related to Natural Resources Natural resources can be managed or they can be over-exploited, depending on several factors related to economics, human behavior, and specific management practices. Proper resource management is dependent on the type of natural resources involved as well as the agency and the guidelines under which it operates. Natural resource management refers to the sustainable utilization of major natural resources, such as land, water, air, minerals, forests, fisheries, and wild flora and fauna. Together, these resources provide the ecosystem services that provide better quality to human life. A. Forest Conservation and Management Sustainable forestry is the use and management of forest ecosystems in a way that meets the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to use the forests. Ecologically sustainable forest management seeks to conserve forests for the long-term commercial harvest of timber and non-timber forest products. Sustainable forestry also intends to sustain biological diversity by providing improved habitats for a variety of species, to prevent soil erosion and improve soil conditions, and to preserve watersheds that produce clean water. Effective sustainable forest management involves cooperation among environmentalists, loggers, farmers, indigenous people, and local and national governments. (Raven) We can sustain forests by emphasizing the economic value of their ecosystem services, protecting old-growth forests, harvesting trees no faster than they are replenished and planting trees to re-established forests. Three widely used approaches to managing forests are maximum sustainable yield, ecosystem-based management, and adaptive management. | 22 The maximum sustainable yield (MSY) approach involves harvesting the maximum amount of trees without reducing future yields. Trees in a forest or plantation grow fastest at an intermediate age. Then they slow down and eventually reach a maximum size based on the carrying capacity of their environment. The goal of maximum sustainable yield management is to harvest trees of an intermediate size. The goal of ecosystem-based management is to harvest a renewable resource such as trees in ways that minimize the harmful impacts of harvesting on an ecosystem and the ecological services it provides. This can be a useful approach. However, it is often limited because of a lack of knowledge about how ecosystems in different areas work. Adaptive management involves using available knowledge to harvest forests or other resources, evaluating the results, and modifying the approach, or using a different approach as needed. This approach recognizes that there will be failures because of inadequate ecological knowledge and that we can learn from such failures.  Improving Management of Forest Fires Another approach is to thin forest areas vulnerable to the fire by clearing away small fire-prone trees and underbrush under careful environmental controls. It can include the use of prescribed burns to remove flammable debris produced by this process. This can help prevent the loss of economically valuable timber and wildlife habitats. It can also reduce the rapidly rising costs of fighting an increasing number of large forest fires.  Reducing the Demand for Harvested Trees One way to reduce demand for harvested trees is to produce tree- free paper. Pulp from trees is typically used to make paper, but paper manufacturers can also use fibers from non-tree sources. For example, China uses rice straw and other agricultural residues to make some of its paper. The pressure to cut trees to make paper could be greatly reduced by planting and harvesting a fast-growing plant known as kenaf. Most of the small amount of tree-free paper produced in the United States is made from the fibers of a rapidly growing woody annual plant called kenaf. Kenaf and other non tree fibers such as hemp yield more paper pulp per area of land than tree farms do without using pesticides and herbicides. According to the USDA, kenaf is “the best option for tree-free papermaking in the United States” and could replace wood-based paper within 20– 30 years. | 23  Another way to reduce the demand for tree cutting is to reduce the use of throwaway paper products made from trees. Instead, we can choose reusable plates, cups, cloth napkins and handkerchiefs, and cloth bags. One way to reduce the severity of the firewood crisis in less- developed countries is to establish small plantations of fast- growing firewood trees and shrubs around farms and in community woodlots. Providing villagers with affordable and more fuel-efficient wood stoves and solar-powered ovens is another way to reduce cutting down trees for firewood. Another option is stoves that burn renewable biomass, such as sun-dried roots of various gourds and squash plants, or methane produced from crop and animal wastes. In addition to reducing unsustainable deforestation, these options would greatly reduce the large number of deaths caused by indoor air pollution from open fires and poorly designed stoves. Another way to make charcoal from the fibers is a waste product called bagasse, which is leftover from sugar cane processing in countries like the Philippines.  Reducing Tropical Deforestation At the international level, debt-for-nature swaps can make it financially attractive for countries to protect their tropical forests and use them more sustainably. Under the terms of such swaps, participating countries agree to set aside and protect forest reserves in return for foreign aid or debt relief. In a similar strategy, called conservation concessions, governments or private conservation organizations pay nations for agreeing to preserve their natural resources such as forests. An example of debt for nature swaps is the Adopt-a-Mountain Project of the ISAT U Leon Campus Extension Office. People who live in tropical forests, many of them poor farmers trying to feed their families, also want to help sustain tropical forests. Many of them are looking for ways to grow the food they need without having to cut and burn trees, and several organizations are assisting them like the Bantay Kalikasan of the ABS-CBN Foundation. Another important strategy is reforestation which is the replanting of forests, especially on degraded and abandoned land. Throughout the world, reforestation promotes biodiversity, conserves topsoil, and reduces flooding. It also provides firewood and helps slow climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere. In Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Pista y Kagueban, or Feast of the Forest is celebrated to raise awareness of the people | 24  about the importance of forest conservation. It is an annual tree planting event held every third week of June. B. Water Conservation and Management Water conservation is the careful use and protection of water resources. It involves both the quantity of water used and its quality. Conservation is an important component of sustainable water use.  Agricultural Use Improved irrigation could reduce agricultural withdrawals by 20% to 30%. Because agriculture is the biggest water user, this would be a huge savings. Suggestions for agricultural conservation include the following: o Price agricultural water to encourage conservation (subsidizing water encourage overuse). o Use lined or covered canals that reduce seepage and evaporation. o Use computer monitoring and schedule release of water for maximum efficiency. o Integrate the use of surface water and groundwater to more effectively use the total resource. That is, irrigate with surplus surface water when it is abundant, and also use surplus surface water to recharge groundwater aquifers, using specially designed infiltration ponds or injection wells. When surface water is in short supply, use more groundwater. o Irrigate when evaporation is minimal, such as at a night or in the early morning. o Use improved irrigation systems, such as sprinklers or drip irrigation that apply water to crops more effectively. o Improve land preparation for water application – that is, improve the soil so that more water sinks in and less runoff. Where applicable, use a mulch to help retain water around plants. o Encourage the development of crops that require less water or are more salt-tolerant, so that less periodic flooding of irrigated land is necessary to remove accumulated salts in the soil. | 25  Public Supply and Domestic Use Public supply water use is concentrated in urban areas and may pose major local problems in areas where water is periodically or often in short supply. The population of the Philippines continues to grow, and many urban areas are experiencing or will experience the impact of population growth on water supply. Most water in homes is used in the bathroom and for washing laundry and dishes. Domestic water use can be substantially reduced at a relatively small cost by the following measures: o Replace lawns with decorative gravel and native plants. o Use more efficient bathroom fixtures, such as low-flow toilets that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush rather than the standard 5 gallons, and low-flow showerheads that still deliver sufficient water. o Flush only when necessary. o Turn off the water when not needed for washing, brushing teeth, shaving, and so on. o Fix all leaks quickly like dripping pipes, faucets, toilets, or garden hoses wastewater. o Purchase dishwashers and laundry machines that minimize water use. o Take a long bath rather than a long shower. o Don’t hose sidewalks and driveways; sweep them. o Consider using gray water (from showers, bathtubs, sinks, and washing machines) to water vegetation. o Water lawns and plants in the early morning, late afternoon, or at night to reduced evaporation. o Plant drought-resistant vegetation that requires less water. o Use drip irrigation and place water- holding mulch around garden plants. o Learn how to read the water meter to monitor for unobserved leaks and record your conservation successes. o Use reclaimed water from wastewater treatment plants.  Industry and Manufacturing Use Water conservation by industry can be improved. For instance, water use for steam generation of electricity could be reduced 25 to 30% by using cooling towers that require less or no water. Manufacturing and industry could curb water use by increasing in-plant treatment and recycling water and by developing new equipment and processes that require less water. | 26  Sustainability and Water Management “The main goal of water management is to provide a sustainable supply of high-quality water. Sustainable water use means humans use water resources carefully so that water is available for future generations and existing nonhuman needs.” (Raven) Because water is essential to sustain life and maintain ecological systems necessary for human survival, it plays an important role in ecosystem support, economic development, cultural values, and community well-being.  Sustainable Water Use From a supply and management perspective, sustainable water use can be defined as the use of water resources in a way that allows society to develop and flourish in an indefinite future without degrading the various components of the hydrologic cycle or the ecological systems that depend on it. Some general criteria for water-use sustainability are as follows. o Develop enough water resources to maintain human health and well-being. o Provide sufficient water resources to guarantee the health and maintenance of ecosystems. o Ensure basic standards of water quality for the various users of water resources. o Ensure that people do not damage or reduce the long-term renewability of water resources. o Promote the use of water-efficient technology and practice. o Gradually eliminate water-pricing policies that subsidized the inefficient use of water.  Groundwater Sustainability The concept of sustainability, by definition, implies a long-term perspective. With groundwater resources, effective management for sustainability requires an even longer time frame than for other renewable resources. Surface waters, for example, may be replaced over a relatively short time, whereas replacement of groundwater may take place slowly over many years. The effects of pumping groundwater faster than it is being replenished – drying up of springs, weaker stream flow – may not be noticed until years after pumping begins. The long-term approach to sustainability concerning groundwater is not to take out more than is going in; to keep monitoring input and adjusting the output accordingly. | 27  Ways to prevent or slow groundwater depletion Prevention o Use water more efficiently o Subsidize water conservation o Limit number of wells o Stop growing water-intensive crops in dry areas Control o Raise the price of water to discourage waste o Tax water pumped from wells near-surface water o Build rain gardens in urban areas o Use permeable paving material on streets, sidewalks, and driveways  Water Management Maintaining a water supply is a complex issue that will become more difficult as the demand for water increases in the coming years. Options for minimizing problems include finding alternative water supplies and managing existing supplies better. It seems apparent that water will become much more expensive in the future; and if the price is right, many innovative programs are possible. The variable-water-source approach uses several interrelated measures to meet present and future demand. Details of the plan include importing water, developing new sources, using reclaimed water, and instituting a permanent conservation program. There will be an installation of a desalination plant near the ocean and a wastewater treatment plant for industries. Another possible emergency plan might involve the treatment of wastewater. Its reuse regularly is expensive, but planning to reuse treated wastewater during emergencies is a wise decision. Finally, we should develop plans to use surface water when available, and not be afraid to use groundwater as needed in dry years. During wet years, natural recharge as well as artificial recharge (pumping excess surface water into the ground) will replenish the groundwater. This water-management plan recognizes that excesses and deficiencies in water are natural and can be planned for. | 28 C. Mineral Conservation and Management Mineral resources are finite and non-renewable. Continued extraction of ore minerals for raw materials is downsizing its amount underneath. Surficial mineral deposits are getting exhausted rapidly by open cast mining and urge for deep-seated mineral extraction. The depleting scenario of mineral resource concerns over its futuristic availability. Therefore conservation of minerals needs to be enforced to use our mineral resources in a planned and sustainable manner. Much of our civilization’s technology depends on minerals, and certain minerals may be unavailable or quite limited in the future. Therefore, we should extend existing mineral supplies as far as possible through substitution and conservation.  Finding Mineral Substitute The substitution of more abundant materials for scarce minerals is an important goal of manufacturing. Economics partly drives the search for substitutes; one effective way to cut production costs is to substitute an inexpensive or abundant material for an expensive or scarce one. In recent years, plastics, ceramic composites, and high-strength glass fibers have been substituted for scarcer materials in many industries. Earlier in the 20th century, tin was a critical metal for can making and packaging; since then, other materials have been substituted for tin, including plastic, glass and aluminum. The amounts of lead and steel used in telecommunications cables have decreased dramatically during the past 35 years, and the amount of plastics has had a corresponding increase. Besides, glass fibers have replaced copper wiring in telephone cables. Although substitution extends mineral supplies, it is not a cure-all for dwindling resources. Certain minerals have no known substitutes. For example, platinum catalyzes many chemical reactions important in the industry. So far, no other substance has been found with the catalyzing abilities of platinum.  Mineral Conservation Conservation, including both reuse and recycling, extends mineral supplies. The reuse of items such as beverage bottles, which are collected, washed and refilled, is one way to extend mineral resources. In recycling, used items such as beverage cans and scrap iron are collected, remelted, and reprocessed into new products. In addition to promoting specific conservation techniques such as reuse and recycling, public awareness and | 29  attitudes about resource conservation can be modified to encourage low waste. o Reuse. When the same product is used over and over again, both mineral consumption and pollution are reduced. The benefits of reuse are greater than those of recycling. Recycling a glass bottle requires crushing it, melting the glass, and forming a new bottle. Reusing a glass bottle simply requires washing it, which typically expends less energy than recycling. Several countries have adopted beverage container deposit laws, which require consumers to pay a deposit for each beverage bottle or can that they purchase. The deposit is refunded when the container is returned to the retailer or special redemption centers. In addition to encouraging reuse and recycling, thereby reducing mineral resource consumption, beverage container deposits reduce litter and solid waste. o Recycling. A large percentage of the products made from minerals— such as cans, bottles, chemical products, electronic devices and batteries—are typically discarded after use. The minerals in some of these products— batteries and electronic devices, for instance—are difficult to recycle. Minerals in other products, such as paints containing lead, zinc, or chromium, are lost through normal use. However, the technology exists to recycle many other mineral products. Recycling has several advantages beyond extending mineral resources. It saves unspoiled land from the disruption of mining, reduces the amount of solid waste that must be disposed of, and decreases energy consumption and pollution. Recycling an aluminum beverage can saves the energy equivalent of about 180 ml of gasoline. Recycling aluminum reduces the emission of aluminum fluoride, a toxic air pollutant produced during the processing of aluminum ore. The aluminum industry, local governments, and private groups have established thousands of recycling centers across the country. It may be that today’s sanitary landfills will become tomorrow’s mines, as valuable minerals and other materials are extracted from them.  Changing Our Mineral Requirements We can reduce mineral consumption by becoming a low-waste society. We have developed a “throwaway” mentality wherein damaged or unneeded articles are discarded. Industries looking | 30  for short-term economic profits encourage this attitude, even though the long term economic and environmental costs of it are high. We consume fewer resources if products are durable and repairable. The throwaway mentality is also evident in manufacturing industries. Traditionally, industries consume raw materials and produce goods and a large amount of waste that is simply discarded. Increasingly, manufacturers are finding that the waste products from one manufacturing process can become the raw materials for another industry. By selling these “wastes,” industries gain additional profits and lessen the amounts of materials that must be discarded. The chemical and petrochemical industries were among the first businesses to minimize wastes by converting them into useful products. For example, some chemical companies buy aluminum wastes from other companies and convert the aluminum in the wastes to aluminum sulfate, a chemical used to treat municipal water supplies. Such waste minimization is known as sustainable manufacturing. Sustainable manufacturing requires that companies provide information about their waste products to other industries.  Dematerialization As products evolve, they tend to become lighter in weight and often smaller. Washing machines manufactured in the 1960s were much heavier than comparable machines manufactured today. The same is true of other household appliances, automobiles and electronic items. This decrease in the weight of products over time is known as the dematerialization. Ideally, dematerialization is beneficial to the environment because it reduces the quantity of waste during both production and consumption. Although dematerialization gives the appearance of reducing the consumption of minerals and other materials, it sometimes has the opposite effect. Smaller and lighter products may be of lower quality. Because repairing broken lightweight items is difficult and may cost more than the original products, retailers and manufacturers encourage consumers to replace rather than repair the items. Although the weight of materials being used to make each item has decreased, the number of such items being used in a given period may have increased. | 31 D. Land Conservation and Management As the population increased and the amount of available land decreased, it became necessary to consider land as a limited resource. Increasingly, as we have come to understand the great value of ecosystem services, the emphasis has shifted from exploitation to preservation and restoration of the remaining natural areas. Conservation strategies that set aside ecosystems are the best way to preserve an area’s biodiversity (as well as its soil). Government agencies, private conservation groups, and private citizens have begun to set aside natural areas for permanent preservation. Such activities ensure that our children and grandchildren will inherit a world with wild places and other natural ecosystems. Land management is the process of managing the use and development (in both urban and rural settings) of land resources. Land resources are used for a variety of purposes which may include organic agriculture, reforestation, water resource management, and eco-tourism projects. Although agriculture may cause or accelerate soil degradation, good soil conservation practices promote sustainable soil use. Conservation tillage, crop rotation, cover crop, contour plowing, strip cropping, terracing, shelterbelts, and agro forestry help to minimize erosion and mineral depletion of the soil.  Conservation Tillage Conventional methods of tillage, or working the land, include spring plowing, in which the soil is cut and turns in preparation for planting seeds, and harrowing, in which the plowed soil is leveled, seeds are covered, and weeds are removed. Conventional tillage prepares the land for crops, but in removing all plant cover, it greatly increases the likelihood of soil erosion. Conventionally tilled fields contain less organic material and generally hold less water than undisturbed soil. An increasing number of farmers have adopted conservation tillage, which causes little disturbances to the soil. During planting, special machines cut a narrow furrow in the soil for seeds. Several types of conservation tillage fit different areas of the country and different crops. The most extreme of these, no- tillage, does not involve any tilling (that is, no plowing or disking) of the soil. In addition to reducing soil erosion, conservation tillage increases the organic material in the soil, which, in turn, improves the soil’s water-holding capacity. Decomposing organic matter releases | 32  nutrient minerals more gradually than when conventional tillage methods are employed. Farmers who adopt no-tillage save on fuel cost, machinery wear, and tear, and labor time when they do not plow their land. However, the use of conservation tillage requires new equipment, new techniques, and greater use of herbicides to control weeds.  Crop Rotation Farmers who practice effective soil conservation measures often use a combination of conservation tillage and crop rotation. When the same crop is grown continuously, pests for that crop tend to accumulate to destructive levels, so crop rotation lessens insect damage and disease. Many studies have shown that continuously growing the same crop for many years depletes the soil of certain essential nutrient minerals faster and makes the soil more prone to erosion. Crop rotation is therefore effective in maintaining soil fertility and in reducing soil erosion. o Contour Plowing, Strip Cropping, and Terracing Hilly terrain must be cultivated with care because it is more prone to soil erosion than flat land. Contour plowing, strip cropping, cover crops, and terracing help control erosion of farmland with variable topography. In contour plowing, furrows run around hills rather than in straight rows. Strip cropping is a special type of contour plowing that produces alternating strips of different crops. For example, alternating a row crop such as corn with a closely sown crop such as wheat reduces soil erosion. Even more effective control of soil erosion is achieved when strip cropping is done in conjunction with conservation tillage. Cover crops are grown between seasons of other crops and help protect the soil during seasons when it would otherwise be bare of plants. Farming is undesirable on steep slopes, but if it must be done, terracing produces level areas and thereby reduces soil erosion. Nutrient minerals and soil are retained on the horizontal platforms instead of being washed away. Soils are preserved in a somewhat similar manner in low-lying areas that are diked to make rice paddies. The water forms a shallow pool, retaining sediments and nutrient minerals.  Preserving Soil Fertility In sustainable soil management, the use of manufactured fertilizers is avoided or limited. First, because of their high solubility, commercial inorganic fertilizers are mobile and often leach into groundwater or surface runoff, polluting the water. | 33  Second, manufactured fertilizers do not improve the water- holding capacity of the soil as organic fertilizers do. Another advantage of organic fertilizers is that they change the types of organisms that live in the soil, sometimes suppressing microorganisms that cause certain plant diseases. Commercial inorganic fertilizers are a source of nitrogen-containing gases (nitrous and nitric oxides) that are air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Finally, the production of commercial inorganic fertilizers requires a great deal of energy, which is largely obtained from our declining reserves of fossil fuels.  Soil Reclamation Soil reclamation involves two steps: (1) stabilizing the land to prevent further erosion and (2) restoring the soil to its former fertility. To stabilize the land, the bare ground is seeded with plants that eventually grow to cover the soil, holding it in place. The plants start to improve the quality of the soil almost immediately, as dead portions are converted to humus. The humus holds nutrient minerals in place and releases them a little at a time; humus also improves the water-holding capacity of the soil. One of the best ways to reduce the effects of wind on soil erosion is to plant shelterbelts to lessen the impact of wind. Restoration of soil fertility to its original level is a slow process. During soil recovery, the use of the land must be restricted. Disaster is likely if the land is put back to agricultural use before the soil has completely recovered. But the restriction of land use for years is sometimes difficult to accomplish. Landowners often object to government dictates about how to manage their lands, and soil erosion in poorer regions of the world is often driven by farmers trying to produce enough food to satisfy basic needs.  Agroforestry Agroforestry is a land-use practice in which trees and crops are planted together to improve soil fertility in degraded soils. For example, nitrogen-fixing acacias and other trees might be intercropped with traditional crops such as millet and sorghum. Other crops planted in agro forestry include shade coffee, cocoa, jatropha (a biofuel crop), and bananas. The trees grow for many years and provide several environmental benefits, such as reducing soil erosion, regulating the release of rainwater into groundwater and surface waters, and providing habitat for the natural enemies of crop pests. Acacia trees fix nitrogen, thereby improving soil fertility. When the leaves fall off the trees, they gradually decompose, returning mineral nutrients | 34  to the soil. The leaf layer also improves the soil’s ability to hold moisture (less moisture evaporates from leaf-covered soil). Over time, the degraded land slowly improves. The result is higher crop yields. When the trees are so tall that they shade out the crops, the forest provides the farmers with food (such as fruits and nuts), firewood, lumber, and other forestry products. II. Governance of Natural Resources in the Philippines The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies, guidelines, and rules related to environmental management, as well as the management and conservation of the country’s natural resources. The DENR also implements rules and regulations governing the exploration, development, extraction, disposition, and use of forests, minerals, wildlife, and other natural resources. Although the Philippines was once one of the richest biological regions on Earth, 50 years of severe natural resource degradation have taken a catastrophic toll. As a result the country now has among the lowest forest cover per capita in the tropics, and many mangrove and coral reef ecosystems have collapsed. Over the past decade, the government has tried to reverse these trends, introducing innovative institutional and legal reforms for sustainable natural resource management—including a comprehensive decentralization program that promotes resource management by local governments, indigenous groups, and resource-dependent communities. Also, in recent years many donors have supported efforts to improve natural resource management by building the capacity of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and local communities, and by supporting innovative partnerships among them. A. National Government Agencies The DENR is the primary government agency responsible for conservation, management, development, and proper use of the Philippines’s environment and natural resources. But many other government agencies have mandates and programs that touch on natural resource issues. All these national agencies share their natural resource management responsibilities with local government units under the provisions of the Local Government Code.  Forest Management Bureau. The FMB of the DENR provides support for the effective protection, development, occupancy management, and conservation of forest lands and watersheds. It collaborates with international and local development | 35  organizations in several forestry development programs.  National Water Resources Board. The NWRB is the government agency that manages and regulates all water resources and services in the Philippines. It integrates and coordinates all water- related activities that have social, environmental, and economic impacts in the country.  Mines and Geosciences Bureau. The MGB under the DENR is responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the country’s mineral resources including those in reservations, watershed areas, and lands of the public domain. The MGB has direct charge in the administration and disposition of mineral lands and mineral resources and shall undertake geological, mining, metallurgical, chemical, and other researches as well as geological and mineral exploration surveys.  Land Management Bureau. The Land Management Bureau of the DENR provides direction through the development of long and medium-term strategic plans for the land sector and monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure achievement of goals, formulate policies for the efficient and effective administration and management of alienable and disposable public lands and ensure compliance, and develop land and survey standards and guidelines and ensure its compliance.  Indigenous Peoples Rights Act The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act established a regime to protect indigenous tenurial claims and other rights, providing some of the country’s most comprehensive tenurial instruments. It created the National Commission on Indigenous People to help such groups obtain titles to and develop plans for the sustainable development and protection of ancestral domains.  Community-Based Forest Management Strategy In 1995 the Philippines adopted a community-based approach as its official strategy for forest management (through Executive Order 263, with implementing rules and regulations promulgated in DENR DAO 96-29). This regulatory framework integrated a variety of previous initiatives for social and community management of forests, uplands, and coastal areas and for recognizing ancestral domains. | 36   Fisheries Code The 1998 Fisheries Code assigned coordination and consultation functions to the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources and mandated the establishment of local councils for integrated resource management to foster cooperation between local government units. Several of the code’s features are relevant to local governance and resource management in protected areas. First, it defined municipal waters and established local governments’ jurisdiction over them. Second, it assigned enforcement responsibilities to local governments for wetland and marine resources, including patrolling the areas and issuing regulatory ordinances. Finally, it established fish sanctuaries and made local governments responsible for issuing permits and collecting fees for fishery activities and for registering municipal fishermen, fishponds, and fishery industries.  National Integrated Protected Areas System Act This 1992 act established the legal basis for developing a national system of “remarkable areas and biological important public lands with habitats of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, bio-geographic zones and related ecosystems, whether terrestrial, wetland or marine, all of which shall be designated as ‘protected areas. The National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act governs the national system of protected areas, which includes 360 sites covering 3.8 million hectares. B. Local Governments Local governments have become more important since the Local Government Code was passed in 1991. The code assigned local governments various regulatory responsibilities, such as the reclassification of agricultural lands, enforcement of environmental laws, an inspection of food products and quarantine, and enforcement of national building codes. The Local Government Code extended the definition of municipal waters and gave city and municipality governments’ considerable authority over resource access and use in those waters. Devolved functions include rights to grant fishery licenses and other privileges, enact management ordinances (including measures such as closed seasons, fish sanctuaries, and prohibitions on the use of destructive fishing equipment and methods), and impose penalties for illegal fishing and other environmentally destructive activities. | 37 Natural Resource Management Functions under the Local Government Code of 1991  National Conservation, management, protection, development, and proper use of natural resources and promotion of sustainable development  Management of: programs, projects, and activities funded by government agencies and foreign sources and of items under relevant executive orders and special laws, including the Agrarian Reform Program  Local  Implementation and coordination of DENR policies, regulations, programs, projects, and activities  Enforcement of Forestry Laws related to community and social forestry projects  Management of communal forests with an area of fewer than 5,000 hectares, provided they are used for community forestry projects  Management, protection, and rehabilitation of small watersheds that supply local water (as identified by the DENR), including extension and research services related to water and soil use and conservation projects  Establishment, protection, and maintenance of tree parks, green belts, and other tourist attractions in areas delineated by the DENR (except those covered by the national protected areas system) and collection of fees for their services and the use of facilities established in them  Regulation of flora outside protected areas and implementation of Rehabilitation in Conservation Hotspots (RICH) and Conservation of Rare and Endangered Species (CARE) activities in areas identified by the DENR  Implementation of land management agreements, cadastral surveys, lot surveys, and isolated and special surveys  Enforcement of small-scale mining laws  Issuance of permits and adjudication of conflicts over fees for collection of guano and extraction of sand, gravel, and other quarry resources  Management of small local hydroelectric projects  Issuance of environmental compliance certificates for projects and businesses  Implementation of solid waste disposal and other environmental management systems and services  Adoption of adequate measures to protect the environment and conserve land, mineral, marine, forest, and other resources in their jurisdiction | 38  NGOs and People’s Organizations Upon coming to power in 1986, President Corazon Aquino called on the Philippines to “institutionalize People Power” and “establish institutions where they do not exist,” setting the stage for a dramatic expansion of civil society organizations (NGOs and POs) in the country’s political life and development policy. As a result of these measures, the Philippines is home to a large and active community of NGOs and People’s Organizations. Many NGOs are engaged in field activities (in many cases as implementing agencies of donor-assisted projects) and advocacy related to natural resource management. NGOs range from sophisticated national organizations with numerous field projects to small local organizations focused on one municipality. Many international environmental NGOs are also active in the Philippines. Donors The Philippines has attracted considerable international financing for investments in environmental and natural resource management. This support reflects the country’s strategic location, rich and diverse ecosystems, and strong government commitment to sustainable development Major donors include the Asian Development Bank, Canadian International Development Agency, Danish International Development Agency, European Union, and German Agency for Technical Cooperation, Global Environment Facility, the government of Japan (through the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Japan Bank for International Cooperation), U.S. Agency for International Development, the government of the Netherlands, various UN agencies, and the World Bank. Elaborate Watch the video link and list down the different land resources conservation management practices. Which of these practices is applied in your community? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc_Atfap- EA&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2vPyZXnSw- YM5sJUT1LJ2rKQCQFOhPYz1tRg8_iMd54CaPHh2QujgQkEQ | 39 Evaluate Name: Date: Program and Section: Score: Multiple Choice Direction: Encircle the letter that corresponds to the BEST answer. 1. It refers to the sustainable utilization of major natural resources, such as land, water, air, minerals, forests, fisheries, and wild flora and fauna. A. Conservation management B. Resource conservation C. Biodiversity conservation D. Natural resource management 2. It is the replanting of forests, especially on degraded and abandoned land. A. Reforestation B. Deforestation C. Agroforestry D. Forest reserve 3. What do you call the water from showers, bathtubs, sinks, and washing machines used to water vegetation? A. Black water B. Gray water C. Refuse water D. Reclaimed water 4. Which approach is used by manufacturing industries to cut production costs where an inexpensive or abundant material is substituted for an expensive or scarce one? A. Recycling B. Reuse C. Substitution D. Dematerialization 5. What is referred to as land use practice in which trees and crops are planted together to improve soil fertility in degraded soils A. Agroforestry B. Soil reclamation C. Contour plowing D. Strip cropping | 40 References Agsalud, P.S.L., et al. Environmental Science. #16 Concha St. Tinajeros Malabon City: Jimczyville Publications, 2013. 50pp. Bharucha, E. (2003) Textbook for Environmental Studies: For Undergraduate Courses of all Branches of Higher Education. University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India. 248pp. Environmental and Natural Resources Accounting (ENRA) Report No. 2 (1998) Integrated Environmental Management for Sustainable Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Manila. 233pp. Environment and Natural Resources Accounts Division of the Macroeconomic Accounts Service (2018) Developing the Water Accounts and Material Flow Accounts of the Philippines: Progress Reports series of 2018, No. 1. Philippine Statistics Authority, Quezon City. 97pp. Environment and Natural Resources Accounts Division of the Macroeconomic Accounts Service (2018) Asset Accounts for Land Cover: Tree-Covered Area of the Philippines: Progress Reports series of 2018, No. 2. Philippine Statistics Authority, Quezon City. 58pp. Guido, R.M., et al. Fundamentals of Environmental Science. 707 Tiaga cor. Kasipagan Sts. Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City: Books Atbp. Publishing Corp, 2015. 109pp. Internet Sources USAID Country Profile: Philippines – Land Tenure and Property Rights. 44pp. https://www.land-links.org/country-profile/philippines/ https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-depletion- natural-resources.php https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-natural-resources-definition-lesson- quiz.html https://people.eou.edu/socenv/readings/week-1/resource-process/ https://www.denr.gov.ph/ https://forestry.denr.gov.ph/index.php/9-fmb-articles/2-mandate https://lmb.gov.ph/ https://mgb.gov.ph/ | 41  http://www.nwrb.gov.ph/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332143198_Conservation_of_Mineral_ Resources_for_Sustainable_Use https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263178753_Governance_of_Natural_R esources_in_the_Philippines_Lessons_from_the_Past_Directions_for_the _Future https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l1gNtrBQMI https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc_Atfap- EA&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2vPyZXnSw- YM5sJUT1LJ2rKQCQFOhPYz1tRg8_iMd54CaPHh2QujgQkEQ | 42 Copy protected with Online-PDF-No-Copy.com