BS Chem 1-1 Environmental Science Assignment: Ecology Laws and Issues

This assignment, prepared by Zac Lorenzon Z. Paringit for BS Chem 1-1 in Environmental Science, examines common environmental issues in the Philippines through the lens of the four laws of ecology: "Everything is connected to everything else," "Everything must go somewhere," "Nature knows best," and "There is no such thing as a free lunch." The assignment explores how deforestation, illegal fishing, water pollution, flooding, climate change, biodiversity loss, and improper mining, and air pollution are interconnected and impact the Philippine ecosystem. It provides examples of each law in action, citing references to support the claims, and highlighting the consequences of human actions on the environment. The paper emphasizes the importance of understanding these ecological principles to address and mitigate environmental challenges.

Common Environmental Issues and Laws of Ecology
Zac Lorenzon Z. Paringit | BS Chem 1-1 | Environmental Science | Prof. Mary Jane Gumafelix
1. Everything is connected to everything Else
- This law states that the ecosystem is intricate and is connected to each other. In
other words, if one variable of the ecosystem suddenly experiences a drastic
change, the connection between their relationship will also undergo significant
transformation.
• Deforestation
Due to the deforestation in the Philippines, ethnic groups are also affected
by the loss of biodiversity, indigenous people are forced to retreat their
dwelling places, life forms in the forests are put on risk due to the loss of
their habitats and soil erosions and land slides are induced due to the lack
of forest cover.
• Illegal Fishing / Dynamite Fishing
Due to the excessive dynamite fishing on the Philippines, marine habitats
are also affected and destroyed, forcing marine organisms to either leave
their habitats or decrease their numbers. Without the healthy ecosystem of
the ocean animals, the various species of organisms will soon cease to
exist, also affecting the livelihood of local fishermen.
2. Everything must go somewhere
- This law indicates that everything in the environment must go somewhere. Like the
basic law of Thermodynamics, “in nature, there is no final waste”, denoting that
waste can never be destroyed nor will it ever disappear.
• Water Pollution
One of the severe cases of water pollution in the Philippines is the
Pollution of Pasig River, according to Business World (2021), Pasig River
is considered as one of the most polluting rivers when it comes to plastic
waste.
• Flooding
Another problem caused by improper throwing of waste is the flooding in
Metro Manila, on the report of Roxas (2017) MMDA cited that around 757
truckloads of trash and silt was removed from various waterways of Metro
Manila.

3. Nature knows best
- The third stated law of ecology explains that in nature, there is a continuous cycle
that allows the ecosystem to prosper effectively, and any interference to the cycle
can imbalance the ecosystem.
• Climate Change
Due to the modern imbalance in the ecosystem, severe drastic change in
the Climate Change affected the Filipinos. This includes the increase of
water levels that contributes to the severe flooding in the Philippines.
Increase in temperature results to multiple droughts, forest fires and heat
strokes that affects the livelihood of the Filipinos.
• Biodiversity Loss
Several causes of biodiversity loss include deforestation, mining, illegal
fishing, and pollution, which then results to the deterioration of
Philippines’ natural resources making an imbalance to the Philippines’
ecosystem. Furthermore, according to Ani and Castillo (2020), The
Philippines has already lost 93% of its original forest since 1990s.
Similarly, marine biodiversity and inland water biodiversity are
deteriorating which is evident in the decreasing quality of water and fish in
Laguna de Bay, Philippines’ largest lake.
4. There is no such thing as Free Lunch
- The last law states that in out nature, there is always a cost to the humans’
exploitation of the ecosystem. Which, therefore, the environmental problems that
humans created was a product of their greediness and ill treatment.
• Illegal / Improper Mining
Landslides, soil erosion, and deforestation are one of the few negative
effects of Illegal/Improper Mining. It also destroys river banks and affects
the locals residing near the mining site. Due to the greediness act of
humans, it also affects the people’s way of living, creating numerous
complications for themselves.
• Air Pollution
While technologies help makes humans lives more easier, there are also
several kinds of technologies that emits pollution into the air, those
includes vehicles, fuel oils, and Industrial plants. Due to those factors that
contribute to the pollution, the health of people is also affected, creating
health risks that includes Lung cancer, asthma, and strokes.

References:
• Ani and Castillo (2020, March 18). Revisiting the State of Philippine
Biodiversity And The Legislation on Access and Benefit Sharing. FFTC
Agricultural Policy Platform
https://ap.fftc.org.tw/article/1836#:~:text=The%20Philippines%20has%20a
lready%20lost,Bay%2C%20the%20Philippine%20largest%20lake.
• Aurora Almendral (2018, June 15). In the Philippines, Dynamite Fising
Decimates Entire Ocean Food Chains. The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/world/asia/philippines-dynamite-
fishing-coral.html
• Business World (2021, June 10). Pasig is world’s most polluting river –
study. Business World.
https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2021/06/10/374603/pasig-is-
worlds-most-polluting-river-
study/#:~:text=PASIG%20RIVER%20is%20considered%20the,Advancem
ent%20of%20Science%20(AAAS).
• Greenpeace Philipines (2020, February 12). Air pollution from fossil fuels
a major cause of premature deaths. Greenpeace.
https://www.greenpeace.org/philippines/press/4058/air-pollution-from-
fossil-fuels-a-major-cause-of-premature-deaths/
• Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration. Climate Change in the Philippines. GOVPH.
https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/information/climate-change-in-the-
philippines
• Healthy Option. Irresponsible Mining Damages the Environment. Hea;hty
Options.
https://www.healthyoptions.com.ph/newsdigest/strong-
immunity/irresponsible-mining-damages-the-
environment#:~:text=It%20destroys%20river%20banks%2C%20and,to%2
0farm%20in%20certain%20places.
• Roxas (2017, July 29). Floods made worse by garbage – EcoWaste.
Inquirer.Net.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/918666/floods-made-worse-by-garbage-
ecowaste
• Walpole (2011, November 30). Lower forest cover in the Philippines:
Issues and responses at the community level. ESSC.
https://essc.org.ph/content/lview/579/1/#:~:text=The%20Philippines%20is
%20one%20of,of%20the%20total%20land%20area.