The Philippines is world-renowned with its beauty and natural environment; its unique flora and fauna and hospitality of its people are some of the country's defining traits. The Philippines is also known for being one of the ten most biologically mega-diverse countries where about 1,100 land vertebrate species can be found including over 100 mammal species and 170 bird species not thought to exist elsewhere. However it is just saddening that many of its endangered species are now going extinct while its natural resources continue to decline for the last decades due to inadequate protection and human activities.
According to Asian Development Bank, 90% of marine organisms in some traditional areas of the Philippines have declined due to overfishing and destructive fishing. Moreover, there have been also losses in coastal areas and forests which have threatened many endemic species of the country. Just for example, about 61% are endemic among the 180 native terrestrial mammal species found in the Philippines. But this isn't just about the destruction of the country's natural environment but also its impacts to the Philippine society and economy.
Inconsistent laws and regulations, inadequate funds and weak implementation are only some of the reasons why environmental conservation in the Philippines has become a major challenge to the government and environmentalists in the country.
Pollution brought by inefficient waste management system in the country is another problem which the government is trying to resolve for many decades now. Continuous increase of population and no proper waste disposal methods are the main reasons of this growing pollution. But, with proper enforcement and methods this problem can be handled environmentally. Good thing, the Philippine government is now exploring innovations on waste management such as the use of Biosphere Technology. This technology is a gasification process that can convert waste materials into green energy without harming the environment at a cost-effective manner.
Although the Philippine environment is under various stages of stresses that threaten the welfare and livelihood of the entire country, there are still green solutions left. Use of green technologies like biosphere technology is one option. Moreover, Filipinos must unify in resolving these environmental concerns to ensure the country's sustainability and to conserve what's left to country's rich biodiversity.