NSTP

7 Environmental Principles
1. Everything is connected to everything else. (Ang lahat ng bagay ay

magkakaugnay.)
Human interaction with nature oftentimes alters the ecosystems. The

waste we improperly dispose of brings about the deterioration of land and water
quality. This may in turn reduce their capacity to provide life for other organisms.
Deforestation causes soil erosion and the earth deposited on the water bodies
covers the coral reefs resulting to fishery loss. Suspended particulates from
vehicular and stationary sources may cause lung problems among city residents.
War causes destruction of wildlife and habitats. There is a cause and effect
chain, even when it is neither always visible nor observable.
2. All forms of life are important. (Ang lahat na may buhay ay mahalaga.)
All living organisms were created for a purpose in relation to humans, other
species on earth and global ecosystem in general. Thus, when a species
becomes extinct, it is like removing a piece of a jigsaw puzzle from the web of
life. The variety of life forms, manifested by the different levels of biological
diversity – community, species and genes – contributes to the stability of the
environment. Food webs, food chains and ecological relationships link plants and
animals together in the web of life. Even bacteria, insects, snakes and rats have
ecological functions even though humans perceive them as parasites or pests.
The composition of biological diversity naturally changes slowly but the rate of
transition has become faster due to factors such as habitat destruction.
Deforestation may diminish forest species such as birds that are vulnerable to
modification of their home. Pollution of waters reduces the quantity of fishes,
shells, algae and other aquatic life. Over harvesting of natural products likewise
contributes to the unsustainable use of food and material resources. To maintain
ecological balance, therefore, the conservation of genes, species and
ecosystems becomes essential to keep life together. Biodiversity conservation
strategies commence with the protection of both terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems. Land uses, such as protected areas, ensure that the natural state of
these habitats continue to exist in designated areas. Community-based
approaches in conservation maximize citizens’ participation in protected areas.
Integrity of natural ecosystems can likewise be guarded through the preservation
of indigenous species.
3. Everything must go somewhere. (Ang lahat ng bagay ay may patutunguhan.)

By-products of consumption go back to the environment. Everything that
we throw away – pieces ofpaper, left-over food, peelings of fruits, plastic
wrappers, used containers – have to go somewhere. Evenplants and animals
have their own wastes – feces, urine, dead leaves and branches. It is the law of
nature that the by-products of metabolism return to the soil, acted upon first by
worms, bacteria and fungi, andthen converted into minerals, to be again
absorbed by plants and eaten by animals. In short, they enter into a material
cycle that is an integral part of the ecosystem. But what happens if what we
throw is an artificial product such as plastic? Then natural bacteria can not
recognize them and may not be capable of breaking them apart. These non-
biodegradable products must enter another material cycle – the one that goes to
the factory to be manufactured into a new product. Thus the retrieval, collection
and recycling of these materials become necessary so that they do not pollute
land and water habitats.
4. Ours is a finite earth. (Ang kalikasan ay may hangganan.)
Everything that we need is provided by nature in abundance – food, water,

energy, minerals and air. However, some resources that we depend upon
nowadays are extracted excessively but are slow to replace. These non-
renewable resources experience limits of supply. For instance, fossil fuels
produced over thousands of years may be exhausted in a hundred years. Some
energy sources like water, and wood may be replaced easier but have become
inaccessible due to pollution and excessive extraction. Diminishing forest cover
have resulted from logging, ineffective reforestation and continued land
conversion. However, food scarcity and poverty may have resulted from failed
distribution systems rather than inability of the land and water bodies to yield
food.It can be argued that increasing population decreases the amount of
resources available to each person.Carrying capacity, or the ability of the
ecosystem to support a number of people, may be influenced by limit of
resources due to an increasing population. Competition increases as the carrying
capacity is reached. Per capita consumption must also be taken into account
because people in Northern countries generally consume more food, energy and
resources than people in the developing Southern countries. Carrying capacity
may be addressed two ways: increase resources and reduce population growth.
Agricultural productivity for instance may be increased with better availability of
water and farm inputs.
Pollution reduces the absorbing capacity of air and water. Pollution likewise
reduces the availability of land and water to produce food for human
consumption. A river classified a Class IV means that it becomes fit only for only
for navigation and can no longer sustain life forms. Likewise, oil spills from
accidents or war destroy bays and rivers. Waterways that have become cesspool
of domestic wastes cannot contain fishes and shells or if they do might transmit
toxins and harmful bacteria to consumers.
5. Nature knows best. (Ang kalikasan ang mas nakakaalam.)
Nature manifests certain processes that enable it to maintain balance and

remain in a state of equilibrium. The nutrient cycling of nitrogen, carbon, sulfur
and phosphorous in the air, water and land indicates that minerals are utilized
within the confines of the earth. The flow of energy from the sun enables light to
be converted into sugar in plants through photosynthesis, and later for consumer
organisms to obtain energy from plant starch. Food chains and food webs allow
transfer of energy from producers and consumers and provide the means for all
living organisms to acquire nutrition. Population control also occurs naturally
through predator-prey relationships. The equilibrium in the ecosystem is
maintained, thus if humans intervene, unforeseen negative impacts known as
ecological backlash, may arise. Floods are often times backlashes of excessive
felling of trees. The importation of golden kuhol, that became a pest, reminds us
that biological organisms may not acclimatize in a new environment or may
cause harm to indigenous species.
6. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God’s creation. (Ang kalikasan ay

maganda at tayoang tagapangasiwa ng lahat na nilikha ng Diyos.)
Different religions from Islam to Buddhism to Judeo-Christian to indigenous

people’s animism express the belief of caring for the earth, including all
creatures. Thus it is the goal of environmental education and biodiversity
conservation education to motivate target audiences towards developing an eco-
spirituality that moves them into a more meaningful relationship with nature and a
greater participation in the biophysical economic processes that make this world
a better place to live in.
7. Everything changes. (Ang lahat ay nagbabago.)
Changes in the biophysical world occur naturally. As they say, there is

nothing more permanent in this world than change. Consider the following
examples. Metamorphosis of caterpillars to butterflies illustrates morphological
changes that occur in living forms. The increase of vegetation on earth
augmented the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere through time. Seasons are
cyclic changes that contribute to the diversity of flowers, fruits, vegetables and
other crops during the year. Random changes manifested by natural catastrophe
such as typhoons destroy forests, coral reefs and mangroves. Volcanic eruptions
annihilate surface flora and submerge rivers. Human-induced alteration such as
climate change may cause more massive repercussions. Land use change –
from forests to agricultural land to human settlements – change the composition
of vegetation and animals. Human-induced changes can be managed so that the
negative impacts are minimized and positive changes accentuated.
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) provides a tool for the projection,
planning and management of change brought about by industrialization and
human settlement expansion. Effluents can be managed through policy and
pollution control techniques by both industry and government to achieve clean
air and water. Sustainable development presents a paradigm of change for the
21st Century. Sustainable development promotes ecological integrity, equitable
sharing of resources and people empowerment as pillars of growth. Biodiversity
conservation contributes to ecological integrity, through both in-situ and ex-situ
techniques. Biodiversity conservation becomes successful only if coupled with
poverty alleviation, improving equity of access to resources and instituting social
change. Environmental education facilitates social transformation by modifying
attitudes and behavior of people towards an ecological ethic.
S O U R C E : h t t p : / / w w w. w e t l a n d s . p h / w p - c o n t e n t / u p l o a d s / 2 0 1 7 / 0 7 /
Handout-1_Module-1-The-Seven-Environmental-Principles.pdf
Answer Briefly the following in your own handwriting. Write your answers in any
sheet of paper and turn in a picture or scanned copy of your answers.
1. Choose (2) two of any of these principles and give a personal situation on
how you applied the chosen principles. Explain your answers in not more
than 1 short paragraph each.
2. There is a proliferation of rats in your area, in order to stop its population, the
Government has introduced large imported cats in the environment. Is this
decision right? Explain.

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7 Environmental Principles

1. Everything is connected to everything else. (Ang lahat ng bagay ay

Human interaction with nature oftentimes alters the ecosystems. The

3. Everything must go somewhere. (Ang lahat ng bagay ay may patutunguhan.)

4. Ours is a finite earth. (Ang kalikasan ay may hangganan.)

Everything that we need is provided by nature in abundance – food, water,

5. Nature knows best. (Ang kalikasan ang mas nakakaalam.)

Nature manifests certain processes that enable it to maintain balance and

6. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God’s creation. (Ang kalikasan ay

Different religions from Islam to Buddhism to Judeo-Christian to indigenous

7. Everything changes. (Ang lahat ay nagbabago.)

Changes in the biophysical world occur naturally. As they say, there is

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