INTRO TO

ENVIRONMENT
AL SCIENCE
(MST 21)
 CHAPTER IV - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND
MANAGEMENT

 Learning Objectives
1. Recognize the important facts about global and local
environmental problems; and
2. distinguish various environmental issues and their management
strategies.
 CHAPTER IV - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND
MANAGEMENT
 Environmental Management is “a purposeful activity with the goal to
maintain and improve the state of an environmental resource affected by
human activities”.
 It aims to ensure that ecosystem services and biodiversity are protected and
maintained for equitable use by future human generations, and also, maintain
ecosystem integrity as an end in itself by taking into consideration ethical,
economic, and scientific (ecological) variables.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Human Population Growth and Poverty Trends
- Population is defined as an interbreeding group of organisms of the same
species within a restricted area.
- Includes individuals of particular species or several related species.
- By record, an average of four or five children is born every second
somewhere on the earth. At the same time, two other people die. This means
that there is a net gain of roughly 2.3 more humans per second in the world’s
population.
- Overpopulation
- Causes resource depletion and environmental degradation which threaten ecological
life support systems.
Warren Thompson in
1929
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION
LEVEL
 A. Preindustrial stage: Little population growth. Harsh living conditions
lead to both high birth and death rate
 B. Transitional Stage: Industrialization begins, and food production and
health care improved. Death rates drop but birth rates remain high.
Population grows rapidly
 C. Industrial stage: The birth rate drops and eventually approaches the
death rate. Medical advances, modernization, education, women
empowerment.
 D. Post-industrial stage: Birth rate declines further, leveling with the
death rate reaching zero population growth, then population slowly
decreases.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH AND POVERTY TRENDS)

Social Impact
 Overpopulation – Uncontrolled increase in human population
 Need more resources
 Less living space
 Less water
 More Garbage/Waste
 Poverty – a state or condition in which a person or society
lacks the minimum financial requirement or resource to enjoy
a minimum standard of life.
 Substance abuse/Addiction
 Less Education
 Poor housing
 Inequalities
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH AND POVERTY TRENDS)
Environmental Impacts

1. Over Exploitation
- Is the deliberate overuse of resources regardless of the importance of its
use.
- Humans have always depended on wildlife and plants
2. Resource Depletion
- Resources are naturally occurring substances that can be utilized by people
- Increase in population demands the extraction of more natural resources.
- Potential Causes of Resource Depletion
a. Increase in population – Increased demand
b. Increase in technological development – Land-use Change
c. Consumerism – Over consumption
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH AND POVERTY TRENDS)
Invasive Species (Alien Species)

1. Any organism that is not originally / native to an ecosystem that causes

negative impact to the environment
2. Spread through human activities (Both intentional and non intentional)
3. Has drastic impact to human health and economy
4. Impacts of Invasive species include:
a. Preying on native species
b. Out competing native species
c. Potential Carriers of diseases
d. Altering food web
e. Decrease in biodiversity
f. Altering ecosystem condition
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Land Use and Land Cover Change
- Land use refers to the function of the land. Land Cover Refers to what is on the land.
- Land use is also related to the study of human trends and movements. The trend of
urbanization has a big impact on land use.
Land Use Change
- is a process by which human activities transform the landscape.
- This has been identified as a significant driver of climate change.
- An example, the conversion of forest areas to agriculture or pastureland is the primary
driver of deforestation.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGE)
Land Use Types
1. Residential Land Use
2. Agricultural Land Use
3. Industrial Land Use
4. Commercial Land Use
5. Recreational Land Use
6. Institutional Land Use
7. Transportation Land Use
 Land Use Planning
- Is a process of evaluating the needs and wants of the population, the
characteristics and values of the land, and various alternative solutions to the use
of a particular land surface before changes are made.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGE)
 Land Use Planning
- Is a process of evaluating the needs and wants of the population, the
characteristics and values of the land, and various alternative solutions
to the use of a particular land surface before changes are made.
- In making good land-use decisions, the decision process must involve
the public, private landowners, developers, government, and special
interests' group. A basic rule is to make an Environmental Impact
Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(IMPACTS OF LAND-USE CHANGE)
 Habitat Loss.
 When an ecosystem has been dramatically changed by human activities, it may no longer
be able to provide the food, water, cover, and places to raise young. Habitat loss is one of
the main threats to the survival of wildlife in most countries.
 Three major kinds of habitat loss (according to the National Wildlife Federation)
 1. Habitat Destruction
 2. Habitat Fragmentation
 3. Habitat Degradation
 Deforestation
 Deforestation is the complete removal of trees for the purpose of converting a forest area
into an entirely different purpose.
 As development takes place, the increase of forests formations that are degraded or
destroyed is now increasing. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization had reported that
approximately 16.9 million hectares are being cleared each year (Cunningham & Saigo,
1995).
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND GLOBAL WARMING)
 Greenhouse Effect
 The atmosphere reflects some of the incoming solar radiation back into space.
 Some passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed as it heats the air, and about half
reaches Earth’s surface.
 The surface heats up and in the process gives off longer wavelength, lower energy
radiation. This infrared radiation passes into the atmosphere, but instead of being radiated
100% back into space, much of it is absorbed by the atmosphere and reradiated to the
surface. This is made possible by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They may be
relatively transparent to the higher energy sunlight but trap or reflect the lower energy
infrared radiation. Thus, the greenhouse gases act as a one-way filter, letting energy in
the form of sunlight in but not allowing the infrared heat to escape at the same rate. In
summary, the greenhouse effect naturally warms the Earth’s surface. Without it, Earth
would be 33oC cooler than it is today, uninhabitable for life as we know it (Science and
Technology Policy, Washington D.C., 1997).
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND GLOBAL WARMING)
 Some of the possible impacts of rising global temperatures are:
 (1) Extreme weather such as strong typhoons, flood storm surge and
drought;
 (2) Stress existing ecosystems where species are unable to migrate or
adapt may become extinct;
 (3) Sea level is expected to rise affecting agriculture, human population
and land uses; and
 (4) Threat to human health making people vulnerable to illness.
REPORTING TOPICS
 Air Pollution and Air Quality Management (Group 1)
 Solid waste issues and Solid waste management (Group 2)
 Water Pollution and Water Quality Management (Group 3)
 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (Group 4)
 Other Current Environmental Issues (Group 5)
 NIPAS (RA 7586) (Group 6)
 Animal Welfare Act (RA 8485) (Group 7)
 Air Pollutant Source Effects
Carbon Monoxide Burning of gasoline, coal, wood and It binds to the hemoglobin in blood and makes the
trash hemoglobin less able to carry oxygen thereby reducing the

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Particulate Matter
Cigarette Smoking
blood’s oxygen carrying capacity

Road travels, agricultural activities, It causes problems ranging from the annoyance of reduced
construction sites, industrial processes, visibility at national parks or soot settling on backyard
(AIR POLLUTION) and smoke particles from fires picnic table to carcinogenic effects of asbestos.

Particles can accumulate in the lungs and interfere with

 The word pollution refers to society’s excess outputs
their ability into the
to exchange environment.
gases.
Sulfur Dioxide Burning of sulfur-containing fossil fuels Has a sharp odor that irritates respiratory tissue and
 Humans cause pollution at a much greater aggravates
rate thanasthmatic
doesand other respiratory conditions.
nature.
Forms sulfur-containing acids that when inhaled is very
 “everything must go somewhere” corrosive to lung tissue.
Nitrogen Dioxide Burning of fossil fuels Reddish brown and highly reactive gas responsible for the
haze seen over cities, causes respiratory problems and is a
component of acid precipitation

Produces photochemical smog (secondary air pollutant)

Lead Airborne particles deposited on It accumulates in the body and causes a variety of health
surfaces, additives in gasoline, paints, effects, including mental retardation and kidney damage.
batteries, and metal smelters.
Volatile Organic Evaporated from fuel supplies or are Health effects such as eyes, nose and throat irritation,
Compounds (VOC) remnants of fuel that did not burn headaches and loss of coordinator and nausea, damage to
completely. liver, kidney and central nervous system

Products such as oil-based paint, Can cause cancer in animals and may affect humans.
 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(AIR QUALITY) •Republic Act (RA) 8749. The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
Enactment and 1999
Implementation:
Purpose Protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthy ecology in accord
with the rhythm and harmony of nature, promote and protect the global environment to
sustainable development while recognizing the primary responsibility of LGU to deal with
environmental problems, recognizes that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and
environment is primarily area-based, recognizing that “polluters must pay,” and recognizing
further that a clean and healthy environment is for the good of all and should therefore be
the concern of all.
Some Features  Pursue a policy of balancing development and environmental protection.

 Formulation of a holistic national program of air pollution management that shall be

implemented by the government through proper delegation and effective coordination of
functions and activities
 Focus on pollution prevention rather than on control and provide for a comprehensive
management program for air pollution;
 Formulation and enforcement of a system of accountability for a short and long-term
adverse environmental impact of a project, program or activity.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL)
 Solid waste is generally made up of objects or particles that accumulate on the site where
they are produced. Solid wastes may also refer to all discarded household, commercial
waste, non-hazardous institutional and industrial waste, street sweepings, construction
debris, agricultural waste, and other non-hazardous wastes.
 According to Enger and Smith (2009), there are four kinds of wastes observed in the United
States as presented by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL)
 Mining Waste - This would include: (a) Waste left on the surface at the
mine site; (b) Tailings; and (c) Hazardous materials
 Agricultural Waste - Common form of waste and includes waste from the
raising of animals and harvesting and processing of crops and trees.
 Industrial Solid Waste - It includes a wide variety of materials such as
demolition waste, foundry sand, scraps from manufacturing processes,
sludge, ash from combustion and other similar materials. Some of these
wastes are also categorized as Hazardous wastes
 Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) - Consists of all the materials that people
in a region no long want because they are broken, spoiled or have no
further use. It includes wastes from households, commercial
establishments, institutions, and some industrial sources.
 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL)
•Republic Act (RA) 9003. Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2003
Enactment and Enacted in 2000, Enforcement 2003
Implementation:
Purpose Provides a systematic, comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management
program in the country.
Some Features  Establishment of the National Solid Waste Management Commission and the
National Ecology Center which will oversee and ensure the implementation of the
Act, and undertake training and education of the Act, respectively;
 Creation of Solid Waste Management Boards at the provincial, city/municipality
and barangay levels;
 Preparation of a National Solid Waste Management Status Report that will contain
an inventory of existing solid waste facilities, waste characterization, waste
generation projections and other pertinent information. The report will be the
basis for the development of a National Solid Waste Management Systems
Framework which will eventually guild local government units (LGUs) in the
preparation of their respective plans.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL)
 Disposal Strategies
 Landfills. A land area or a site where waste materials are buried underground or it could also
be defined as a hole in the ground where solid waste is deposited. Landfills are widely used
because this method is the cheapest and most convenient but it may contribute to
groundwater pollution.
 Incineration. This is a process of burning refuse in a controlled manner. This is also
sometimes referred to as mass burn technology. It helps reduce the amount of MSW but it also
has primary risks such as air-quality problems and the toxicity and disposal of the ash.
 Producing Mulch and Compost. Mulch is an organic material that is used to cover the soil. It
is often used to protect areas where the soil is disturbed or to control the growth of unwanted
vegetation in certain kinds of plantings. Composting is the process of allowing the natural
process of decomposition to transform organic materials into compost. Compost is a humus-
like material with many environmental benefits.
 Source Reduction. The practice of designing, manufacturing, purchasing, using and reusing
materials so that the amount of waste or its toxicity is reduced.
 Recycling. A process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(WATER QUALITY & MANAGEMENT)

 Water is the major component of most cells and living tissue.

 Universal solvent

 Occupying almost two thirds of the earth’s surface covered by water and the human body, it is one of the
prime elements responsible for life on earth.
 Water circulates via hydrologic cycle.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(WATER QUALITY & MANAGEMENT)

 Water quality is defined as a measure of the suitability of water for a

particular use based on selected physical, chemical and biological
characteristics.
 Acid rain, bacteria in water, nitrogen, pesticides, phosphorus, runoff,
sewage overflows and urbanization are some of the factors that may
contribute in the contamination and pollution of water bodies.
 Poor water quality, are health risks
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(WATER QUALITY & MANAGEMENT)

 Water Quality Standards

 DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-08: Water Quality Guidelines
and General Effluent Standards of 2016
“This is a policy of the State to pursue a policy of economic growth in a
manner consistent with the protection, preservation and revival of the
quality of our fresh, brackish and marine waters”
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(WATER QUALITY & MANAGEMENT)
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(WATER QUALITY & MANAGEMENT)

Presidential Decree (PD) 1067. Water Code of the Philippines

Enactment and Enacted in 1976
Implementation:
Purpose Appropriation, Control and Conservation of Water Resources
Some Features  Basic principles and framework relating to the appropriation,
control and conservation of water resources to achieve the
optimum development and rational utilization of these
resources are established;
 The extent of the rights and obligation of water users and
owners including the protection and regulation of such rights
are defined;
 A basic law governing the ownership, appropriation,
utilization, exploitation, development, conservation and
protection of water resources and rights to land related
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(WATER QUALITY & MANAGEMENT)

Wastewater Management
RA 9275: Philippine Clean Water
 Implementing Rules and Regulations of the PCWA of 2004 was approved by the Secretary of DENR on
May 16, 2005 and published last May 26, 2005 under DAO 2005 – 10 series of 20015 (Manila Times
and Manila Standard Today)

 All water bodies (natural and manmade) bodies of fresh, brackish, and saline waters, and includes but
not limited to aquifers, groundwater, springs, creeks, streams, rivers, ponds, lagoons, water reservoirs,
lakes, bays, estuaries, coastal and marine waters.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(WATER QUALITY & MANAGEMENT)

 Primarily applies to abatement and control of pollution from lad-based sources

 Established on the basis of payment to government for discharging wastewater into the water
bodies

 Based on net waste load (difference of Initial load of abstracted water to waste load of
discharged effluent)

 Complying industries to be charged minimal reasonable amount

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(WATER QUALITY & MANAGEMENT)

Water Pollution
 One of the problems in the world today is the scarcity of clean water.

 People have generally made use of water in various ways, they have even used it as a dumping site.

 The natural purification of water bodies undergoes physical and chemical processes.
 Physical processes involve dilution, sedimentation, filtration and aeration. For the chemical process,
natural waters may contain many dissolved minerals and gases that chemically interact in complex
ways.
 Potable water is water that is safe to drink. Polluted water is water rendered unusable for its intended
purpose. Contaminated water is water unusable for any purpose. People cannot drink it.
 Water pollution is highly costly in the effects it has on the health of people, other organisms, and
ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(WATER QUALITY & MANAGEMENT)

1. Municipal Water Pollution. Wastes come from stormwater runoff, wastes from industry, and wastes from homes
and commercial establishments.

2. Agricultural Water Pollution. Excessive use of fertilizer results in eutrophication in many aquatic habitats
because leaching and precipitation carries dissolved nutrients into streams and lakes.

3. Industrial Water Pollution. Factories and industrial complexes frequently dispose of some or all of their wastes
into municipal sewage systems.

4. Thermal Pollution. Occurs when an industry removes water from source, uses the water for cooling purposes,
and then returns the heated water to its source.

5. Marine Oil Pollution. Possibly caused by oil-drilling blowouts or oil tanker accidents, runoff from streets,
improper disposal of lubricating oil from machines or automobile crankcases and intentional oil discharges that occur
during the loading and unloading of tankers.

6. Groundwater Pollution. Major sources include agricultural products, underground storage tanks, landfills, septic
tanks, and surface impoundments.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MNGT)

Basic Disaster Concepts

1. Disaster is defined as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society.
2. Hazard is a dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity, or condition
3. Vulnerability refers to characteristics and circumstances of a community, system, or asset that make it
susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.
4. Capacity is the combination of all the strengths, attributes, and resources available within a
community, society, or organization.
5. Exposure is the degree to which a community is likely to experience hazard events of different
magnitude
6. Disaster risk is the potential disaster losses in lives, health status, livelihood, assets and services which
could occur to a particular community or society over some specified period of time.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MNGT)

Disaster Risk Reduction Management

DRRM Thematic Areas

1. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Avoid hazards and mitigate their potential impacts

2. Disaster Preparedness. Establish and strengthen capacities

3. Disaster Response. Provide life preservation and basic subsistence needs

4. Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery. Restore and improve facilities and living conditions and
capacities
 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MNGT)

Republic Act (RA) 10121. Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010
Enactment and 2010
Implementation:
Purpose An act strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System, providing
for the national disaster risk reduction and management framework and institutionalizing the
national disaster risk reduction and management plan, appropriating funds therefor and for other
purposes.
Some Features  Uphold the people's constitutional rights to life and property by addressing the root causes of
vulnerabilities to disasters, strengthening the country's institutional capacity for disaster risk
reduction and management and building the resilience of local communities to disasters
including climate change impacts;
 Adhere to and adopt the universal norms, principles and standards of humanitarian assistance
and the global effort on risk reduction as concrete expression of the country's commitment to
overcome human sufferings due to recurring disasters;
 Incorporate internationally accepted principles of disaster risk management in the creation
and implementation of national, regional and local sustainable development and poverty
reduction strategies, policies, plans and budgets;
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MNGT)

 Project DINA

- Disaster Information for Nationwide Awareness.

- promoting public awareness on disaster preparedness

- https://ocd.gov.ph/index.php/project-dina
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(OTHER CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES )

INFLATION RATE
- Inflation is a quantitative measure of the rate at which the average price of selected goods and services in
an economy increases over a period of time.
- As inflation rises, the value of the peso becomes lower

- Aside from measuring the increase in prices, inflation is an indicator of the country’s price stability.

CORAL BLEACHING
- is the whitening of diverse invertebrate taxa which results from the loss of symbiotic zooxantheallae
and/or reduction in photosynthetic pigment concentration in zooxantheallae residing within
(scleractinian) corals.
- Zooxantheallae are tiny plant cells that provide for corals.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(OTHER CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES )

NOISE POLLUTION
- noise pollution is a sound that is harmful to the organisms in the environment

- noise pollution is an unintended byproduct of urbanization, transport and industry.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES)

- Presidential Decree (PD 1151. Philippine Environmental Policy

- Presidential Decree (PD) 1152. Philippine Environmental Code

- Presidential Decree (PD) 1586. Environmental Impact Statement System

- Republic Act (RA) 6969. Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990.

- Republic Act (RA) 7586. National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)

- Republic Act (RA) 8371. Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997

- Republic Act (RA) 8485. Animal Welfare Act of 1998 as amended by RA 10631

- Republic Act (RA) 9147. Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act

- Republic Act (RA) 7942. Philippine Mining Act of 1995

- Republic Act (RA) 9729. Climate Change Act of 2009