Our environment is what houses and helps our ecosystem grow and thrive. Without protecting and taking care of our environment we're putting so many lives at danger such as animals, plants and crops, and even our own. All of the ecosystems that make up our environment are deeply connected.

Healthy ecosystems depend on plant and animal species as their foundations. When a species becomes endangered, it is a sign that the ecosystem is slowly falling apart. Each species that is lost triggers the loss of other species within its ecosystem. Agriculture also plays an important role in the protection of species, farmers are often seen as the original conservationists. 

According to The World Atlas, “megadiversity” refers to countries that harbor a “high total number of species including a significant percentage of endemic species.” And for a country to be classified as “megadiverse”, it must have at least 5,000 species of endemic plants and border a marine ecosystem. “On a per unit area basis, the Philippines probably harbors more diversity of life than any other country on the planet,” the DENR-BMB web site said.

The Philippines is considered to be one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world. The country’s forest ecosystem hosts a diverse array of plant and animal species. As a matter of fact, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported that the Philippines is home to more than 52,177 described species, which are only indigenous to the region. Although the Philippines has a “high degree of land and animal endemism,” it is also tagged as a biodiversity hotspot as the number of endangered and threatened species continues to grow due to habitat loss and inhumane animal activities.

In fact, a number of resident species — which are cultivated or hunted as food — may be heading to extinction, like the critically endangered tamaraw and the Visayan warty pig. Partly due to human consumption, sea turtles (like the green and loggerhead turtle) remain endangered.

There are many ways to conserve and protect these species. But the first step to conservation is understanding the extent of these species’ decline, in order to arrive at solutions with more impact.

 

Ways to prevent animal extinction in the Philippines.

 

Educate your family about endangered species in your area. 

Stop using hazardous pollutants that affect wildlife at many levels. 

Try to rebuild their natural habitat or avoid destroying it.

Stop hunting especially those critically endangered species.

 Fund the rehabilitation of their habitat.

 

Protects our Ecosystem

 

Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Cut down on what you throw away. Follow the three "R's" to conserve natural resources and landfill space.

Volunteer. Volunteer for cleanups in your community. You can get involved in protecting your watershed, too.

Educate. When you further your own education, you can help others understand the importance and value of our natural resources.

Conserve water. The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater that eventually end up in the ocean.

Shop wisely. Buy less plastic and bring a reusable shopping bag.

Use long-lasting light bulbs. Energy efficient light bulbs reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also flip the light switch off when you leave the room!

Plant a tree. Trees provide food and oxygen. They help save energy, clean the air, and help combat climate change.

Don't send chemicals into our waterways. Choose non-toxic chemicals in the home and office.

Bike more. Drive less.