This is our situation - Words from our Chief:
Different bioregions in Mindanao are the last home of indigenous peoples and habitat of wildlife. The bioregion in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte is significant for the survival of the indigenous peoples and wildlife. Amidst exploitation and abuse of the indigenous peoples and the ecosystem, there are still untouched rainforest that save the lives of the inhabitants. The presence of the bioregion gives importance for the existence of the upland and coastal communities, wildlife, and the ecosystems. The following are the importance of the bioregion in Northern Mindanao-Region 10.
1. Rainforests - Our Rainforest hosts a vast number of wildlife and plant species and brings about a huge variety of complex ecosystems and biodiversity.
2. Climate Regulators and Stabilizers - Rainforests are linked as they act as heat and water pumps. The forests simply store water and release it in the environment. For this reason, rainforests are major regulators of the water. Essentially, they are termed as the "lungs of the planet earth" because they store carbon which is absorbed by plants during the photosynthesis process.
3. Preventing Flooding, Soil Erosion and Siltation - Rainforests are very good at preventing soil erosion, siltation, and flooding. The tree roots bind the soil together while the canopy of the forests protects the soil from the direct impact of heavy rains. This helps the soil and generally protects it from erosion and floodings.
4. Rainforests and Pharmacy - Rainforests are fundamental source of medicines. Presently, not even more than 1% of the world's rainforests have been explored and tested for their pharmaceutical or medicinal components, yet more than 25% of all our modern medicines come from the rainforests. So, it means amazing results can be obtained from the yet to be explored rainforests.
6. Providing a Home for the Indigenous People - Indigenous people have lived in harmony with the rainforests for centuries, depending on it for their medicines, food, and shelter. This means the rainforests offer desirable homes for the indigenous people. The destruction of these forests, owing to logging and mining, threatens the survival of the indigenous people, as they may be forced to move deeper into the forest, away from their familiar grounds, thus exposing them to danger.
Biodiversity Values:
1. Ecological Value - The ecological value of biodiversity can be found by examining each ecosystem process and identifying the ecosystem services that result. These processes provide the ecosystem service of purifying water. Forests regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the air by releasing oxygen during photosynthesis, and control rainfall and soil erosion.
2. Indigenous Peoples Value - The indigenous peoples value of biodiversity includes aesthetic, recreational, cultural, and spiritual values. This biodiversity has to a great extent been preserved by traditional societies.
3. Ethical and Moral Value - It is based on the principle of 'live and let others live'. Ethical values related to biodiversity conservation are based on the importance of protecting all forms of life. All forms of life have the right to exist on earth.
5. Aesthetic Value - The beauty of our planet is because of biodiversity, which otherwise would have resembled other barren planets dotted around the universe. Biological diversity adds to the quality of life and provides some of the most beautiful aspects of our existence. Biodiversity is responsible for the beauty of a landscape.
Challenges and current issues to be addressed:
A. Forest Slash and Burn - Numerous rainforests across the world have been cleared and burnt down to create room for planting native rice in the tribal communities. The case is particularly of high concern anywhere in the cultural communities as their source of foods for family survival. This practice is termed as slash and burn farming which is linked with the destruction of up to 50% of rainforests. Without the rainforests, the soil is exposed, and the grass dries within a few years eventually leading to desertification.
B. Logging - Logging activities undertake to provide the world's wood, paper products, timber, and business furniture is the second largest cause of rainforest destruction. Timber companies cut down big trees such as Lauan and other hardwoods found in the tribal communities and sell them for furniture making. The small trees are used to make charcoal which is used as fuel for cooking and heating. Since the best and valuable trees are the ones mostly selected for timber (selective logging), rainforests are destroyed at an astonishing rate.
C. Mining - Mining contributes to the destruction of rainforest in the process of extracting the highly demanded precious materials such as aluminum, gold, copper, and ore which are frequently found in the earth beneath the rainforest. During extraction, hazardous chemicals, namely mercury and cyanide, is at times used to separate gold from the debris and soil with which it is mixed. The chemicals sooner or later find way into streams, rivers or other water systems thus affecting the people who live there, the rainforests biodiversity as well as ecosystems.
Different bioregions in Mindanao are the last home of indigenous peoples and habitat of wildlife. The bioregion in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte is significant for the survival of the indigenous peoples and wildlife. Amidst exploitation and abuse of the indigenous peoples and the ecosystem, there are still untouched rainforest that save the lives of the inhabitants. The presence of the bioregion gives importance for the existence of the upland and coastal communities, wildlife, and the ecosystems. The following are the importance of the bioregion in Northern Mindanao-Region 10.
1. Rainforests - Our Rainforest hosts a vast number of wildlife and plant species and brings about a huge variety of complex ecosystems and biodiversity.
2. Climate Regulators and Stabilizers - Rainforests are linked as they act as heat and water pumps. The forests simply store water and release it in the environment. For this reason, rainforests are major regulators of the water. Essentially, they are termed as the "lungs of the planet earth" because they store carbon which is absorbed by plants during the photosynthesis process.
3. Preventing Flooding, Soil Erosion and Siltation - Rainforests are very good at preventing soil erosion, siltation, and flooding. The tree roots bind the soil together while the canopy of the forests protects the soil from the direct impact of heavy rains. This helps the soil and generally protects it from erosion and floodings.
4. Rainforests and Pharmacy - Rainforests are fundamental source of medicines. Presently, not even more than 1% of the world's rainforests have been explored and tested for their pharmaceutical or medicinal components, yet more than 25% of all our modern medicines come from the rainforests. So, it means amazing results can be obtained from the yet to be explored rainforests.
6. Providing a Home for the Indigenous People - Indigenous people have lived in harmony with the rainforests for centuries, depending on it for their medicines, food, and shelter. This means the rainforests offer desirable homes for the indigenous people. The destruction of these forests, owing to logging and mining, threatens the survival of the indigenous people, as they may be forced to move deeper into the forest, away from their familiar grounds, thus exposing them to danger.
Biodiversity Values:
1. Ecological Value - The ecological value of biodiversity can be found by examining each ecosystem process and identifying the ecosystem services that result. These processes provide the ecosystem service of purifying water. Forests regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the air by releasing oxygen during photosynthesis, and control rainfall and soil erosion.
2. Indigenous Peoples Value - The indigenous peoples value of biodiversity includes aesthetic, recreational, cultural, and spiritual values. This biodiversity has to a great extent been preserved by traditional societies.
3. Ethical and Moral Value - It is based on the principle of 'live and let others live'. Ethical values related to biodiversity conservation are based on the importance of protecting all forms of life. All forms of life have the right to exist on earth.
5. Aesthetic Value - The beauty of our planet is because of biodiversity, which otherwise would have resembled other barren planets dotted around the universe. Biological diversity adds to the quality of life and provides some of the most beautiful aspects of our existence. Biodiversity is responsible for the beauty of a landscape.
Challenges and current issues to be addressed:
A. Forest Slash and Burn - Numerous rainforests across the world have been cleared and burnt down to create room for planting native rice in the tribal communities. The case is particularly of high concern anywhere in the cultural communities as their source of foods for family survival. This practice is termed as slash and burn farming which is linked with the destruction of up to 50% of rainforests. Without the rainforests, the soil is exposed, and the grass dries within a few years eventually leading to desertification.
B. Logging - Logging activities undertake to provide the world's wood, paper products, timber, and business furniture is the second largest cause of rainforest destruction. Timber companies cut down big trees such as Lauan and other hardwoods found in the tribal communities and sell them for furniture making. The small trees are used to make charcoal which is used as fuel for cooking and heating. Since the best and valuable trees are the ones mostly selected for timber (selective logging), rainforests are destroyed at an astonishing rate.
C. Mining - Mining contributes to the destruction of rainforest in the process of extracting the highly demanded precious materials such as aluminum, gold, copper, and ore which are frequently found in the earth beneath the rainforest. During extraction, hazardous chemicals, namely mercury and cyanide, is at times used to separate gold from the debris and soil with which it is mixed. The chemicals sooner or later find way into streams, rivers or other water systems thus affecting the people who live there, the rainforests biodiversity as well as ecosystems.