Coastal Ecosystem
Prepared by: Reo Paolo M. Uri

The coastal zone is the strip of land and adjacent lake or ocean space (water and submerged land) in which land ecology  and land use directly effect the ocean space ecology and vice versa. Functionally, it is a broad interface between land and water where production, consumption and exchange processes to which land-based activities have a measurable influence  on the chemistry of water and ecology of biota.

In the Philippines, the coastal zone encompass, approximately 17,000 kilometers of coastline. It include: Mangrove forests, tidal flats, estuaries, island ecosystems, coral reefs and beaches- areas of great socio-economic and cultural value, hence a lot of human activities takes place.

Because of pressure from an increasing population and the drive towards industrial development. coastal resources have been of these resources, not to mention pollution from industrial sources.

Urban ecosystem

Urban lands are developed lands which are usually intended for human settlements and support activities. The rapid expansion of human settlements and support activities. The rapid of human settlements and accelerated development in mining, forestry, manufacturing and agriculture have brought with it a chain of environmental woes. These problems are apparent in dying lakes and rivers, soil erosion and air and water problems of employment, housing, health and congestion, not to mention water and air pollution.

The various problems of these ecosystem have become so apparent, that the time has come for drastic acting to ensure the future goals for achieving higher economic gains will not impair the quality of the environment. But, at the same time, environment protection measurements be carefully chosen so as not to impede economic development.

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Agricultural ecosystem

Prepared By: Reo Paolo M.Uri

Agricultural refers to productive efforts whereby natural resources are put to use without jeopardizing their capacity for renewal. However, current demands for higher production now threaten the very sustainability of these resources. Other factors aggravate the vulnerable condition of our agricultural resources such as soil erosion, depletion of soil nutrients, due to the value of agricultural chemical inputs and climate changes. 

The problems of soil erosion in the Philippines is quite pronounced due to the geographical and climate conditions. For example, 31% of the country's total land area are hilly and mountainous making these suspectible to erosion.

Soil erosion in many parts of the country has already of precious topsoil, deterioration of arable lands, low crop fields, and reduced water supply. It has also contributed to the increased of floods, sedimentation of rivers,as well as dams and lakes, and depletion of flora and fauna. Population growth has also exerted tremendous pressure to non-traditional, less productive areas. These are visible on mountain slopes patches of clearings and planted trees. There are a host of other issue in agriculture which are socio-economic in nature. These include inequitable distribution of land or the lack of access to land.

Freshwater Ecosystem

Freshwater bodies include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, and groudwater reserviors.

The six major lakes in the Philippines are Laguna de Bay, Lakes Lanao, Tall, Mainit, Naujan, and Bulusan.

The degradation of the freshwater resources are due to a rapidly growing industrialization, development in agriculture, and population growth. Fish yields are decreasing, fish kills and fish infestations by pathogenic microorganisms related to pollution are occuring more of ten now, and the lakes are being choked by fishpen over crowding. If land-based activities are not regulated soon enough, the death of more freshewater ecosystems will be imminent.

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