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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