RP Biologist - Reforest Islands Or Face Environmental, Social Collapse

[hatrack]

"Saving the country’s forest is the best and cheapest solution to air pollution and water scarcity, according to a Filipino biologist. Biologist Perry Ong said Cebu and other islands in the Philippines need to regain at least 40 percent of their forest for their ecological functions to work well.

While the country’s forests cover only 18 percent of its total land area---with Cebu having less than one percent cover - the Philippines, he said, is "on the verge of an environmental collapse and extinction spasm." He said an environmental collapse occurs "when the environment stops providing the free services that it used to offer: cleaning the air and giving water." He pointed to Cebu’s water scarcity problems, loss of biodiversity and other environmental problems.

Ong, speaking during the last day of the Rotary district conference at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City yesterday, asked members of the organization to help protect the country's natural resources."

EDIT

He cited studies forecasting that by year 2050, the remaining forests in the Philippines will all be cut down, only 30 percent of plant and animal species will remain and there would be more and stronger typhoons. "If we don't do anything to stop the destruction, we will reach a point of no return," Ong said. He said people must change their mindset that environmental protection is the responsibility only of the government and environmentalists. Local and isolated initiatives to save the environment are not enough."

EDIT

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2005/03/13/news/reforest.cebu.says.biologist.or.face.collapse.html