Half of the Philippines’ endemic wildlife is with extinction
mongabay.com
July 22, 2008
More than half the birds, amphibians and mammals endemic to the Philippines are threatened with extinction, according to a statement released by the country’s environment and natural resources department and reported by AFP.
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Joselito Atienza said that 592 of the 1,137 species of amphibians, birds and mammals found only in the Philippines are considered “threatened or endangered.” 227 endemic species of plants are “critically endangered.”
Large-scale deforestation is the primary driver of wildlife decline in the archipelago. High population growth and demand for timber and agricultural land contribute to forest loss.
Related
Ecosystems in the Philippines bounce back from the brink March 19, 2008
The Philippines has often been an example for the worst-case-scenario in environmental degradation. Some scientists have even concluded that environmental efforts should put elsewhere, claiming the Philippines to be a lost cause. In his book Requiem for Nature John Terborgh writes the “overpopulated… Philippines are already beyond the point of no return.” However, a recent paper entitled “Hope for Threatened Tropical Biodiversity: Lessons from the Philippines” argues that there are enough positive environmental and conservation trends in the Philippines to have hope and continue working for a better tomorrow.
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