Module 4 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

1. Introduction/Overview
It’s fair to say that schools have a responsibility to educate our future leaders. This should involve not only
teaching them how to count, spell, read and write, but also teaching them environmental protection from
an early age. The earlier they learn about the environment, the more they’ll care about protecting it.

This module discusses the current environmental situation in the Philippines. It brought about by a rapidly
increasing Filipino population. As you realize the stressful effects of people in the environment, we hope
that you will also realize that environmental degradation has become a major social concern. Likewise, we
hope that such realization will help you to be more aware of our responsibilities as humans.
2. Learning Outcomes
At the end of this modular unit, student are expected to:

1. Understand and verbalize concepts and principles of environmental education;

2. Value the importance of Environment Education as a way of developing the youth to be good
citizens and being aware of these issues to have beneficial lifestyle changes that alleviate negative
effects on the environment
3. Formulate action plan that shall address environmental concerns.

3. Lesson 1 - Environmental Protection and Management

Introduction
 Environment is sum total of water, air, animals, human man beings and other living organisms lives. Air,
water, and land constitutes our surrounding and is directly influencing us. Singh categorized environment
into four scopes: atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere and the biosphere.

According to the National Geographic, we live at the bottom of an

invisible ocean called the atmosphere, a layer of gases surrounding
our planet. Nitrogen and oxygen account for 99 percent of the gases in
dry air, with argon, carbon dioxide, helium, neon, and other gases making
up minute portions. Water vapor and dust are also part of Earth’s
atmosphere.

Hydrosphere comprises the total amount of water on a planet. It includes

the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs, polar ice caps, glaciers
and ground water. It is interconnected with the other "spheres" of the Earth.
Water reserves of the world are consists of 97.6% saline or ocean water and
only 2.4% freshwater. The abundance of water on Earth clearly distinguishes
our uniqueness from other planets in the solar system. Water is a basic
element  of the planet. Water is an important element of the life support
system in which all biochemical reactions within a living organism and the
other forms of terrestrial life rely. It is vital for self-reproducing life. It is a
universal solvent and carrier of substances.
   Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It’s the
earth’s outermost rigid rock layer composed of plates that
float on the asthenosphere. It consists of minerals
occurring in the earth’s crust and the soil. Minerals are
metallic and non-metallic elements or compounds of
elements or compounds of elements that occur naturally
on the earth’s crust. Minerals are used in many different
ways, in domestic, agricultural, industrial and commercial
sectors and helps every nation’s economy. Soil is the
upper layer of the earth’s crust and supports plants,
animals and microorganisms.

Biosphere is the layer of the earth that contains all living organisms.
It is the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their
relationships, including their interaction with other
elements( lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere)

Environmental awareness is being aware of the state of the

environment. The environment refers to all parts of nature, living and non-living. 

Being aware of the environment is particularly important, given the increasing environmental challenges
we are facing, such as:

 climate change
 global warming
 water scarcity
 droughts
 deforestation
 floods
 pollution

Environmental Education 

It refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environment function and, particularly, how human
beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to
imply education within the school system, from primary to post-secondary. However, it is sometimes used
more broadly to include all efforts to educate the public and other audiences, including print materials,
websites, media campaigns, etc. Related disciplines include outdoor education and experiential
education.

Environmental education is a learning process that increases people's knowledge and awareness about
the environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the
challenges, and fosters attitudes, motivations, and commitments to make informed decisions and take
responsible action (UNESCO, Tbilisi Declaration 1978).

Environmental Education is a process which is very useful to human beings in order to manage well their
environment and instill the right behavior that serves as key to sustainable development.
  

Environmental Management

     Environmental Management is defined as an attempt to control human impact on and interaction with
environment to preserve natural resources. It focuses on the improvement of human welfare for present
and future generations. Contrary to what the terms suggests, environmental management is not the
management of the environment but rather is the management of the interaction of modern human
societies with, and their impact on the environment

 3 main issues that affect environmental managers

1.  Politics
2. Programs
3. Resources
 

Environmental Protection

The aim of Environmental Protection is to reduced risks to the environment from contaminants such as
hazardous materials and wastes, fuels, and oils.  It address pollution prevention measures and regulatory
compliance by providing procedures for safely working with these materials, inspecting the storage
vessels and locations, and designating preventative maintenance procedures.  Also included are
environmental emergency plans, which provide the appropriate actions to be taken in the event of a spill
or release.

Following are the factors that affects the environment: 

Impacts of Technology on the Environment

Technology’ refers to the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes and the machinery and
devices developed as a result.  It has provided humans with countless benefits and has made human lives
a lot easier. In the environment, technology has both positive and negative impacts. As the technology is
improving, the air and water pollution is drastically increasing. One of the negative impacts includes the
amount of energy that is consumed globally. Advance technology also require more energy for equipment
and machines. Industrialized countries are considered as the greatest contributor of greenhouse gases
that causes global warming.  Despite of the negative effects, it also brought a lot of positive impacts.
Promoting awareness on the impacts of technology advance in the environment, many countries are now
engaged in "green technology"  

Human Impacts on the Environment

According to Berg, et al, human species is the most significant agent of environmental change on earth,
however, our intellectual capacity has made it possible to explore our environment to made changes on
our environment. These changes made by humans triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality,
and undrinkable water. have greatly taken toll on our environment. Some of the impacts made by humans
are overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. 

Impacts of Population and Consumption on the Environment

The continuous growth of population lead to environmental degradation as greater population means
more consumption of food, water, energy and raw materials. Huge populations also produces enormous
amounts of wastes and population. Consumption, the human use of material and energy can also have
the same impact as overpopulation. High population means higher demand for resources such as
food, water and shelter.
Impacts of Agriculture on the Environment

The traditional agricultural practice, slash and burn and shifting agriculture has led to deforestation and
decline in land quality. Modern agriculture practices resulted to greater environmental degradation. Soil
quality degradation such as salinity, nitrate pollution, water logging and nutrient imbalance resulted from
too much use of pesticides has led to the evolution of more virulent and resistant pests. 

Impacts of Mining on Environment on the Environment

Mining is done to extract minerals or fossil fuels from deep deposits in the soil by subsurface mining. The
latter is more destructive dangerous and expensive including risks of occupational hazards and
accidents. 

3 types of surface mining:

 Open-pit Mining
 Dredging
 Strip Mining

Impacts of Transportation on the Environment

Transportation is the movement of materials and human beings from one place to another. It could be
carried out by several ways, it could be by land or by water. Fossil fuels are usually used to run the
automobiles. The widespread use of automobiles brought about significant environmental problems. 

Road and highway construction caused land conversion, loss of fertile top soil, soil erosion and clearing of
forest in the mountain areas.

The Global Warming

 Global warming is defined the warming of the earth's lower atmosphere because of increases in the
concentrations of one or more greenhouse gases primarily as a result of one or more changes in any
aspects of the earth's including temperature, precipitation and storm activity. Climate change is usually
seen as a result of global warming. 

Greenhouses gases that absorb and trap the sun's infrared radiation causing the warming of the
atmosphere is transferred back to the earth's surface warming the land and ocean. The effects of global
climate change include the melting of land and ocean, sea level rise, change in the precipitation patterns
and impacts on agriculture, health and other organisms. Greenhouses gases can remain in the
atmosphere for hundred of years.

2 Identified ways in managing global climate change:

Mitigation- moderation or postponement of global climate change through measures that reduce
greenhouse gases emission

Adaptation- planned response to changes caused by global climate change.

Importance of Environment Education:

1.  All major natural resources in the country are in grave danger of irreparable damage.
2. A society cannot survive if its natural resources are rendered unfit for use by its people.

3. The only hope of salvaging this grave situation is by making the young aware that they need to
proactively begin to protect the environment they will inherit.

4. Science and Technology can help in a limited way but cannot deliver it.

5.  It is a moral and ethical education for changing people's attitude.

6. To protect children living in polluted regions, environmental education represents a relevant means of

prevention.

7.  It is a need of the time to propose environmental education delivered with moral concept.

8.  It is concieved to sustain participation of the citizens especially the youth particularly in combating ill
effects of climate change.

Susan Toth, a Professor of Environmental Education at University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, asked
each of her classes to share their reasons they teach EE, what it means to them, and how it can benefit
learners of all ages. Here are our top ten benefits of EE. 

  Top 10 Benefits of Environmental Education

1. Imagination and enthusiasm are heightened

EE is hands-on, interactive learning that sparks the imagination and unlocks creativity. When EE is
integrated into the curriculum, students are more enthusiastic and engaged in learning, which raises
student achievement in core academic areas.

2. Learning transcends the classroom

Not only does EE offer opportunities for experiential learning outside of the classroom, it enables students
to make connections and apply their learning in the real world. EE helps learners see the
interconnectedness of social, ecological, economic, cultural, and political issues.

3. Critical and creative thinking skills are enhanced

EE encourages students to research, investigate how and why things happen, and make their own
decisions about complex environmental issues.  By developing and enhancing critical and creative
thinking skills, EE helps foster a new generation of informed consumers, workers, as well as policy or
decision makers.

4. Tolerance and understanding are supported 

EE encourages students to investigate varying sides of issues to understand the full picture. It promotes
tolerance of different points of view and different cultures.

5. State and national learning standards are met for multiple subjects

By incorporating EE practices into the curriculum, teachers can integrate science, math, language arts,
history, and more into one rich lesson or activity, and still satisfy numerous state and national academic
standards in all subject areas. Taking a class outside or bringing nature indoors provides an excellent
backdrop or context for interdisciplinary learning.
6. Biophobia and nature deficit disorder decline

By exposing students to nature and allowing them to learn and play outside, EE fosters sensitivity,
appreciation, and respect for the environment.  It combats “nature deficit disorder” … and it’s FUN!

7. Healthy lifestyles are encouraged

EE gets students outside and active, and helps address some of the health issues we are seeing in
children today, such as obesity, attention deficit disorders, and depression.  Good nutrition is often
emphasized through EE and stress is reduced due to increased time spent in nature.

8. Communities are strengthened

EE promotes a sense of place and connection through community involvement. When students decide to
learn more or take action to improve their environment, they reach out to community experts, donors,
volunteers, and local facilities to help bring the community together to understand and address
environmental issues impacting their neighborhood.

9. Responsible action is taken to better the environment

EE helps students understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment, builds knowledge
and skills necessary to address complex environmental issues, as well as ways we can take action to
keep our environment healthy and sustainable for the future.  Service-learning programs offered by PLT
and other EE organizations provide students and teachers with support through grants and other
resources for action projects.

10. Students and teachers are empowered

EE promotes active learning, citizenship, and student leadership. It empowers youth to share their voice
and make a difference at their school and in their communities. EE helps teachers build their own
environmental knowledge and teaching skills. I hope these “top ten” benefits will give you the confidence
and commitment to incorporate EE into your curriculum!  

 
Learn more about the related Laws in Promoting Environment Education

An act to promote environmental awareness through environmental education and for other purposes.

This Act is Known as the "National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008". In , Sec. 2.
Declaration of Policy states that: 

Consistent with the policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced
and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature, and in recognition of the
viral role of the youth in nation building and the  role of education to foster patriotism  and
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development, the
state shall promote national awareness on the role of natural  resources in economic growths and
the importance of environmental conservation and ecological balance towards sustained national
development.

Republic Act 9003: January 26, 2001 - This is an act providing for an ecological solid waste
management program, creating the necessary institutional mechanism and incentives, declaring
certain acts prohibited and providing penalties appropriating funds thereof, and for other
purposes.
Republic Act No. 9275: March 22, 2004 - An Act providing for a comprehensive water quality
management and for other purposes.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - The State shall pursue a policy of economic growth in a manner
consistent with the protection, preservation and revival of the quality of our fresh, brackish and marine
waters.

Republic Act 8749: June 23, 1999 - "Philippines Clean Air Act of 1999" an act providing for a
comprehensive air pollution control policy and for other purposes.

Republic Act No. 9147 - An act providing for the conservation and protection of wildlife resources
and their habitats, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes.

Republic Act No.9175 - An act regulating the ownership, possession, sale, importation and use of
chainsaws, penalizing violations thereof and for other purposes.

4. Lesson 2 - Seven Principles of environment and Environmental

Laws
The Seven Environmental Principles

The key to understanding the environmental problems that we encounter today is to learn about our
ecosystem. This section highlights the basic environmental principles, varied types of ecosystem,
current environmental issues, anthropogenic activities that threaten the environment and the role of youth
in protecting our environment.

1. Everything is connected to everything else. 

This principles is best exemplified by the concept of the ecosystem. In an ecosystem, all biotic and
amniotic components interact with each other to ensure that the system is perpetuated. Any outside
interference may result in an imbalance and the deterioration of the system.

2. All forms of life are important. 

Each organism plays a fundamental role in nature. Since such occupational or functional position,
otherwise known as niche, cannot be simultaneously occupied by more than one specie, it is apparent
that all living things must be considered as invaluable in the maintenance of homeostasis in the
ecosystem.

3. Everything must go somewhere. 

When a piece of paper is thrown away, it disappears from sights but it does not cease to exist. It end up
elsewhere. Gases released in smokestacks may disperse but it will end up a component of the
atmosphere or brought down by rains. What a particular type of waste does to the earth's repository
should be of concern to us. It may be a pollutant or a resource depending on certain factors.

4. Everything change.

It is said that he only permanent things is change. As a general classification, change may be linear,
cyclical or random. As example of linear change is evolution of species, which has bought about higher
and more complex types of organisms. Cyclical change may be exemplified by seasons and the rhythms
on floral and faunal life stages that go with the seasons. An example of random change is the eruption of
Mt. Pinatubo, which brought about great upheaval in many parts of Luzon and changes in the topography
of the land.

5. Nature knows Best.

This Principle is the most basic and in fact encompasses all the others. Humans have to understand
nature and have to abide by the rules nature dictates. In essence, one must not go against the natural
processes if one would like to ensure a continuous and steady supply of resources.

6. Our is a finite earth.

The earth's resources can be classified as either renewable or non-renewable. Renewable resources are
those that can easily be replenished by natural cycle (e.g. water, air, plants, and animals) while non-
renewable resources are those that cannot be replenished through natural cycles (e.g. ores of various
metals, oil, coal).

7. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God's creations. 

Among all creatures, humans are the only ones made in God's image and have been given the right to
have dominion over all His creations. Being the most intelligent and gifted with reason, humans are
capable of manipulating creation to their own advantage. Yet creation exist not to be ravaged or abused
but to be taken care of. Humans cannot exist without nature. They are co-natural with the environment
they live in is destroyed, with it will go Homo Sapiens.

5. Lesson 3 -Climate Change and Air Pollution

What is climate change?

Climate Change is any change in climate over time whether due to natural processes or as a result of
human activity. It is a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that
alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is, in addition to natural climate variability,
observed over comparable time periods (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

How does it occur?

The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 4AR 2007)
concludes that climate change is already occurring and that further acceleration will result in a two (2)
degree increase in global temperature and of extreme weather conditions.

Climate Change is caused by the increase volume of Greenhouse Gases(GHG) in the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases are goes that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, warming the earth's surface and
contributing to climate change (UNEP 1988). These gases are water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide,
nitrous oxide, ozone, hydrofluorocarbon, perfluorocarbon, and surfur hexafluoride. When these gases
increase in volume, more solar heat will be trapped resulting to a warmer atmospheric condition. This
phenomenon is known as the "greenhouse effect". Global warming is the increase in the average
temperature of the earth's near-surface air and oceans that is associated with the increased concentration
of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Human are responsible for the accelerated warming of the earth. before the advent of human, climate
changes were naturally caused. Many greenhouse gases occur naturally like methane, carbon dioxide,
nitrous oxide, ozone and even water vapor. Other greenhouse gases like hydroflurocarbons (HFC),
perflurocarbon (PFC), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) which absorb and hold greater heat are human-made.
These are produced through industrial processes, However, human activities also add to the increase of
the naturally occurring greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

What are the effects of climate change or global warming?

The warming of the Earth's atmosphere result in the melting of snow covers and glaciers, the rise of sea
level, shorter winters, early springs, hotter summers and delayed coming of autumns, altered forest
productivity and composition, habitat shifts of some animals, changes in the  behavior patterns of flora and
fauna, spread of diseases, stronger and more frequent typhoons, more floods, severe droughts, stronger
heat waves and heavier rains and more.

These changes in the environment as a result of climate change have already made their impact on
human population in a global scale. Socio-economic problems and difficulties will be amplified
compounding the already heavy burden of the poor sectors. Agriculture become less or non-productive
due to droughts and flooding. Mounting social pressure on the damaging effects of climate change will
influence political priorities and direction.

What can be done locally?

The following can be done:

1. Mitigation - Reduce the sources of green house gas emissions or enhance their sink or capture.

2. Adaptation - Moderate the harmful effects of climate change and exploit its beneficial opportunities.

3. Awareness - Support or join awareness raising of people in your locally/community about climate
change.

4. Capacity Building - Carry out concrete disaster prevention, mitigation and management activities.

5. Advocate- Suggest or advocate the integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation into
organizational/institutional plans to mainstream this consciousness.

6. Policy Development- Lobby for and/ or support climate change responsive policies and ordinances.

7. Reduce vulnerability- Synergize efforts with other enlightened individual or group stakeholders.

8. Develop a stable resource mobilization mechanism or system - To ensure and facilities the flow of
financial and technical support to local implementers.

6. Lesson 4 - Water Sanitation and Conservation

The nation faces significant challenges in terms of water and sanitation access, our national government aim to develop
an efficient water resources management system. As per United Nation - Water, around 2.2 billion people lack access
to safe drinking water services and 4.2 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services. In our country, seven
million count on unsafe and unsustainable water and about 24 million lack access to improved sanitation.

Drinking safe water is a global concern. Drinking water sources are progressively at risk from contamination, the impacts
of it is not only on the health of the humans, but also on the economic, environmental and social development of
communities and nations.
According to Unicef, WASH stands for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. These three core issues are grouped together to
represent a growing sector. While each a separate field of work, each is dependent on the presence of the other. For
example, without toilets, water sources become contaminated; without clean water, basic hygiene practices are not
possible.

The main components of water resources management in the Philippines are vested in the mandates of the various
government agencies that undertake most of the water resources programmes and projects in the country. Good hygiene
were practices by many Filipinos and know the that it can reducing the spread of diseases but if water sanitation is not
improved, human waste cannot be separates from human contact
 

 
Unsafe hygiene practices are widespread, compounding the effects on people’s health. The impact on child mortality rates
is devastating with more than 297 000 children under five who die annually from diarrhoeal diseases due to poor
sanitation, poor hygiene, or unsafe drinking water.

We urge every students to promote sustainable water and sanitation programs through doing the given tips at home in
relevant and cost effective ways. are all looking forward improve the water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
situation of the poorest communities in the Philippines. 

7. Lesson 5 - The role of the youth in the environmental protection

and management
Environmental education connects us to the world around us, teaching us about both natural and built environments.  It
raises awareness of issues impacting the environment upon which we all depend, as well as actions we can take to
improve and sustain it.

Whether we bring nature into the classroom, take students outside to learn, or find impromptu teachable moments on a
nature walk with our families, it has many benefits for youth, educators, schools, and communities.

Schools should encourage youth to share their environmental knowledge with their friends and family. A good way to do
this would be to encourage them to practice at home. It’s not as useful if children use water sparingly at school, but leave
taps dripping at home.  These principles will help produce kids who are more knowledgeable about environmental issues.