Chapter VI

ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION
Chapter VI
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

OBJECTIVES:
1.Explain the importance of environment education.

2.Discuss biodiversity of organism within ecosystem and its

significance to Filipino quality of life.

3.Discuss and present solution to the environment issues and

concerns.
Chapter VI
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Environment Education has been

introduced in the Philippines Education System
for many years, but it has never been properly
and strongly addressed to all ensure functional
environmental progress.
Chapter VI
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Environmental Education Defined:

• A process of teaching and learning, helping people to acquire

understanding, skills and values that makes them active and
informed citizens in the development and maintenance of an
ecological, sustainable and socially just society.

• Contextualizing environmental issues within the physical,

biological, social, economic, historical and cultural imperatives
of the Philippines.
Environmental Problems, Its Issues
and Concerns in the Community
 Environmental Problems, its issues and Concerns
in the Community
Worldwide in developed and developing countries
environmental problems are among the most important
concerns facing people and their governments. The
problems include population growth, poverty,
deforestation, pollution of water, air, and soil, waste
disposal and loss of species.
 Ecosystem
The ecosystem is the structural and
functional unit of ecology where the living
organisms interact with each other and the
surrounding environment. In other words, an
ecosystem is a chain of interaction between
organisms and their environment.
Ecosystems in the Philippines
Biodiversity in the Philippines is unique.
This means many of the life forms (plants and
animals) that are found in our country, are
found nowhere else in the world. A key to
understanding this uniqueness is the knowledge
of the habitats ecosystems where these plants
and animals are located.
 Ecosystems in the Philippines
A. Agricultural Ecosystem B. Coral Reef Ecosystem
Agricultural is said to be the Philippines has some of the
“backbone: of our country’s richest and most diverse corals reefs
economy since most Filipino’s in the world. If left disturbed, the
depend on farming. They depend animal population of the reef will
on agriculture for sustenance and increase in number. The reefs
survival. Natural farming and tilling provides recreation and tourism
of the land or soil is more opportunities due to its magnificent
recommendable than using high beauty.
yielding varieties because it can
preserve the environmental
ecosystem.
 Ecosystems in the Philippines

C. Freshwater Ecosystem
All living creatures depend on it water. Clean water means
clean ecosystem as a whole. Once a body of water is polluted, the
living things within will die and those which or who depend on them
will also be affected. Eventually, human beings will also suffer because
of their life depends on water; drinking, bathing, washing clothes, and
other cleaning activities.
Ecosystems in the Philippines
D. Forest Ecosystem
A healthy forest ecosystem is “productive”. Productivity means efficient use of
the natural resources or materials available in the system without external inputs
(fertilizers, pesticides, artificial light, etc.) and without leaving behind any harmful
effects.

The importance of ecosystem are;

1.They are habitats for diverse species.
2.Provide raw materials for pharmaceutical products.
3.Provide raw materials for breeding higher-yielding strains. (banana, avocado, cashew,
cacao, palm oil, rubber, coffee, etc.)
 Ecosystems in the Philippines

E. Marginal Ecosystem F. Mangrove Ecosystem

Marginal ecosystem are Mangrove ecosystem are
people-induced ecosystem. Usually located in saltish water and muddy
occurring in the circumference of portions of the coastline where
other ecosystems, these are people considered unvaluable, can be
converted systems of forests, made into charcoal. Mangrove
cropland, and coastal areas. ecosystems provide foods and shelter
to various marine organisms from its
prop roots (roots emerge from the
water up and are toward the water to
threw bottom soil, forming umbrella-
like structure).
 Ecosystems in the Philippines

G. Seagrass Ecosystem
Seagrass ecosystems are called the meadows of the sea. They are the source
of food for plant-eating animals such as sea cows or dugong, sea urchins, turtles, and
other fishes. Ducks are geese also eat on the exposed beds during low tide. In this
manner, the energy produced by the seagrass from photosynthesis is passed on to
other organisms.

H. Softbottom Ecosystem
This ecosystem is found in the open seas beyond light penetration from a
depth of 50 meters up to more that 10,000 meters deep.
 Ecosystems in the Philippines

I. Urban Ecosystem
Urban ecosystem refers to the loci of human activities. In
an urbanized place, street patterns exit, town hall, church and
market, public plaza, schools, hospital and other similar
establishments are existing. Population in one indicator of urban
ecosystem. As the population increase, poverty rate also increases.
Since the consumption of natural resources in increased, the system’s
capacity to produce supplies is reduced.
POLLUTION
POLLUTION

Pollution is defined as the altercation of our surroundings,

wholly or largely as a products of man’s actions, through direct or
indirect effects of changes in every pattern of chemical and physical
constituent of organisms. It is the change in the environment that
makes it impure or unclean. Usually the changes are poisonous or
harmful to life processes. It occurs when waste products are added to
the environment. Pollution can be solids, liquids, or gases. Pollutants
are everywhere in the air, in water ways, and in the soil.
POLLUTION
Classification and Sources of Pollution
• Air Pollution
The problem of air pollution has become a worldwide
phenomenon. If left unabated it can cause major health problem and even
death. In Metro Manila air pollution has reached the alarming levels with a
total of suspended particles (TSP) as much as five times greater than the
World Health Organization (WHO) standard of particulate matters of
microns (PM 10) and the lead levels even higher as two (2) times than
guidelines.
Air pollution is defined as physical and chemical altercation of
properties of air, which is harmful to human health, vegetation and
animals.
 • Major Types of Air Pollution
a. Outdoor Air Pollution -is a type of pollution derived from the mixture
or collection of additional loads of chemicals produced by natural
components of the atmosphere, thereby, producing harmful effects to
living system.
The following are the major sources of Outdoor Pollution:
• Burning of fossil fuels for power consumption
• Photochemical and industrial smog
• Volcanic eruptions which emit sulfur dioxide and suspended particulates
• Forest Fire, “Kaingin”, or, the Fire and Lightning
• Evaporation of volatile organic compounds from decaying organic
matters
• Natural Radioactive 222-gas from uranium deposits
 • Major Types of Air Pollution
• Major Types of Air Pollution
b. Indoor Air Pollution-
A type of pollution derived from the accumulation or build up
of chemicals inside the office, building, houses, school, commercial
store and are harmful.

• Effects of Air Pollution

Air pollution is responsible for major health effects. Every year,
the health of countless people is ruined or endangered by air pollution.
• Damage of Human Health
 Overloading and degrading the body’s defense mechanisms
 Chronic bronchitis
 Emphysema (rapture of lung air sacs)
 Lung cancer
 Damage of plants that lead to dehydration and inhibition of
photosynthesis
 Damage to materials e.g. discoloration of clothing materials and cars
 Depletion of ozone layer
 Increase global warming caused by “green house effect”
• Air Pollution-Solution
Air pollution because of its disastrous effects need to be
curbed. In order to accomplish this, government, scientists and
environmentalists are using or testing a variety of methods aimed at
reducing pollution. There are two main types of air pollution control:
 Input control- involves preventing a problem before it occurs, or, at
least limiting the effects the process will produce. There are five major
input control methods that are useful. People may try to
1. Restrict population growth
2. Use less energy
3. Improve energy deficiency
4. Reduce waste and;
5. Move to non-polluting renewable forms of energy production
 • The Clean Air Act (Taken from the Primer on the
Clean Air Act of DENR)

Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as the

Philippine Clean Air Act, is a comprehensive air quality
management policy and program that aims to achieve
and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.
The guiding principles of the Clean Air Act (CAA) provide that the state
shall:
Protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature;
Promote and protect the global environment while recognizing the
primary responsibility of local government units to deal with
environmental problems;
Recognize that the responsibility of cleaning that habitat and
environment is primarily area-based;
Recognize that the clean and healthy environment is for the good of all
and should, therefore, be the concern of all
• Coverage of the CAA
All potential source of air pollution (mobile, point and area sources)
must be within the air quality standards.
Mobile sources refer to vehicles like cars, trucks, buses, jeepneys,
tricycles, motorcycles, and vans.
Point sources refer to stationary sources such as industrial firms and
the smoke stacks of power plants, hotels and other establishments.
Area sources-refers to sources of emissions other than the above
mentioned.
These include smoking, burning of garbage, and form construction,
unpaved ground etc.
• What the CWTS students can do to help clean the air
The CWTS students can conduct information campaign related to
the “Clean Air Act", informing the community people on how to help
clean the air.
• For vehicle owners/motorist:
Maintain vehicle by changing oil regularly (every 5,000 kilometer)
Keep the engine well-tuned based on the owner's manual
Keep tires properly inflated
Plan trips and observe proper driving habits
Remove unnecessary things from the trunk. Don't overload and travel
only at speed required by traffic regulations and road conditions
• For commuters:
Try talking to the jeep/bus/ tricycle driver about the high health risks
of poor vehicle maintenance and improve driving practices
Patronize the mass transit such as bus, train(MRT,LRT)

• For Office Workers:

Reduce use of air conditioners
Make sure that lights are energy efficient
Use company vehicles wisely
Use natural lighting by opening window curtains at daytime
• At Home:
Use low watt bulbs or energy saving light
Limit the use of air-conditioning units a few degree higher
Don't burn garbage
Avoid using aerosols
Properly dispose refrigerant, refrigeration, equipment and use coolant

• For everyone:
Talk to people on what they can do about pollution
Report smoke-belchers to LTO, MMDA, and/or the appropriate local
government units
Walk or ride in mass transit transportation Stop burning of garbage in
community
Plant trees
Don't smoke in public places
 Water Pollution
It is defined as the physical or chemical change in the surface and ground of
water caused by pollutants that affect living organisms. Water pollution is intensified by
the increasing population;
a . Major sources of water pollution
Point source - a source of pollution that discharges pollutants into bodies of water
to specific location.
Non-Point Source-a source of pollution that are widely scattered and discharges
pollutants over a large sea.
b. Water Pollution-Causes
The dumping of sewage, sludge, garbage and even toxic waste/pollutants from
houses, industries and even government into the water makes it polluted, yet the
government does not care or give attention to it. This problem has arisen from the very
beginning and, still continuous. If this goes on and on, many living species as well as
human being will be killed and ecosystems will be destroyed.
c. Water Pollution-Effects
Both government and non-government projects are implemented and
carried out to clean up the water like the “Clean Water Act", industries are beginning to
reduce waste disposal from water and making of degradable products.

3. Solid Waste/land Pollution

This type of pollution refers to the presence of any solid waste in the land
that is injurious to the health of human beings, animals and other living organisms.
Solid waste takes up space and produces unpleasant smells.

d. Causes of Garbage
 effects of "thrown-away and disposable society“
 overpopulation
 overproduction of non-biodegradable materials
 medical waste
 household waste
4.Solid Waste and Its Disposal
• Landfills-designed to reduce the amount of waste that leaks out into
the environment.
• Incineration-the process of reducing solid waste by burning it first.
This causes fly Ash, gases, and particular matter in the air.
• Ocean Dumping-discharge of wastes into the ocean.
 Effective Ways of Recycling and Reducing Non-Biodegradable
and Degradable Wastes

Commercial products in the market are utilized non-biodegradable

products which contribute to the growing amount of environmental waste if
not properly disposed.

Ecological Waste Management (EWM)through zero-waste concept

ls primarily concerned with maximizing opportunities and mobilizing school
resources to achieve the vision and goals of sustainable Earth and Society
through the low-technology approach concept.
A. Nature of Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable Wastes

1.Biodegradable Waste
They are compostable and can be reused as feeds, fermentable,
fuel and fertilizers.
Examples are rotten vegetables and fruits, dried leaves, left over foods,
etc.

2.Non-Biodegradable Wastes
They are factory returnable and can serve as potential sources of
livelihood projects.
Examples are metals, plastics, glass etc.
B. The 4r's of Waste Management-Guiding Principle
1.Reduce -avoid wasteful consumption goods.
2.Reuse -reuse items that are useful instead of throwing them away
3.Recycle-the process whereby portions of these wastes are sorted out
and used for something of benefit.
4.Repair - reusable items to make them functional rather than throwing
them.
Simple and Effective Ways of the 4R's (Personal Waste Management)
• Avoid over-packed goods
• Avoid disposable goods such as throw-away razors, pens, papers, and lately
even disposable cameras
• Buy food in bulk and patronize products whose contents are refillable.
• Buy durable products
• Practice composting(e.g. yard clipping and leaves)
• Patronize recycled and recyclable goods. There are different kinds of
plastics.
• Avoid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containers, often used as cooking oil and
salad dressing bottles.
• Avoid containers made from multiple layers of plastics such as squeezable
bottles. These are virtually non-recyclable. Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE)
plastics are highly recommended instead.
• Patronize products that are made from renewable, rather than, on-
renewable resources.
• When buying products such as shampoos and other toiletries, choose
those with as little packaging as possible. Avoid products which use
numerous and unnecessary layers of plastics, cardboard and Styrofoam
as they will only add to garbage you throw out. Choose products with
reusable or recyclable containers. Jars and tin cans can be reused at
home instead being thrown away as garbage.
• Recycle paper, it is one way of saving our trees. Use backsides of used
paper as scratch pad. You can also send all your used paper to
RECYCLING CENTERS. You may have one in your neighborhood. Share
your magazines, newspapers and comic books with your friends.
 Members
Angel Vasquez Albert
Aprilyn Limalima
Bin Harrish Katug
Hamer Ading
Jesamariz S. Boyose
Jhon Dairo Tabacon
Judie Anne De Leon
Leila Avril Polistico
Marjean Mara-on