SUMMER’S HERE AND restlessness peaks. Blame it wholesale on climate change that the weather now scorches more than ever before; blame Meralco on the electricity price surge which restrains the relief from electric fans and aircon; blame the US-Israel war with Iran that raised gasoline prices to the roof that urbanites flip-flop on getting away from all cares even for a few days.
ENVIRONMENTAL WOES
If the weary and worn-out can’t resist beckoning Nature, in aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems, they are advised to expect that God’s amazing creation may not be as gracious this time.
Summer poses significant threats to the environment, driven primarily by rising global temperatures, climate change-induced heatwaves, and increased human activity. They impact ecosystems, air quality, water resources, and biodiversity. Increased temperatures lead to severe droughts causing reduced water availability for plants and animals. Some animal species migrate to cool places. Coral reefs may bleach and die, destroying vital and attractive marine habitats. Warming waters and ocean acidification endanger marine life. Low water levels in rivers can increase concentrations of pollutants.
And imagine these personal challenges. Beachcombers can roast on long nap on white sand. Trees can’t be air blower on the tourists’ strolls. Mountain trekkers should watch out for bald, roughpatches on their paths, and may hardly hear the chirp of birds or the rustle of the wind on trees. Water may be scarce in budget lodgings.
Hopefully, understanding what a severely hot summer can do to the environment can make visitors care for it better.
‘Policy-wise, the Philippine government has laid down dual steps on how to conserve/protect our environment that domestic and foreign tourists can visit and appreciate its natural beauty and exciting activities, climate change notwithstanding.’
MAKING PEACE WITH EARTH
Our planet has taken a beating for long, both from natural causes and human abuses.
Policy-wise, the Philippine government has laid down dual steps on how to conserve/protect our environment that domestic and foreign tourists can visit and appreciate its natural beauty and exciting activities, climate change notwithstanding.
In 1998, our Department of Tourism and Department of Environment and Natural Resources jointly started promoting ecotourism as “low-impact, environmentally sound, and community-participatory tourism activity in a natural environment that enhances the conservation of bio-physical and cultural diversity, promotes environmental understanding and education, and yields socio-economic benefits to the concerned community.”
Today, our stellar ecotourism destinations are in Palawan (4), Bohol, Davao, Negros Oriental, Surigao, and Ifugao.
PROJECT TRANSFORM
Regenerative tourism was recently introduced in the Philippines with focus on actively rebuilding (degraded, destroyed) ecosystems and empowering communities.
Key initiatives include mangrove planting, coral restoration, using bamboo for soil rehabilitation, turning agriculture into tourism, using tourism for ecological healing. A good model site for DENR-led Project TRANSFORM is Tanay, Rizal (an abundantly forested area along the slopes of the significant climate protector, the Sierra Madre mountain range) which aims to balance development with environmental resilience.
Both methods are key to making up for our human failings. And the footloose getting to enjoy summertime while doing good to the environment, community, and country. It’s good to know that they have special appeal to millennials who appreciate being able to practice environment stewardship.