Glossary

Respiration

The process by which living things convert stored energy into action thereby releasing Carbon Dioxide and Water vapor in the air.

Rio Earth Summit

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, known as the Rio Earth Summit brought together more heads of government than any previous meeting in history. The conference aimed to focus world attention on environmental issues – the most critical issues we face as a global community.

The four major achievements of the conference were:

1. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development – a series of principles defining the rights and responsibilities of states in this area;
2. A set of principles supporting the sustainable management of forests Worldwide;
3. Two legally binding conventions, aiming to prevent global climate change and the eradication of biologically diverse species; and
4. AGENDA 21, the real hallmark of the conference, which states that broad public participation in policy participation in policy development combined with greater accountability is essential to achieving sustainable development, and that individuals, groups and organizations need to know about, and participate in, environment and development decisions, particularly those which affect their communities.

Soil

Soils are as important as the air and water to the survival of life on earth. They are dynamic Ecosystems in their own right made up of Organic and Inorganic (living and dead) matter, air and water. Plants need soil and soil is kept healthy and productive by the action of plants:

Soil forming processes are a function of geology, topography, climate and hydrology and it is important to stress that soils are the unique expression of these predetermining factors.

Thus, for instance, a soil formed on the tropical coast, an alluvial deposit will have quite different characteristics from soil formed on the same latitude, with the same rainfall patterns, on a hill-side at an altitude of 500 meters; and it will have different characteristics from a coastal soil formed on alluvial deposits in the temperate zone.

A soil map of the Philippines shows a complex series of soils, the common feature being that they are all the result of a tropical rainy climate feature being that they are all the result of a tropical rainy climate which ensures that they tend to be either highly leached and eroded (the hill forest soils for example) or arising from rapid rates of deposition and subject to water-logging (for instance the mangrove soils. Moreover in certain conditions – river terraces for instance – soil formation is subject to a dynamic combination of both these activities.

Within this climatic general condition, soils are differentiated both regionally and locally by geology and by the Soil Catenas determined by topography.

It is important to remember that soils are alive so that their characteristics are so dependent on microbiotic life forms, such as Fungi and Bacteria, as they are upon water, mineral particles and Humus.

Soil Catenas

Soil Catenas recognize that even within otherwise physically similar areas, even minor topographical variations can bring about substantial variations in soil conditions within a small area. Even very slightly undulating landscapes show at least three noticeable soil conditions as follows:

On the tops of undulations are the ELUVIAL soils, which tend to be comparatively coarse and well oxidized because they are well drained, and because material is always being moved downhill;

Soils on slopes are COLLUVIAL, both gaining and losing material. Further down the slope they tend to be both deeper and less well oxidized; and

Material accumulates at the bottom of slopes to form ILLUVIAL soils – potentially the most fertile if they are not waterlogged.

This pattern of soil catenas is equally recognizable over whole regional landscapes covering thousands of square miles as it is over a few hundreds of square meters of a plateau or plain.

Species

All the plant or animal individuals which can successfully reproduce with each other.

Species Diversity

A component of Biodiversity.

Species Population

The number of individuals of a Species found in a given area.

Sub-ecozone

One of the parts into which an Ecozone can be broken for the purposes of study. For instance, the Montane forests of the Cordillera will have a variety of Sub-ecozones based on altitude, aspect, geological conditions, relative isolation and the degree of human interaction. Clearly the forest on a high ridge-top will be different from one in a well-watered and sheltered valley.

Sustainable

Some definitions:

SUSTAINABILITY

The wise, appropriate and efficient use of resources, so that population and demand do not outrun or damage the environment’s long-term life supporting ability - Assessment of Biological Diversity in Malaysia, Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, 1997.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Development that meets the needs and aspirations of the current generation without compromising the ability to meet those of future generations – Brundtland commission.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT includes the following: primacy of developing full human potential, holistic science and appropriate technology, cultural, moral and spiritual sensitivity, self-determination, national sovereignty, gender sensitivity, peace, order and national unity, social justice, inter-and intragenerational equity and spatial equity, sustainable population, ecological soundness, biogeographical equity and community based economic development. (Philippine Agenda 21)

SUSTAINABLE EXPLOITATION OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES

The use of natural resources so that the ecosystems which provide them can continue to provide them can continue to provide them forever.

Tertiary

See Quaternary.

Topography

Topography includes altitude, the global and continental position of a landscape and the shape of the land.

In the case of the Philippines, it is important to realize that it is a tropical archipelago on the eastern edge of Southeast Asia, making up part of the western rim of the Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several large islands and thousands of smaller ones. The larger islands generally have central mountain ranges and plains arising from denuded ancient sedimentary rocks and recent (Quaternary) alluvial deposits.

Transpiration

See Evapotranspiration.

Vegetation Climaxes

Natural vegetation climaxes are determined by soil conditions.

If the soil conditions are understood in terms of their relationship to geology, topography, climate and hydrology, then there is no need to go beyond soil conditions in order to understand vegetation climaxes. Too often vegetation is described purely in terms of “Latitude, Altitude and Climate.” This is not sufficient for ecological purposes: the soil must be understood first.

Thus the natural vegetation climaxes of the Philippines are as varied as the soils. A typical vegetation profile found in Dipterocarp regions of South East Asia recognizes seven main vegetation classes.

1. Montane ericaceous;
2. Montane oak;
3. Upper Dipterocarp;
4. Hill Dipterocarp;
5. Lowland Dipterocarp and coastal forest;
6. Peat and Freshwater Swamp;
7. Marine (Mangrove) Swamp.

Traditional forest hunters and gatherers recognize many more classes based upon the classification of exploitation.

Virus

The smallest living things and are not even a single cell. They infect Bacteria, plants and animals. Virus infections of man include measles, polio and influenza.

Wallace Line

See Biogeographical Sub-regions.

Water Cycle

All living things need water which is retained and recycled in the Biosphere as the Water Cycle. Energy, as heat, from the sun causes water to rise up as vapor from water bodies (lakes and seas) by evaporation and from vegetation by Evapotranspiration. This water vapor condenses to form clouds which eventually release rain (precipitation).

Rain water which is not taken up by vegetation returns to the lakes and seas by rivers. Thus (with illustration)

See Hydrology and Water Quality.

Zooplankton

Zooplankton are tiny animals including many Protozoa (single-celled microscopic animals), minute Crustaceans and the small Larvae of larger animals. They inhabit the sea and are the beginning of the food chain for many sea animals.