Vulnerable ecosystems in Eastern Visayas

BIODIVERSITY is an important factor in improving our ecosystem because each species of plants or animals, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.

It is often used to measure the health of biological systems, and to determine whether there is a danger that too many species have become extinct.

Because of its significance, the Philippine Science High School-Eastern Visayas Campus (PHSH-EVC) in Palo, Leyte emphasized the importance of preserving biodiversity in the region through the Biodiversity and Vulnerable Ecosystems Research (BiVER) Program.

It is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).

Following the effects of climate change, there is a need to become more adaptable to our environment.

With the rich marine and terrestrial resources of Eastern Visayas, the whole region has also become more vulnerable to stronger typhoons and heavier rainfalls due to climate change.

The BiVER program, through the data it can provide, intends to help different agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and local government units in their policy-making endeavors, and in the creation of evidence-based resource management programs.

It can also be a training ground for the scholars of the PSHS to develop their research skills, as well allow them to get acquainted with issues affecting the local communities.

Expected outputs of the program include inventory of flora and fauna, data on environmental quality of ecosystems, computational models of economically-important river systems, and a BiVER database system and website, which will store research data and serve as accessible source of information for the public.

This project is the first collaboration between the PSHS and PCAARRD, where PCAARRD acting executive director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora hopes that this will not be the last.

In a related development also in the Visayas, there is a possibility that the tiniest snail in the world might be found in the mountains of Cebu.

This possible discovery is one of the accomplishments of the DOST-funded project “Flora and Fauna Assessment Using Permanent Biodiversity Monitoring System in Cebu Island Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)” which is under the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D program.

The team conducted floral, faunal, and malacofaunal diversity assessment in four KBAs in three selected mountains of Cebu – Mount Lantoy in Argao, Mount Lanaya in Malabuyoc, and Mount Kapayas in Catmon.

As part of the biodiversity assessment, the project team identified over 23 species of land snails.

They also collected samples of eight unidentified species of land snails and 17 unidentified species of micro mollusks.

A micro mollusk is a very small invertebrate with a soft, unsegmented body with an external shell.

It is possible that the team found the tiniest snail in the world from the unidentified species of micro mollusks.

Tiny mollusks or their tiny shells are easy to overlook, as many of them are not very noticeable to the naked eye, and thus many people are not aware that they even exist. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)

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