Tambuling Batangas Publication February 06-12, 2019 Issue | 页面 5

OPINYON
February 6-12, 2019
Single-use, throw-away plastics
hinder progress toward zero waste
QUEZON CITY -- The unrelenting
production, consumption and disposal
of single-use plastics pose a major
hindrance in community efforts to
attain the zero waste goal, the Cavite
Green Coalition and the EcoWaste
Coalition jointly pointed out.

The
groups
dared
companies making and using single-
use plastics to take responsibility for
the endless garbage woes afflicting
communities, including the town of
General Mariano Alvarez (GMA),
site of the groups’ zero waste project
in partnership with the municipal
government.

The groups issued the
challenge as the nation concludes
tomorrow the observance of the
annual “Zero Waste Month” as per
Presidential Proclamation No. 760,
Series of 2014.

“Our efforts to educate the
grassroots and assist them in drawing
up and implementing barangay-
level action plans are helpful but
not enough to achieve the desired
Wetlands: Nature’s provider, our
defense against climate change
LAGUNA -- The ASEAN Centre
for Biodiversity (ACB) joins
the international community in
celebrating World Wetlands Day
on February 2nd. This day marks
the date of the adoption of the
Convention on Wetlands in 1971
in the Iranian city of Ramsar.

The Ramsar Convention
defines wetlands as: “areas of
marsh, fen, peat land or water,
whether natural or artificial,
permanent or temporary, with
water that is static or flowing,
fresh, brackish or salt, including
areas of marine water, the depth
of which at low tide does not
exceed six meters”.

Coastal wetlands, such
as coral reefs, salt marshes,
sand dunes and mangroves,
act as protective barriers
against waves, storm surges
and tsunamis. According to the
Ramsar Convention Secretariat,
mangrove forests can absorb 70
to 90 percent of the energy of
wind-generated waves, while
the protective function of coral
reefs is estimated to be worth
US$9 billion per year globally.
Mangroves and peatlands store
vast amounts of carbon which
helps to mitigate climate change.
Inland wetlands, such as lakes,
rivers, swamps and flood plains,
are like sponges. They absorb and
store excess rainfall, thus, prevent
flooding. During the dry season,
wetlands release the water stored
during the rainy season. This
minimises water shortage and
delays the onset of droughts.
Wetlands
prevent
shoreline
erosion,
absorb
pollutants, and improve water
quality. They contain rich
biodiversity and provide habitat
for animals and plants. Wetlands
are used by migratory birds as
staging or feeding sites along the
path of their flyway journeys.
The interaction of the diversity of
wetland ecosystems and wetland
species provide resilience, more
than just as a habitat of migratory
species. They play key roles in
seed dispersal and pest regulation,
and provide aesthetic inspiration
to people.

Each ASEAN Member
State harbors its own group of
notable wetlands, most of which
are declared Ramsar Wetlands
of International Importance for
their significant value in their
countries, and humanity as a
whole.

In Brunei Darussalam,
the Tasek Merimbun National
Park, one of the biggest wildlife
sanctuaries in the country, is home
to several rare and endangered
species. It is also one of Brunei’s
Important Bird Areas (IBAs) as
listed by BirdLife International.
IBAs are critical sites for
conservation of the world’s birds.

According
to
the
Ramsar Convention, 30 percent
of Cambodia is “covered by
wetlands and the majority of
them have been identified as
globally important, owing to the
populations of threatened species
that they support.” In the north-
west upstream end of Tonle Sap
Lake in Cambodia is the Prek
Toal Ramsar Site, which was
declared as Southeast Asia’s
largest waterbird colony.

In Indonesia, the Danau
Sentarum Wildlife Reserve, a
large freshwater swamp forest in
Kalimantan, accommodates 185
species of fish and 200 species of
birds.

In Lao PDR, the Beung
Kiat Ngong Wetlands, the
only place where peatlands are
found, is composed of swamps,
lakes, and marshes that serve as
tributaries of the Xe Kham Pho
River, which is home to 200 to
300 fish species and freshwater
tortoises.

In
Malaysia,
the
Tasek Bera Forest Reserve, a
reed swamp and swamp forest
surrounded
by
grasslands,
supports richly diverse species
of both flora and fauna including
328 species of algae, 19 aquatic
plants, and 95 species of fish.

In
Myanmar,
the
Indawgyi Lake, the largest
natural freshwater lake, protects
surrounding areas from floods and
serves as a key habitat to at least
20,000 migratory and resident
waterbirds. Around 30,000 people
living in 16 villages surrounding
the lake basin have rice farming
and fishing as their livelihoods.

In the Philippines, the
Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical
Habitat and Ecotourism Area,
an urban coastal wetland in
Manila Bay inside the metropolis
of Manila, comprises two
interconnected
mangrove-
covered islands, shallow lagoons
and coastline which serve as
nesting place for at least 5,000
migratory and resident birds.

In Singapore, the Sungei
Buloh Wetland Reserve, an
ASEAN Heritage Park, boasts
of a vast mangrove forest and
over 500 species of tropical flora
zero waste resource management,”
stated Ochie Tolentino, Coordinator,
EcoWaste Coalition.

“A key stumbling block
that we always have to deal with is
the volume of residual plastic waste,
especially plastic bags, sachets and
other single-use plastics, piling up at
the barangay and municipal materials
recovery facilities or MRFs,” she
pointed out.

“Our experience is telling
us that companies should assume
responsibility for the plastic waste
pollution besetting communities, be
accountable, and not simply pass the
burden to the local government and
the people,” she said.

A brand audit carried out
by the Cavite Green Coalition and the
EcoWaste Coalition in cooperation
with GMA Municipal Environment
and Natural Resources Officer and
residents of Barangay Bernardo
Pulido showed that 82 manufacturers
are contributing to branded pollution.
Out of the approximately 29 kilos of
mixed plastic waste collected from
3,405 households in the barangay, a
total of 4,099 pieces of identifiable
branded waste were collected.
Additionally, over 100 pieces of
branded trash with indistinguishable
brands were also gathered.
The
groups
revealed
that among the top branded plastic
waste materials were from: 1.
Nestle (509); 2. Universal Robina
Corporation (394); 3. Unilever (327);
4. PT Torabika Eka Semesta (306);
5. Monde M.Y. San Corp (282); 6.
Procter and Gamble Phil. Inc. (235);
7. Liwayway Marketing Corp (196);
8. Mighty and Strong Foods (174); 9.
Rebisco Biscuit Corp (114); and 10.
Colgate-Palmolive Phil. Inc (99).

Together,
these
10
manufacturers
comprise
65%
of the total identifiable branded
plastic wastes collected out of 82
manufacturers listed in the brand
audit.

“To drastically reduce
the waste that our homes and
communities generate, we need
companies to switch from single-use,
throw-away packaging to alternative
product delivery systems,” said
Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator,
EcoWaste Coalition.

“We hope companies,
especially the top companies
contributing to branded pollution,
will heed our plea for plastic use
and waste reduction, and move away
from wasteful disposable product
packaging,” she added. (EcoWaste
Coalition)
and fauna. It was recognised
by Wetlands International as a
significant site for migratory
birds.

In Thailand, the Ao
Phang Nga National Park is a
40,000-hectare ASEAN Heritage
Park that is known for its rich
folklore, prehistoric rock arts, and
natural beauty due to its coastal
forests. It has a series of strikingly
scenic karst limestone hills
flooded by the sea to form some
42 sheer islands with high cliffs,
rock overhangs and formations,
caves and coral gardens.

In Viet Nam, the Tram
Chim National Park is home
to the globally threatened bird
and fish species including the
endangered Bengal florican and
the Giant barb. During the dry
season, it offers food and shelter
to more than 20,000 waterbirds.
The park’s landscape protects
the surrounding community of
around 20,000 people in the
eastern and southern dykes from
flood surges.
Despite
their
importance, wetlands are getting
degraded. Human activities such
as dam construction discharge of industrial wastes and municipal
sewage, polluted water runoff,
habitat
fragmentation,
and
urbanisation harm the wetlands.
Reports show that inland water
bodies in the ASEAN region are
the most threatened habitats on
Earth.

On the occasion of
World Wetlands Day, I call on
governments and individuals to
always bear in mind that wetlands
play a crucial role in providing for
and protecting people. Wetlands
are not just lands covered in
water—they are home to flora
and fauna that have key functions
in the web of life. Everyone has
a part to play in keeping our
wetlands healthy and viable.
Recognising the importance of
wetlands to livelihoods, and
as part of our natural solutions
to climate change impacts and
natural disasters will allow us
to advocate for better land use
planning that will consider proper
functioning of wetlands in any
development initiatives in and
around these areas. (ACB/Dr.
Theresa Mundita S. Lim)
Lush greenery at the urban wetland LPPCHEA in the Philippines.