Unsustainable and Unethical Mining in the Landscape Ecology (Affecting Stability)
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| Figure 01, Aerial View of Masbate Mining Area (credit image, distinctive performance) |
“The article paper has been initiated by the author to
compose and share with the people around the world. The topic will discuss and feature
the Masbate Gold Mining as an example that covers 2,477 hectares and started
the operation last 2008 and up to the present for their mining operation activities
in the Bicol Region, which covers the entire natural landscape ecology being
altered and destroyed after they have got the richness of the country for their
own interest that supposed to be for the Filipino. It is one of the examples
of unsustainable and unethical mining operations ever have in the Philippines within
the ecological aspect which will become a global challenge, and perhaps, restoration
is not possible but violating the RA 7942 governance policy.”
“This article paper, however, this is
an edited edition of the first edition whereas the author published last September
20, 2019, which is one of the
"Most Read" in the LinkedIn Publishing, ResearchGate, and Academia
platforms that have been provided based on observation and studies about our
environment.”
Landscape
Ecology’s Definition
According to Almo Farina in his article and
quoted as, “Landscapes and their
Ecological Components” defined that the “landscape ecology is a discipline that studies environmental
complexity, concentrating mainly on an analysis of the importance of spatial
relationships between the various components such as individuals, populations,
communities, and land mosaics of the real world.”
Wherein describes the current situation of
development that “defined as the spatial
representation of an ecosystem, a landscape is composed of many superimposed
environments.” Moreover, Jianguo (Jingle) Wu defines and quoted as, “Landscape ecology is an interdisciplinary
field that aims to understand and improve the relationship between spatial
pattern and ecological processes on a range of scales.”
One of the examples of landscape ecology
can be seen in Figure 02 as discussed in the author’s published article, “Environmental
Determinism,” which describes the conservative aspect of rural
areas and mostly found in the provinces with land mosaics spatial pattern of
ecology.
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| Figure 02, Example of Land Ecology found in the Rural Areas (credit, Foreigner Farming) |
Unsustainable
Mining Affecting Stability
The existing heterogeneous environments are
now in a critical stage in the stability of the landscape ecosystem (Figure 01),
which can be referred to and caused by mining activities and rampant deforestation
operations. As we all know that through mining activities have
contributed more significant negative values impacting the landscape
environment.
However, heterogeneity is essential characteristics and ingredients of landscape ecology. But because of human
activities thereof, the landscape stability has been damaged continuously. And
with the mining practices and without any program in restoring the same,
therefore, the process will contribute unsustainable affecting the
existing landscape structure. Additionally, these will result in landscape
fragmentation that includes vegetation, soil degradation,
wildlife habitats, disruption or loss of flora and fauna loss of biodiversity,
and most especially, will alter the hydrological cycle of the ecological aspect
of the landscape environment.
Unethical
Mining Affecting Stability
The author may say that through human
activities and the pattern they are working without any rehabilitation program
can be considered unethical mining affecting
the upland communities and the wetland itself. Despite the rehabilitation being
considered by the mining companies involved, however, the truth is, the
landscape stability can’t be restored for the same as it was. Deforestation
is one of the factors in the mining activities whereas rehabilitation of
forests through tree planting, which is a long process actually, compared to
the mining resources they’ve got within the mining area, e.g. Masbate Mining
Field (Figure 01, Aerial View of Masbate Mining Area).
Based on the unethical mining history,
most of the mining companies were violating RA 7942 - Philippine Mining Act of
1995 of Section 69, and it is about the “Environmental
Protection.” The author quoted, “directing the contractor to undertake as well as an enhancement program
accordingly, whereas, the work program specifies that includes not only for the
mining operations plan but through with the effort of providing and I quoted
as; rehabilitation, regeneration, revegetation, and reforestation of
mineralized areas, slope stabilization of mined-out and tailings covered areas,
aquaculture, watershed development, and water conservation; and socio-economic
development.”
Moreover, with the help of EO 26 (2011) – National Greening Program and EO 193 (2015) – Expanded
NGP can be justified in resolving landscape stability to regain the landscape
ecology evolving the required Sustainable Development Goals Program.
Throwback
In 30-years after the Marcos
administration, the mining industries are everywhere whereas graft and
corruption from the government sides can’t we count on from Aquino to Aquino
administrations that spoiled the trusts of the people and perhaps, the
practices are very rampant and have no place can actually completely get away
from these mining practices. Because of unsustainable practices, these are
the reasons why the landscape ecosystem had suffered as they don’t care all about
the environment even and the lives of people living in the wetland and upland
areas were tremendously affected, resulted as they got ill and sick.
Similarly, on various occasions happenings within the environmental sector are
due to irresponsible and unethical practices that gave
negative impact done by the mining industries in the Philippines to the people
that fail to serve sustainable mining in return in conjunction with RA 7942 -
Philippine Mining Act of 1995 government policy.
Environmental
Policy with the present Administration
In the recent year under the President
Duterte administration, however, he subsidized and ordered the implementation
of the total mining
ban in the Philippines for both large-scale and small-scale
mining companies within the ecosystem. With the stern warning from the
President is a big step and help on how to sustain and curing a polluted mining
area throughout the Philippines to find a solution to a sustainable environment
for the next
generation.
The order is an excellent initiative and
moves from the government which has the political will, following the order
which they are not allowed in doing some mining businesses anymore. And most of
the irresponsible that was committed are from those tycoon mining companies
occupying the mining area in the country for such cruelty and unsustainable
impact mostly in the wetland and upland areas violating the RA 7942 -
Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
Development
of Landscape Ecology
With the given example as discussed above,
the landscape ecology can be defined as a discipline of two schools of thought
based on the theories and designs as such; “European
School” and the “American School”.
The difference between the two can be defined that European School has focused
on the “built” system while the
American School is referring bound to “natural”
systems within the ecosystem depending on the location you are facing and most
specifically on the given natural resources.
Moreover, in the author’s professional
practice has bound to the theories and designs of European School and as an
example on which we designed the interdisciplinary building-built environment
in developing the community as required by the stakeholders. However, with the
two-schools defined by M/s Kevin McGarigal of his article; “Introduction to Landscape Ecology,” the author prefers both
schools not only what the author has had in his professional practice but the
given “natural resources” focusing on
the ecological aspect of our environment as an environmental advocate and as a
registered Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv).
In the foregoing study of landscape
ecology, the author may be focusing on the “Landscape
towards Sustainable Development.” This will be focusing on the combination
of the landscape ecology schools with “built” and “natural” systems in
sustaining a sustainable environment.
About
the Origin of Landscape Ecology
The origin of the landscape of ecology
depending on the country’s regional activities and environmental behavior-based
on their culture. However, the Philippines are rich in natural resources and
diverse islands throughout the archipelago. The ecological aspect was already
given with a perfect creation by God, but because of Spaniard's colonialism
that enslaves the country for more than 300-years, and the true history was
destroyed and hides to the countrymen. From then, and up to the present, and
from generation to generation, the country is being taught with false history
throughout the education system, but, sad to say, that’s what the reality is
happening in the country.
Conclusion
With
all the above mentioned articulates the author’s ethical position, perspective,
and viewpoint on the major ethical issues
that are being played within the environment we live in. It is essential to
know things and relate the characteristics of people towards the environmental
landscape ecology as well as the environmental impact within the ecosystem in
aligning with the technological innovation that can be used somehow in saving
the earth and the people's demand. Additionally, the importance of political
will in the governance and love of the environment are the driven aspects in
sustaining a sustainable environment and protecting the landscape ecological
environment on either work of mining operation or within the interdisciplinary
field.
Write-Up References can be Read from this
Links;
Gomeseria, RV; (2019,
September); "Unsustainable and Unethical Mining
in the Landscape Ecology (Affecting Stability);” Retrieved from; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335950956_Unsustainable_and_Unethical_Mining_in_the_Landscape_Ecology_Affecting_Stability
To cite this blog / article paper; Gomeseria, R. V. (2019, September 20). Unsustainable and Unethical Mining in the Landscape Ecology (Affecting Stability). https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/YHCS8
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