By Audrey Denise L. Pangan
People tend to take things for granted. This tendency is evident when it comes to the environment and the growing climate change crisis. For many years, we have exploited nature without fully realizing the effects we were having on it. Only recently have people begun to realize how important it is to take action to protect the environment as the effects of climate change become more apparent.
This is particularly the case in Dumaguete City, where the controversial 174 reclamation project has sparked concerns about its environmental and social impacts. The project has highlighted the ongoing struggle between development and conservation, making it clear that the fight against environmental destruction is not just a global issue but a local one. Experts like Dr. Angel C. Alcala and Dr. Rene Abesamis have played a vital role in raising awareness and advocating for sustainable alternatives.
Dr. Angel C. Alcala, a world-renowned Filipino biologist and ecologist, focused on environmental science, especially on the aspect of marine ecosystems. In the context of the study of Dr. Alcala, marine protected areas (MPAs) are crucial in sustaining the ocean’s ecosystem and the stocks of fish, which have been depleted. His research shows that these resources can be depleted beyond recovery if taken for granted. This has had an impact on food security and the existence of various communities that heavily rely on fish such as those living by the coastal region due to overfishing, eco-destructive fishing practices, and coral reef degradation.
The concerns on the 174 Reclamation in Dumaguete City show the constant battle between development and conservation. This project of reclaiming land to expand the urban area has been condemned by residents and environmentalists due to the impacts of this project on the coastline. It poses danger to the coastal ecosystem such as the coral reefs that help in preventing shoreline erosion and supporting marine life. Dr. Abesamis reported that fisheries will be significantly affected when the MPAs are buried and several habitats removed through this reclamation project. This project exemplifies the message that people are more often than not, willing to sacrifice long-term environmental preservation for short-term financial profits.
For there to be significant change, individual action must be a collective effort by everyone in society. The actions of a single person can cause a domino effect, inspiring others to follow suit. For example, when someone decides to reduce the amount of carbon by using public transportation and embracing environmentally friendly habits, they inspire others to do the same. If that one person can influence just one other person to do the same, then the effect is magnified.
However, people are rarely conscious of the environmental consequences of their actions, failing to realize that they live within the same environment in which they hardly show any concern for. The conservation efforts of Dr. Alcala, the search for better solutions to arrest climate change supported by Dr. Abesamis, and the pivotal role that Silliman University has embarked on highlight the importance of conserving our environment and the urgent call to address climate change. Their work is for the people, the community, and the government to take responsibility and accountability for their actions and what we should do to make this world better.
As stewards of our environment, it is our responsibility for the sustainable management of our environment; it is our task to buoy these initiatives so that Dumaguete not only thrives but survives in the face of climate change. Only when we fully realize the value of our mother nature, as well as the sensitivity of our environment, can we hope to lessen the effects of climate change and preserve the planet for future generations.
