INTRODUCTION

Global Warming

The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. (Section 16,
Article 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution)

All human beings depend on the environment in which we live. A safe,

clean, healthy and sustainable environment is integral to the full enjoyment of a
wide range of human rights, including the rights to life, health, food, water,
environment and sanitation. Without a healthy environment, we are unable to
fulfill our aspirations or even live at a level commensurate with minimum standards
of human dignity. At the same time, protecting human rights helps to protect the
environment. When people are able to learn about, and participate in, the decisions
that affect them, they can help to ensure that those decisions respect their need for
a sustainable environment. In recent years, the recognition of the links between
human rights and the environment has greatly increased. The number and scope of
international and domestic laws, judicial decisions, and academic studies on the
relationship between human rights and the environment have grown rapidly. Many
States now incorporate a right to a healthy environment in their constitutions. Many
questions about the relationship of human rights and the environment remain
unresolved, however, and require further examination.

Some treaties that contain environmental obligations for States include the
1972 World Heritage Convention, the 1985 Vienna Convention, the 1987 Montreal
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the 1989 Basel Convention on
the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal,
the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity. (The Right to a Healthy Environment,
thho://www1.umn.edu/humanrts)

Brief History

The history of the scientific discovery of climate change began in the early
19th century when ice ages and other natural changes in paleoclimate were first
suspected and the natural greenhouse effect first identified. In the late 19th century,
scientists first argued that human emissions of greenhouse gases could change the
climate. Many other theories of climate change were advanced, involving forces
from volcanism to solar variation. In the 1960s, the warming effect of carbon dioxide

gas became increasingly convincing, although some scientists also pointed out that
human activities, in the form of atmospheric aerosols (e.g., "pollution"), could have
cooling effects as well. During the 1970s, scientific opinion increasingly favored the
warming viewpoint. By the 1990s, as a result of improving fidelity of computer
models and observational work confirming the Milankovitch theory of the ice ages, a
consensus position formed: greenhouse gases were deeply involved in most climate
changes and human caused emissions were bringing serious global warming. Since
the 1990s, scientific research on climate change has included multiple disciplines
and has expanded, significantly increasing our understanding of causal relations,
links with historic data and ability to model climate change numerically. The most
recent work has been summarized in the Assessment Reports by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate change is a significant and
lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging
from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather
conditions, or in the distribution of weather around the average conditions (i.e.,
more or fewer extreme weather events). Climate change is caused by factors that
include oceanic processes (such as oceanic circulation), biotic processes, variations
in solar radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics and volcanic eruptions, and
human-induced alterations of the natural world; these latter effects are currently
causing global warming.

Global Warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the

average temperature of the Earths surface and atmosphere. The planet is warming,
from North Pole to South Pole, and everywhere in between. Globally, the mercury is
already up more than 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius), and even more in
sensitive polar regions. And the effects of rising temperatures are not waiting for
some far-flung future. They are happening right now. Signs are appearing all over,
and some of them are surprising. The heat is not only melting glaciers and sea ice,
its also shifting precipitation patterns and setting animals on the move. Unless we
take immediate action to reduce global warming emissions, these impacts will
continue to intensify, grow ever more costly and damaging, and increasingly affect
the entire planet.

Global Warming: A natural cycle or human result?

Is global warming a natural cycle? Or is global warming affected by human

influence? What does the science say? While it is true that human activities can
affect the increase of the globes temperature, it should also be considered that
the world can warm, and cool, without any human interference. For the past
million years this has occurred over and over again at approximately 100,000 year
intervals. About 80-90,000 years of ice age with about 10-20,000 years of warm
period, give or take some thousands of years.

Many climatologists and scientists say arctic ice melt and other changes in
the Earth's climate are the result of an increase in the world's temperature, a
trend widely called global warming. Many global warming experts say the
phenomenon, if unchecked, is capable of altering the world's climate and geography.
They also believe that the increase is primarily the result of human activities,
like burning fossil fuels, emissions from vehicles and the clearing of
forests. According to Stephen Schneider, a professor of environmental studies,
...science is settled and humans are at least a majority of the reason behind the
global warming.

Alarming Impacts of Global Warming

1
Accelerating sea level rise and increased coastal flooding Average global sea level has increased eight inches since 1880, but is rising much
faster on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. Global warming is now accelerating
the rate of sea level rise, increasing flooding risks to low-lying communities and
high-risk coastal properties whose development has been encouraged by today's
flood insurance system.

a variety of factors associated with drought and is likely to increase drought risk in
certain regions. As temperatures have warmed, the prevalence and duration of
drought has increased.
9
Growing risks to our electricity supply - Our aging electricity
infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to the growing consequences of global
warming, including sea level rise, extreme heat, heightened wildfire risk, and
drought and other water supply issues.
10
Disruptions to food supplies - Rising temperatures and the
accompanying impacts of global warming including more frequent heat waves,
heavier precipitation in some regions, and more severe droughts in others has
significant implications for crop and meat production. Global warming has the
potential to seriously disrupt our food supply, drive costs upward, and affect
everything from coffee to cattle, from staple food crops to the garden in your
backyard.
11
Plant and animal range shifts - A changing climate affects the
range of plants and animals, changing their behavior and causing disruptions up and
down the food chain. The range of some warm-weather species will expand, while
those that depend on cooler environments will face shrinking habitats and potential
extinction.

2
Longer and more damaging wildlife seasons - Wildfires are
increasing and wildfire season is getting longer in the as temperatures rise.
3
More frequent and intense heat waves - Dangerously hot
weather is already occurring more frequently than it did 60 years agoand
scientists expect heat waves to become more frequent and severe as global
warming intensifies. This increase in heat waves creates serious health risks, and
can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and aggravate existing medical conditions.
4
Widespread forest death - Tens of millions of trees have died
over the past 15 years, victims of a climate-driven triple assault of tree-killing
insects, wildfires, and stress from heat and drought.
5
Costly and growing health impacts - Climate change has
significant implications for our health. Rising temperatures will likely lead to
increased air pollution, a longer and more intense allergy season, the spread of
insect-borne diseases, more frequent and dangerous heat waves, and heavier
rainstorms and flooding. All of these changes pose serious, and costly, risks to public
health.
6
Increase in extreme weather events - Strong scientific
evidence shows that global warming is increasing certain types of extreme weather
events, including heat waves, coastal flooding, extreme precipitation events, and
more severe droughts. Global warming also creates conditions that can lead to more
powerful hurricanes.
7
Heavier precipitation and flooding - As temperatures increase,
more rain falls during the heaviest downpours, increasing the risk of flooding events.
Very heavy precipitation events, defined as the heaviest one percent of storms.
8

More severe droughts in some areas - Climate change affects

Significance

The Supreme Court of the Philippines rendered an en banc and unanimous

decision in the case of Oposa vs. Factoran. This case is unique in that it is a class
suit brought by 44 children, through their parents, claiming that they bring the case
in the name of their generation as well as those generations yet unborn. This
cases concept of intergenerational responsibility was cited in several cases
national and worldwide. Aiming to stop deforestation, it was filed against the
Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, seeking to have
him cancel all the timber license agreements (TLAs) in the country and to cease and
desist from accepting and approving more timber license agreements. The children
invoked their right to a balanced and healthful ecology and to protection by the
State in its capacity as parens patriae. The petitioners claimed that the DENR
Secretary's refusal to cancel the TLAs and to stop issuing them was "contrary to the
highest law of humankind-- the natural law-- and violative of plaintiffs' right to selfpreservation and perpetuation." The case was dismissed in the lower court, invoking
the law on non-impairment of contracts, so it was brought to the Supreme Court on
certiorari. The Supreme Court, in ruling the case, said that:

Their personality to sue in behalf of the succeeding generations can only

be based on the concept of intergenerational responsibility insofar as the right to a

balanced and healthful ecology is concerned. Such a right considers rhythm and
harmony of nature.

Nature means the created world of in its entirety. Such rhythm and harmony
indispensably include, inter alia, the judicious disposition of the natural resources to
the end that their development be equitably accessible to the present as well as
future generations.

Needless to say, every generation has the responsibility to the next to

preserve that rhythm and harmony for the full enjoyment of a balanced and
healthful ecology.

An Inconvenient Truth by Davis Guggenheim became one of the most

successful documentaries in raising international public awareness of global
warming, which dramatically increased the coverage of climate change by media. In
this documentary, Al Gore, the former vice president of the United States shares his
concerns about the rising issue of global warming and describes his activities as an
environment activist to change lifestyles and laws in order to prevent huge disasters
that could happen as results of global warming.

The film includes segments intended to refute critics who say that global warming is unproven
or that warming will be insignificant. For example, Gore discusses the possibility of the collapse of a
major ice sheet in Greenland or in West Antarctica, either of which could raise global sea levels by
approximately 20 feet, flooding coastal areas and producing 100 million refugees. Melt water from
Greenland, because of its lower salinity, could then halt the currents that keep northern Europe warm and
quickly trigger dramatic local cooling there. It also contains various short animated projections of what
could happen to different animals more vulnerable to global warming.

Put a little differently, the minors assertion of their right to a sound

environment constitutes, at the same time, the performance of their obligation to
ensure the protection of that right for the generations to come.

As a matter of fact, these basic rights need not even be written in the
Constitution for they are assumed to exist from the inception of human kind.

Generations which stand to inherit nothing but parched earth incapable of

sustaining life.

As individuals, we can help by taking action to reduce our personal carbon

emissions. But to fully address the threat of global warming, we must demand action
from our elected leaders to support and implement a comprehensive set of climate
solutions. Global warming is a global issue. Strong action and leadership is critical,
but so too are international efforts that work toward reducing emissions worldwide.

Al Gores An Inconvenient Truth

Gore clearly shows the evidence that the increase in global temperature over the last 100 years
is, to a large extent, due to greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. He then presents the three
causes: population, technology and barriers to new thinking.(NOTE!!!!!!!!)

Al Gore presented some possible consequences if we do not marshal the will power and
institutional action to halt climate changes stemming from global warming:

Deaths from global warming will double in just 25 years to 300,000 people a year.

Global sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet with the loss of the shelf ice in Greenland
and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide.

Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense.

Droughts and wildfires will occur more often.

Low-lying islands will no longer be habitable due to rising sea levels.

Forests, farms, and cities will face troublesome new pests and more mosquito-borne
diseases.

The Arctic Ocean could be ice free in the summer by 2050.

More than a million species worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2060 thanks to
disruption of habitats such as coral reefs and alpine meadows.

Gores main point remains clear: whatever the eventual impacts, there is a need to act
immediately to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This can be achieved with current technologies and in
an affordable way, he says, although he presents few specific examples in the film.

The documentary ends with Gore arguing that if appropriate actions are taken soon, the
effects of global warming can be successfully reversed by releasing less CO2 and planting more
vegetation to consume existing CO2. Gore calls upon his viewers to learn how they can help him in these
efforts. Gore concludes the film by saying:

"Each one of us is a cause of global warming, but each one of us

can make choices to change that with the things we buy, the electricity we use,
the cars we drive; we can make choices to bring our individual carbon emissions
to zero. The solutions are in our hands, we just have to have the determination
to make it happen. We have everything that we need to reduce carbon emissions,
everything but political will. But in America, the will to act is a renewable
resource."

The climate crisis offers us the chance to experience what a very few generations in history have had the
privilege of knowing: a generational mission.

We have everything we need, save perhaps, political will. But, you know what ... political will is a
renewable resource. ... The solutions are in our hands. We just have to have the determination to make
them happen.

I believe this is a moral issue. It is your time to seize this issue. It is our time to rise again, to secure
our future.

Scientists overwhelmingly agree that the Earth is getting warmer, that this trend is caused by people, and
that if we continue to pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the warming will be increasingly
harmful.

Al Gore

Remarkable quotes from the movie:

What we take for granted might not be here for our children.

You see that pale, blue dot? That's us. Everything that has ever happened in all of human history, has
happened on that pixel. All the triumphs and all the tragedies, all the wars all the famines, all the major
advances... it's our only home. And that is what is at stake, our ability to live on planet Earth, to have a
future as a civilization. I believe this is a moral issue, it is your time to seize this issue, it is our time to
rise again to secure our future.

It takes time to connect the dots, I know that. But I also know that there can be a day of reckoning when
you wish you had connected the dots more quickly.

Former Vice President Al Gore is co-founder and chairman of Generation Investment

Management. He is a senior partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and a member of Apple, Inc.s
board of directors. Gore spends the majority of his time as chairman of The Climate Reality Project, a
non-profit devoted to solving the climate crisis.

Gore was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1982 and the
U.S. Senate in 1984 and 1990. He was inaugurated as the 45th Vice President of the United States on
January 20, 1993, and served eight years.

As Vice President during the Clinton Administration, Gore pushed for the implementation of
a carbon tax to encourage energy efficiency and diversify the choices of fuel better reflecting the true
environmental costs of energy use; it was partially implemented in 1993. He helped broker the
1997 Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The treaty
was not ratified in the United States after a 95 to 0 vote in the Senate. The primary objections stemmed
from the exemptions the treaty gave to China and India, whose industrial base and carbon footprint have
grown rapidly, and fears that the exemptions would lead to further trade imbalances and offshoring
arrangement with those countries.

Gore also supported the funding of the controversial and much-delayed satellite called Triana,
which would have provided an image of the Earth 24 hours a day, over the internet and would have acted
as a barometer measuring the process of global warming. During his 2000 presidential campaign, Gore
ran, in part, on a pledge to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

2015 UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

The United Nations is a major international organization that helps

promulgate such responsibilities. It has always been serving to create better a world

for all off humanity. It has been a major part in creating and promulgating peace and
prosperity since the end of the 2nd World War. As a united front, the United Nations
tackles issues such maintaining international peace and security & promoting
human rights, to name a few.

One of these is climate change. Climate change is the increase of

temperature of the surface of Earth. It is very evident and real in our world, the
emission of greenhouse gases are a proof of it. These greenhouse gases trap the
sun's light and heat in the atmosphere, increasing the Earth's temperature.
Greenhouse gases emitting activities like electricity production, transportation,
commercial and residential activities, which comes from burning fuels like coal
and gasoline, and agriculture and forestry, can cause global warming. In
this context, we, as a human nation, are all responsible for the continuous fight
against global warming.

Focuses on incorporating planning, financing and cost-effective preventive actions into

national developmental processes that are supported by scientific information, local
climate data and integrated climate impact assessments.
Example of Projects: Adaptation Capacity, Policy and Planning support and Ecosystembased adaptation support.

Mitigating Climate Change

UNEP supports countries in making sound policy, technology and investment choices
that lead to GHG emission reductions, with a focus on scaling up clean and renewable
energy sources, energy efficiency and energy conservation.

Helps countries phase out obsolete technologies and deploy cleaner ones, financed
through public and private sources.

Examples of Projects: Deployment of Clean technologies in Developing countries and

Stimulating Private Sector Involvement.

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation)

UNEP supports developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and

degradation through promotion of sustainable forest management

Aims to transform the forest sector and forested landscapes, while improving
livelihoods and providing alternative development pathways.

Goal is to have deforestation halve in 2020.

Example of Projects: REDD+ Flagship, Monitoring and Learning

Knowledge and Communication

UNEP works to improve understanding of Climate Change science and raise awareness
of climate change impacts among decision-makers and target audience.

Example of Projects: Scientific Support and Communication and Research.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference which was held in 2015 is a
testament to the worlds endeavors in creating a better and sustainable world for
this generation and the next.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEP is an agency that coordinates its environmental activities, assisting developing countries
in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded by Maurice Strong, its
first director, as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and
has its headquarters in the Gigiri neighbourhood of Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP also has six regional offices
and various country offices.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global
environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda,
promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of
sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as
an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

Goals of UNEP
1

Adapting to Climate Change

UNEP helps countries reduce their vulnerability and use of ecosystem services to build
natural resilience against impact of climate change.

Kyoto Protocol

Background

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty emerged from the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which commits its parties by setting international binding
emission reduction targets and has also recognized that the developed countries are principally responsible
for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of
industrial activity. It implemented the objective of UNFCCC to fight global warming by reducing
greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere to "a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system" and placed a heavier burden on developed nations under the
principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities." It puts the obligation to reduce current emissions

on developed countries on the basis that they are historically responsible for the current levels of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The main goal of Kyoto Protocol is to cut emissions of not only carbon dioxide, but also other
greenhouse gases, which are: Methane (CH 4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6). It is seen as an important first step towards a
truly global emission reduction regime that will stabilize GHG emissions, and can provide the architecture
for the future international agreement on climate change.

During the first commitment period (January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2012), 37 industrialized
countries and the European Community committed to reduce GHG emissions to an average of five percent
against 1990 levels. During the second commitment period (January 1, 2013 December 31, 2020, the
parties committed to reduce GHG emissions by at least 18 percent below 1990 levels.

Basic History

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change launched by UN General Assembly in

December 1990 was convened by an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to conduct
negotiations to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The convention was adopted on May 9,
1992. It was opened for signature a month later in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and finally entered into force on
March 21, 1994 after complying with the 50 ratifications requisite with over near-universal membership of
186 parties.

Since the adoption of the Convention, the parties have continued to negotiate in order to agree
on decisions and conclusions that will advance the implementation on how to limit the increase of global
temperature and how to cope up effectively with its impacts. They have done so first in the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), and then, since the Conventions entry into force, in the
Conference of the Parties (COP) and its subsidiary bodies, with the main objective to review to
Conventions implementation.

In April 1995, in addition to the routine work on advancing the implementation of the
Convention, the Conference of the Parties at its first session launched a new round of negotiations, on
what was to become the Kyoto Protocol, after realizing that emission reductions provisions in the
Convention were inadequate. The decision, which was called as Berlin Mandate established

commitments in launching a process to take appropriate action beyond 2000 through the adoption of a
protocol or another legal instrument. As a result, a substantial extension to the Convention to strengthen
the global response to climate change was adopted in Kyoto, Japan on December 11, 1997. The Kyoto
Protocol, which legally binds the developed and industrialized countries to emission reduction targets was
signed by 84 Parties and has received 39 ratifications. However, it left many of its operational details
unresolved. In this, many Annex I Parties stated that they needed to have a clearer picture of the
operational details of the Protocol before they could ratify it.

In November 2001, the Parties adopted the Marrakesh Accords in Marrakesh, Morocco,
detailing the rules in the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, setting up new funding and planning
instruments for adaptation, and establishing a technology transfer framework. On February 16, 2005, the
Kyoto Protocol finally entered into force and in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol requirements, the
parties launched negotiations under the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I
Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP).

In 2012, The Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol was adopted. The amendment includes
new commitments for Annex I Parties to the Kyoto Protocol who agreed to take on commitments in a
second commitment period from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2020, a revised list of greenhouse gases
to be reported on by Parties in the second commitment period and amendments to several articles of the
Kyoto Protocol pertaining to the first commitment period (started in 2008 and ended in 2012) and which
needed to be updated for the second commitment period.

COP 21 / CMP 11

Why Paris?

"The location of U.N.F.C.C.C. talks is rotated by regions throughout United

Nations countries. The 2015 conference was held at Le Bourget from 30 November
to 11 December 2015. To some extent, France served as a model country for
delegates attending COP21 because it is one of the few developed countries in
the world to decarbonize electricity production and fossil fuel energy while
still providing a high standard of living. As of 2012, France generated over 90%
of its electricity from zero carbon sources, including nuclear, hydroelectric, and wind.
The conference took place two weeks after a series of terrorist attacks in central
Paris. Security was tightened accordingly, with 30,000 police officers and 285

security checkpoints deployed across the country until after the conference ended.
The European Union and 185 nations were the participating parties."

to undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with the best

available science.

Transparency and global stocktake

The Paris Agreement
Governments agreed to
During the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2015, 195
countries agreed to partake on a global climate deal that will require deeper
emissions reduction commitments from all countries- developed and developing.
This agreement hold countries responsible to their commitments and mobilize
greater investments to assist developing countries in building low-carbon,
climate-resilient economies.

come together every 5 years to set more ambitious targets as required

by science;
report to each other and the public on how well they are doing to
implement their targets;
track progress towards the long-term goal through a robust transparency
and accountability system.

Adaptation
Accordingly, there are three reasons why the nations are making such commitments:

Governments agreed to

Their citizens are demanding it. The people have enough knowledge that air fouled with
carbon pollution causes death and disease. The Carbon emissions risen the global temperature
by trapping solar energy in the atmosphere, which may result into severe alteration of water
supplies and weather patterns, changes the growing season for food crops and threatens coastal
communities with increasing sea levels.

Governments increasingly understand that clean air is vital to a healthy economy. A city
with clean air has a significant competitive advantage over one with dirty air, because people
prefer to live there and companies find it easier to attract talented workers.

As technology advances the economics of clean energy have improved dramatically. The
price of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, LED lighting and electric vehicles has
plummeted, sometimes more than 20% in a year.

strengthen societies' ability to deal with the impacts of climate change;

provide continued and enhanced international support for adaptation to
developing countries.

Loss and damage

The agreement also

recognizes the importance of averting, minimizing and addressing loss and

damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change;
acknowledges the need to cooperate and enhance the understanding,
action and support in different areas such as early warning systems,
emergency preparedness and risk insurance.

Key elements

Mitigation: reducing emissions

Intended Nationally Determined Contribution

Governments agreed

a long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature

to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels;
to aim to limit the increase to 1.5C, since this would significantly reduce
risks and the impacts of climate change;
on the need for global emissions to peak as soon as possible,
recognizing that this will take longer for developing countries;

Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) is a reflection of a

countrys ambition to the reduction of greenhouse gases. The primary goal of the
Paris summit is to lower emissions down to pre-industrial levels. Countries
that ratify the agreement are not forced to adopt a target INDC. Instead, they are
given freedom to determine their own contribution, but must present a transparent
report on their progress every 5 years.

The INDC of a country shall be communicated to the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). A communicated INDC shall
then be published in the website of the UNFCCC. An INDC of a country shall be
transparent to allow stakeholders to keep track on a countrys progress in attaining
its target contribution.
Each INDC shall be collated into one ambition sufficient to limit global
warming to below 2C relative to pre- industrial levels. Each INDC should include a
mitigation goal which would then be eventually transformed into a binding
mitigation commitment. It shall be transparent, quantifiable, comparable, verifiable,
and ambitious. It shall also reflect equity according to the Common But
Differentiated and Respective Capacities Principle, an International
Environmental Law principle formulated in the context of the Rio Earth Summit for
sustainable development. Mitigation goals must transform patterns of production
and consumption and shift them onto long-term sustainable development paths.

However, this mitigation goal is not included in the INDC of a Least

Developed Country (LDC) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These states
may, on the other hand, communicate information on strategies, plans, and actions
for greenhouse gas emission development.

Countries may also include an adaptation goal which is a precondition to

their mitigation goal. INDCs may also include:

An absolute, economy-wide emissions target which defines until when (target year or
period) a country will emit not more than a certain amount of GHG emissions.

Deviation from a BAU (Business as usual) scenario which defines by

how much, and by when, a country will undercut a scenario of emissions growth
projected into the future. This mitigation goal requires a transparent approach and basic
assumptions on the BAU scenario based on projections of GDP and emissions.

An intensity target which defines target GHG emissions per unit GDP (or capita). This
requires transparent methodologies to measure GDP and GDP growth.

A set of policies and actions which measure and quantify emissions reduction impacts.

Upfront Information shall make INDCs transparent, understandable and

clear in order to be able to quantify and compare INDCs, add them up internationally
and provide the information basis for analysis. May include:

Quantifiable information on the reference point (including, as appropriate, a

base year).

Time frames and/or periods for implementation.

Scope and coverage.

Planning processes.

Assumptions and methodological approaches including those for estimating

and accounting for anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and, as
appropriate, removals.

How the Party considers that its intended nationally determined

contribution is fair and ambitious, in light of its national circumstances, and
how it contributes towards achieving the objective of the Convention

Philippine INDC

On October 1, 2015, Vice Chairperson and Commissioner of the Climate

Change Commission of the Philippines, Secretary Mary Ann L. Sering submitted
the Philippine INDC. It included a comprehensive climate change policy agenda:

The passage of the Climate Change Act of 2009 as amended, establishing the Climate Change
Commission to lead Policy and coordinate, monitor, and evaluate climate change response.
This law also created the Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, to
focus on increasing convergence and coordination among government agencies with key roles
on adaptation and mitigation.
The amendments also introduced the Peoples Survival Fund allocating budget for adaptation
needs of local communities and local governments.

Upfront Information

The Enactment of the National Risk Reduction and Management Law of 2010 serving as a
guide to mitigate impacts of disasters and increase resilience in the face of natural
disasters.

Adoption of the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change in 2010 which laid down
the foundation and roadmap for addressing climate change. It identified adaptation as the
anchor strategy and considered mitigation as a function of adaptation.

President Hollande of France has invited all heads of state to participate in the 21 st COP of the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is an opportunity for the countries to reaffirm
their support for a global climate change agreement.

Issuance of the National Climate Change Action Plan in 2011 which set the tone for the
government to implement short, medium, and long term actions in seven thematic areas of food
security, water security, ecological and environmental stability, human security, climate smart
industries and services, sustainable energy, and knowledge and capacity development

The Philippines submitted its ****Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) last October
1, 2015 with a conditional emission reduction of 70% relative to its business-as-usual (BAU) scenario
of years 2000-2030. As a vulnerable country and a low-emitter, policies on climate change are mostly on
adaptation. President Aquino signed Executive Order no. 174 which institutionalized greenhouse gas
inventory management as well as a reporting system, designed to support the Philippine INDC.

Promulgation of complementary sectorial laws (e.g. Ecological Solid Waste Management Act
of 2000, Biofuels Act of 2006 and the Renewable Energy Act of 2008) that led to the increase
in the utilization of renewable energy sources, reinforcing and institutionalizing climate change
mitigation actions, as well as, creating opportunities for synergy and collaboration for an
efficient utilization of limited resources.

The Philippines is endowed with diverse ecosystems, which are considered extremely
important for enabling the country to develop resilience in the face of climate change. Among
these are its forests and marine resources, which are seen as contributing to both adaptation and
mitigation needs. Marine ecosystems can play a crucial role with its potential on blue carbon.
Some of these ecosystem contributions are articulated in the Philippine National REDD Plus
Strategy and the recently updated Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. The
Philippine legislature is poised to declare by law 97 protected areas as national parks under the
Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas Systems, which could contribute to increasing
resiliency against climate change.

Philippine Mitigation Goal

The Philippines was chosen to chair the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) of 20 developing countries
representing almost 200 million people threatened by climate change. The CVF High Level Event is a
flagship initiative of the Philippine Presidency of the CVF (2015-2016). It is an important meeting of the
members of the CVF in order to confirm decisions made and to put them into process at COP21.
As an informal platform and advocacy group outside the convention for countries highly vulnerable to
climate change, the CVF highlights the shared interest of its members, that is:
1
2
3

Espousing a strong ambition on climate change actions

A global warming limit of 1.5 degree Celsius
Clarity, predictability and transparency in the means of implementation in the
Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Disaster Risk Reduction Management

Disaster Risk Reduction aims to reduce the damage caused by natural hazards like earthquakes, floods,
droughts and cyclones, through an ethic of prevention.
Philippines (R.A. No. 10121)

Mitigation of emissions by the Philippines shall also come from energy,

transport, forestry, and industry sectors. It is conditioned on the extent of financial
resources, technology development and transfer, and capacity building that will be
made available to the Philippines.

Republic Act No. 10121 otherwise known as PDRRM ACT of 2010 is an act strengthening the Philippine
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System, providing for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Framework, Institutionalizing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan,
Appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes.
RA 10121 also institutionalized The Four Thematic Areas of DRMM which are:

The Philippines shall also integrate climate change adaptation and disaster
risk reduction into all plans and programs. The following priority measure would also
need implementation support:

1
2
3

1
2
3
4
5
6

Institutional and system strengthening for downscaling climate change models, climate
scenario-building, climate monitoring and observation.
Roll-out of science-based climate/disaster risk and vulnerability assessment process as the
basis for mainstreaming climate and disaster risks reduction in development plans, programs
and projects.
Development of climate and disaster-resilient ecosystems.
Enhancement of climate and disaster-resilience of key sectors agriculture, water and health.
Systematic transition to a climate and disaster-resilient social and economic growth.
Research and development on climate change, extremes and impacts for improved risk
assessment and management.

Participation of the Philippines in COP 21/ CMP 11

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation - Avoid hazards and mitigate their potential impacts by
reducing vulnerabilities and exposure and enhancing capacities of communities.
Disaster Response - Provide life preservation and meet the basic subsistence needs of
affected population based on acceptable standards during or immediately after a disaster.
Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery - Restore and improve facilities and living conditions
and capacities of affected communities, and reduce risks in accordance with the building
back better principle.
Disaster Preparedness - Establish and strengthen capacities of communities to anticipate,
cope and recover from the negative impacts of emergency occurrences and disasters.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

UNISDR led a process with 29 UN organizations to develop the UN Plan of

Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience, which the Chief Executive Board of
the United Nations adopted in March 2013.The UN Plan of Action hinges on UNISDRs
role as the focal point for disaster risk reduction in the UN system, and for
coordinating and integrating disaster risk reduction into UN country-level
programmes and activities. The UN Plan of Action identifies a series of measures to

strengthen support for countries and communities in managing disaster risk. It

requires, for example, assessments of the extent to which disaster and climate risk
is being addressed in the UN country development frameworks (known as UNDAFs).

Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and
management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including
focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities

NGO: Greenpeace
CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN

Climate Change Advocacy Around the World

NGO: Greenpeace is the leading independent campaigning organization

that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global
environmental problems and to promote solutions that are essential to a green and
peaceful future. Founded in 1971, Greenpeaces initial advocacy work focused on its
opposition to nuclear testing. In 1985, the French Secret Service famously bombed a
Greenpeace ship moored in Auckland, New Zealand, on its way to protest French
nuclear testing in Moruroa Atoll. Since then, the organizations priority has shifted
from nuclear proliferation to confronting climate change. But their strategy of direct
action with an international focus has essentially remained the same.

United Nations

On 1 January 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of

the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by world leaders in
September 2015 at an historic UN Summit officially came into force. Over the
next fifteen years, with these new Goals that universally apply to all, countries will
mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate
change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

While the SDGs are not legally binding, governments are expected to take
ownership and establish national frameworks for the achievement of the 17 Goals.
Countries have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review of the progress
made in implementing the Goals, which will require quality, accessible and timely
data collection. Regional follow-up and review will be based on national-level
analyses and contribute to follow-up and review at the global level.

Today, when you look at the Greenpeace website you can see that their
main campaign focuses on its advocacy to fight climate change.

Global Warming Issues & Threats

A small handful of companies are responsible for the majority of the

greenhouse gas emissions causing global warming. In fact, just 90 fossil fuel
companies account for almost two-thirds of carbon dioxide emissions since the
beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

Coal
The 13th goal is all about fighting climate change and it includes its targets which
are:

1
2
3
4

Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in
all countries
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change
mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion
annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context
of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize
the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible

Coal was once king in the U.S., even accounting for more than 40 percent
of our electricity. But coal, the most polluting of all fossil fuels, is bad news for our
health and the environment. The good news is people around the world are moving
away from dirty, polluting coal in favor of clean, renewable, affordable energy.

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy has no place in a safe, clean, sustainable future. Nuclear

energy is both expensive and dangerous. And just because nuclear pollution is

invisible doesnt mean its clean. Renewable energy is better for the environment,
the economy, and doesnt come with the risk of a nuclear meltdown.

Charles G. Koch and David H. Koch have a vested interest in delaying

climate action: theyve made billions from their ownership and control of Koch
Industries, an oil corporation that is the second largest privately-held company in
America (which also happens to have an especially poor environmental record).

Solution: 100% Renewable Energy For All

MNC
Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that is collected from
resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight,
wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.

A 100 percent renewable energy future is necessary not only for the
climate, but also for local communities. Moving away from the current fossil fuel
economy can make our communities healthier, reduce pollution, and create more
and better jobs. It can take the burden off the backs of low-income communities and
communities of color that have borne the worst impacts of the fossil fuel economy. A
100 percent renewable future can ensure that our energy economy is one that works
for everyone, not just fossil fuel CEOs.

As provided by Greenpeace, the use of renewable energy is a key solution together with others
to fight climate change. Below is a list of examples of energy efficiency and renewable
investments by multinational companies:
1

Burger King

In many ways fast food outlets personify our throw-away culture, farming
huge amounts of cows and chickens at huge cost to the environment. Huge energy
users, Burger King says it is taking steps to cut its carbon footprint at store level. 80
restaurants in California have installed efficient grills, reducing gas consumption by
52% and saving $41,300 a year. In 2010 it opened a franchise in Waghusel,
Germany that uses 720 solar photovoltaic modules to supply a third of its power.

Exposing Climate Deniers

2
PolluterWatch

The PolluterWatch project is holding polluters, their lobbyists, and the

politicians who work with them accountable for poisoning the climate debate and
blocking much-needed environmental regulations. An example of an expose is Koch
Industries: Secretly Funding Climate Denial

The social media giants latest data centre, in Lule, Sweden is powered by
locally generated hydro-electric energy. Not only is it 100% renewable, but the
supply is also so reliable that the social networking site has been able to reduce the
number of backup generators required at the site by more than 70%. The company
will also be completing its wind power data center in Iowa, US, this summer and
expects to begin serving user traffic in 2014.

3
Billionaire oilman David Koch likes to joke that Koch Industries is the
biggest company youve never heard of. But the nearly $50 million that David Koch
and his brother Charles have quietly funneled to climate-denial front groups that are
working to delay policies and regulations aimed at stopping global warming is no
joking matter.
Koch Industries: Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine, exposes the
Kochs web of dirty money and influence.

Facebook

DHL

Deutsche Post DHL has switched to electric vehicles for its delivery services
in Bonn and the surrounding region this summer, making the city the first location in
Germany with a carbon-free vehicle concept. The pilot project sees about 141
electric vehicles on the road by 2016, resulting in decreased CO2 emissions of over
500 tons per year.

In March 2011, DHL rolled out a fleet of 30 electric and 50 hybrid delivery
trucks to serve Manhattan, New York. By 2020 DHL aims to generate 30% less

CO2 for every letter and parcel sent, every container shipped and every square
meter of warehouse space used.

Summary

Climate change is a change in the usual weather found in a place. This

could be a change in how much rain a place usually gets in a year or is could be a
change in a place/s usual temperature for a month or season. Climate change is also
a change in earths climate. This could be a change in Earths usual temperature or
it could be a chance in where rain and snow usually fall on earth. Global Warming is
the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature of the
Earths surface and atmosphere. The planet is warming, from North Pole to South
Pole, and everywhere in between. An overwhelming scientific consensus maintains
that climate change is due primarily to the human use of fossil fuels, which releases
carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air.

Alarming impacts of climate change include acceleration on sea level rise

and increased coastal flooding, longer and more damaging wildlife seasons, more
frequent and intense heat waves, widespread forest death, costly and growing
health impacts, increase in extreme weather events, heavier precipitation and
flooding, more severe droughts in some areas, growing risks to our electricity
supply, disruptions to food supplies and plant and animal range shifts

An Inconvenient Truth is a passionate and inspirational loon at former Vice

President Al Gores fervent crusade to halt global warmings deadly progress by
exposing the myths and misconceptions that surround it. It became one of the most
successful documentaries in raising international public awareness of global
warming, which dramatically increased the coverage of climate change by media.

The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that promotes

international co-operation. It maintains international peace and security, promote
sustainable development, protect human rights, uphold international law, and
deliver humanitarian aid. It is also concerned with the increasing effects of climate
change to our plant. Along the years, it has continuously developed various
programs and held various conferences in order to raise awareness regarding the
climate issue and hopefully, gain cooperation among its members in addressing our
worlds problem.

Within the United Nations system and serving as an authoritative advocate

for global environment is the United Nations Environment Programme, otherwise
known as UNEP. It is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global
environmental agenda and promotes the coherent implementation of the
environmental dimension of sustainable development. Its goals include adaptation t
climate change, mitigating climate change, reducing emissions from deforestation
(REDD+), and knowledge and communication.

One treaty led by the United Nations pursuant to the issue of climate
change is the Kyoto Protocol. It is an international treaty which commits its parties
by setting international binding emission reduction targets and has also recognized
that the developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of
GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial
activity. It is seen as an important first step towards a truly global emission reduction
regime that will stabilize GHG emissions, and can provide the architecture for the
future international agreement on climate change.
The most recent conference attended by various countries with regards to
the issue of climate change is the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) in December
2015.During the said conference, 195 countries agreed to partake on a global
climate deal that will require deeper emissions reduction commitments from all
countries- developed and developing. This agreement hold countries responsible to
their commitments and mobilize greater investments to assist developing countries
in building low-carbon, climate-resilient economies.

Accordingly, there are three reasons why the nations are making such
commitments namely the demand from their citizens, increase in the understanding
that clean air is vital to a healthy economy and that as technology advances, the
economics of clean energy have improved dramatically. In this conference, the
governments agreed on reducing emissions, cooperation in transparency and
global stocktake, strengthening adaptation and averting, minimizing, and
addressing Loss and damage

Under the Paris conference, the Intended Nationally Determined

Contribution (INDC) reflects countrys ambition to the reduction of greenhouse
gases. The primary goal of the Paris summit is to lower emissions down to preindustrial levels. Unlike in the Kyoto Protocol, in the Paris summit, countries are
given freedom to determine their own contribution, but must present a transparent
report on their progress every 5 years.

On October 1, 2015, Vice Chairperson and Commissioner of the Climate

Change Commission of the Philippines, Secretary Mary Ann L. Sering submitted the

Philippine INDC. Mitigation of emissions by the Philippines shall come from energy,
transport, forestry, and industry sectors.

Philippines has various laws that support the movement against climate
change, specifically, global warming. An example of this is R.A. No. 10121 other
known as PDRRM ACT of 2010. Philippine policies on climate change are mostly on
adaptation given its status as a low-emitter. The Philippines also integrates climate
change adaptation and disaster risk reduction into all plans and programs.

ride a bike in order to avoid carbon emissions completely. Carpooling and public
transportation drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions by spreading them out
over many riders. If you are driving, speeding and unnecessary acceleration only
waste gas and money, and increase your carbon footprint. Also, combine errands to
make fewer trips.

Other effective ways to reduce your carbon foot print are reusing and
recycling, turning off lights and other appliances not being used, unplugging
electronic devices, replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent or
LED ones -- they use only 25% as much electricity to give the same light and they
last ten times longer, and by adopting renewable energy sources solar panels.

Our Responsibilities

Sequester Carbon Dioxide

Climate change is a global concern and the biggest environmental

challenge that our generation and the next will have to face. We should all
participate on decreasing the factors that contribute to it and the best way to start is
to help raise awareness among our family and community on how we can make a
change in our everyday environment and live with a more sustainable lifestyle.

Deforestation by means of cutting down and burning these tropical

rainforests usually pave the way for agriculture and industry which often produce
even more CO2. Rainforests every year help to absorb almost 20% of man-made
CO2 emissions therefore deforestation can be classed as a major contributor to the
causes of climate change. The increased destruction of the rainforest forming a
precious cooling band around the Earth's equator, is recognized as one of the main
causes of climate change.

The most important and key factor causing global warming over the past 50
years is the increased build up and concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our
atmosphere. Reducing global carbon emissions is the only way to prevent global
warming.

Reduce Your Carbon footprint

Carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air
because of our energy needs. Our choice of transportation, electricity, food, clothing,
and other goods can make a huge impact in reducing our carbon footprint.

We can reduce carbon emissions through improving energy efficiency,

conserving usage, and adopting renewable energy sources. When possible, walk or

Scientific studies show that planting trees in forests in the tropical belt
around the equator benefit the planet most. They absorb CO2, in a process called
carbon sequestering, which helps lower temperatures. Trees use sunlight to absorb
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it as carbon
in the form of wood and emit pure oxygen. One of the practical ways to combat
climate change is to plant more trees in order to take more carbon out of the
atmosphere.

I.

Ecosystem
The term ecosystem (a contraction of ecological system) is generally understood as

Biodiversity allows us to live healthy and happy lives. It provides us with an array of
foods and materials and it contributes to the economy. Without a diversity of

to the entire assemblage of organisms (plant, animal and other living beingsalso referred to as

pollinators, plants, and soils, our supermarkets would have a lot less produce.

a biotic community or biocoenosis) living together in a certain space with their environment (or
biotope), functioning as a loose unit. Together, these components and their interactions with and

Most medical discoveries to cure diseases and lengthen life spans were made

relationships to each other form a dynamic and complex new whole, functioning as an

because of research into plant and animal biology and genetics. Every time a species

"ecological unit", with additional characteristics that can't be found in the individual

goes extinct or genetic diversity is lost, we will never know whether research would

components. Nor could any organism live completely on its own without involving any other

have given us a new vaccine or drug.

species of organism.

Biodiversity is an important part of ecological services that make life livable on Earth.

There are no conceptual restrictions on how large or small a space or an area must be

They include everything from cleaning water and absorbing chemicals, which

to host an ecosystem, nor on the minimum numbers species or individual organisms to be

wetlands do, to providing oxygen for us to breatheone of the many things that plants

present. (Ecosystems.ws, n.d.)

do for people.

Biodiversity:

floods. If a reptile species goes extinct, a forest with 20 other reptiles is likely to adapt

Biodiversity is the variety of life. It can be studied on many levels. At the highest

better than another forest with only one reptile.

level, you can look at all the different species on the entire Earth. On a much smaller scale, you
can study biodiversity within a pond ecosystem or a neighborhood park. Identifying and
understanding the relationships between all the life on Earth are some of the greatest challenges

Species member of different species in a certain area

Genetic variation between individuals of a single species, between different

groups of the same species & different version of same group

Agricultural - is a broad term that includes all components of biological diversity of

Genetic diversity prevents diseases and helps species adjust to changes in their
environment.

in science. (Wildlife.org, n.d.)

Kinds of Biodiversity

Biodiversity allows for ecosystems to adjust to disturbances like extreme fires and

Simply for the wonder of it all. There are few things as beautiful and inspiring as the
diversity of life that exists on Earth. (National Wildlife Federation, n.d.)

Issues | Threats

Habitat loss/ degradation

Over exploitation (such as overfishing)

Spread of Non-native Species/ Diseases

Importance of Biodiversity

Climate change

Biodiversity is extremely important to people and the health of ecosystems. Why?

Pollution (National Wildlife Federation, n.d.)

relevance to food and agriculture, and all components of biological diversity that
constitute the agricultural ecosystems, also named agro-ecosystems: the variety
and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms, at the genetic, species and
ecosystem levels, which are necessary to sustain key functions of the agroecosystem, its structure and processes

All of these threats have put a serious strain on the diversity of species on Earth. According to

B+Wiser Program

the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), globally about one third of all known
GOAL

species are threatened with extinction. That includes 29% of all amphibians, 21% of all
mammals and 12% of all birds. If we do not stop the threats to biodiversity, we could be facing

Contribute to improving natural and environmental resource management and

another mass extinction with dire consequences to the environment and human health and

reducing risks from disasters in the Philippines.

livelihood. (National Wildlife Federation, n.d.)

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Efforts to protect the Ecosystem (International)
o

The B+WISER Program aims to:

Convention on Biodiversity
1)

Conserve biodiversity in forest areas; 2) Reduce forest degradation in targeted priority

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) convened the Ad Hoc Working

watersheds; 3) Build capacity to conserve biodiversity, manage forests, and support low

Group of Experts on Biological Diversity in November 1988 to explore the need for an.

emissions development; and, 4) Contribute to disaster risk reduction at the subnational level.

international convention on biological diversity. Soon after, in May 1989, it established the Ad

(USaid.gov, n.d.)

Hoc Working Group of Technical and Legal Experts to prepare an international legal instrument
for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The experts were to take into
account "the need to share costs and benefits between developed and developing countries" as
well as "ways and means to support innovation by local people".
The Convention on Biological Diversity was inspired by the world community's growing
commitment to sustainable development. It represents a dramatic step forward in the
conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and
equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. (Convention on
Biological Diversity, n.d.)
Efforts to Protect the Ecosystem (Philippines)
Ecological Society of the Philippines (ESP)
The Society was founded in 1979 under its original name, UESP (Underwater
Ecological Society of the Philippines), it was duly registered with the Philippine Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC). The name was amended and changed to the Ecological Society
of the Philippines (ESP) in October 1983. It is a non-stock, non-profit, non-governmental
organization.
ESP was formed to provide a formal institutional organization that would cooperate
and collaborate with both private and public sectors of Philippine Society; for the institution,
sponsorship, assistance and financing of action programs, studies, and research pertaining to
the conservation, enchantment, and protection for mankind of nature in all its forms, and
thenatural environment, including fauna, flora, landscape, water, soil, forest, and other natural
resources. (Ecological Society of the Philippines, n.d.)

II
Turtles

The large body cavity also enables the female turtles to produce and hold a large
volume of eggs. Female sea turtles are also capable of storing live sperm for several years,
although fertility decreases over time. This enables the female to fertilize numerous clutches of
eggs without having to mate.

A.

In addition to using their lungs for breathing, turtles have developed supplemental

Information about Turtles

forma of respiration. Some aquatic turtle species bring water in through their nasal passages
and into their mouths and throat where oxygen is extracted by the pharynx. This is done through
Turtles are reptiles, a class of vertebrate animals that has survived for more than 200

the pharyngeal lining which acts as a gill. Some turtles take water into their anal opening where

million years, through stable periods and times of extreme environmental change. Reptiles

two sacs are filled and emptied with water, causing a slow current which enables oxygen to be

evolved from amphibians, an even earlier class of vertebrates that lives on both land and in

collected. One fresh water turtle in Australia has cloacal gills for respiration. Turtles are also

fresh water. Over time, the reptiles came to dominate the Earth; on land, in fresh water and the

capable of containing larger concentrations of carbon dioxide in their blood than most other air-

seas, and in the air. But it was early in the history of reptiles that turtles, members of the order

breathing animals, therefore, they are able to use their oxygen supply very efficiently over a long

Chelonia split from the main line of reptilian evolution.

period of time. Both blood and muscle tissue can store oxygen in large quantities, helping the
turtle to remain underwater for long periods of time.

The origin of chelonians is uncertain, but recognizable turtles are known as far back
as the Triassic period, at least 180 million years ago when dinosaurs were becoming the

Another aspect of the turtle respiration is the need for exterior flexibility. The hinged

dominant land animals. Although the Triassic turtles did not look very much different from some

plastron allows for some contraction and expansion of the chest cavity. In the case of sea turtles,

modern ones, closer examination would have revealed some characteristics absent from turtles

breathing becomes more difficult when the females come ashore.

living today. For example, some of the earliest known turtles had teeth rather than sharp edged
jaws. Much later, towards the end of the Cretaceous period over 65 million years ago, turtles as

They drag their bodies from the sea onto the beach to lay their eggs in the sand. The

large as the 3 meter (9 feet 10 inches) Archelonischyros lived in the shallow sea that covered

hundreds of pounds of body weight against the sand makes breathing more difficult than in the

much of what is now the western United States.

water.

Turtles are reptiles, a class of about 6,000 vertebrate species that have scaly skin,

a.

Turtles vs. Tortoise

breathe air and use sunlight to heat their bodies (ectotherms). Like all reptiles, turtles reproduce
through internal fertilization and, like most reptiles, lay their soft-shelled eggs on land.
One unique feature of the turtle is its shell. This protective skeletal structure is an
armored enclosure for the soft vital internal organs. The upper part of the shell, called the
carapace, is covered with large scale-like structures known as scutes. The carapace is
connected to the underside, called the plastron, by hard-shelled plates known as lateral
bridges.
The large-sized body cavity of turtles, especially sea turtles, contains bulky intestines
needed for digesting vegetation and small sea creatures. The green sea turtle, which is primarily
vegetarian, has a unique feature in its digestive system. A specialized part of its digestive tube
contains bacterial symbionts which aid in digesting cellulose. Only a few other reptiles are
primarily vegetarian.

Turtles
-reptiles from the order of Testudines
-A Turtle is a reptile from the Chelonian family and dwells well in

Tortoise
- reptiles from the order of Te
-A Tortoise is a reptile from th

the water.
-Africa, America.

on land.
-Found mostly in Asia and Africa but some species exist in

-Mostly flat, streamlined shells.

Americas too.
-Mostly large dome shaped shells (with bumps on the top in

-Generally light-weight shell.

-Webbed feet with long claws.
-Turtle hatchlings stay in their nest on their own for 90-120 days.

some species).
c. Different Species of Turtles in the Philippines
- The shells are heavier.
1. Sea
-Feet are short and sturdy with bent
legs.Turtles
-Tortoise hatchlings move from their nest to the mothers burrow

-20-40 years. The oldest was 86 years.

soon after birth.

-80-150 years. The longest living Tortoise is 326 years.

Given that
the

nation

is

an

archipelago, with over

22,000

miles

of

coastline -- the tenth

longest

among

all

countries -- it is no
surprise that five sea
b. Fun facts about Turtles

turtle species inhabit

the ocean surrounding

A group of turtles is called a bale. Historically, turtles have been the symbols of

the

patience and wisdom. In the Hawaiian the word honu means sea turtles and represents long

Philippines.

Loggerhead (Carettacaretta) and green sea turtles (Cheloniamydas) are both listed as

life.
Turtles have been alive for more than 200 million years. They have been alive longer
than mammals, birds, crocodiles, snakes and lizards.
The earliest turtles had teeth and they could not pull their heads into their shells, but
other than that they were very similar to the turtles that are alive today.
Some people believe that the turtles shell is what has allowed them to successfully

endangered species by the IUCN redlist, while the even more imperiled hawksbill
(Eretmochelysimbricatta) and leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelyscoriacea) are listed as
critically endangered. Olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelysolivacea) are the most abundant sea
turtle species in the world. Accordingly, they are only designated as vulnerable by the IUCN redlist.

survive for so long.

The shell of a turtle is made up of 60 different bones all connected together. These
bony parts of the shell are covered with plates that make the shell stronger.
The turtles shell also has nerve endings in it. If you touch the shell, a turtle can feel it.
Turtles pull their heads and feet into their shells to protect themselves. Some Box turtles can
eat so much that they no longer will fit into their shell.
Female turtles mate with several males in the ocean and store the sperm inside them,
so a single nest may hold babies from different fathers. Only one out of one thousand sea
turtles survive after hatching. Baby sea turtles circle their nest once after hatching before
heading toward the ocean.
Once a male sea turtle hatches and enters the ocean, it will probably not step on land
again. A female turtle laying eggs will dig several empty nests to throw off predators trying to
eat the eggs.
Most turtle species have five toes on each limb with a few exceptions including the
American Box Turtle of the Carolina species that only has four toes, and in some cases, only
three. Turtles have good eyesight and an excellent sense of smell. Hearing and their sense of
touch are both good.

1. Freshwater Turtles

Contrasting strikingly with the Asian mainland, which holds great freshwater turtle

nutrient content of seagrass blades. Without constant grazing, seagrass beds become

diversity, the Philippines are home to only six freshwater and terrestrial turtle species.

overgrown and obstruct currents, shade the bottom, begin to decompose and provide suitable

Malayan softshell turtles (Doganiasubplana) are a common, leathery-shelled species, but the

habitat for the growth of slime molds. Older portions of seagrass beds tend to be overgrown with

related Asian giant softshell turtles (Pelochelyscantorii), which reach up to 6 feet in length, are

microorganisms, algae, invertebrates and fungi.

endangered. Malayan box turtles (Cuoraamboinensis) are a semi-aquatic species equipped

with a hinge on their plastrons, allowing them to close their shells tightly once they pull their

Sea turtles forage on seagrass just a few centimeters from the bottom of the blades,

heads and limbs inside. Spiny hill turtles (Heosemysspinosa) are a medium-sized, primarily

allowing older, upper portions of the blades to float away. As the turtles crop and re-crop the

herbivorous species that spend time on the land and in small creeks, streams and ponds.

same plot, seagrass blades are removed from the area rather than accumulating on the bottom.

Scientists have only been able to examine a handful of the very rare Philippine pond turtles

This results in a 15-fold decrease in the supply of nitrogen to seagrass roots, which impacts

(Siebenrockiellaleytensis); most details of this critically endangered species biology are a

plant species, nutrient cycling, animal densities and predator-prey relations.

mystery. Scientists

debate

the

classification

and

taxonomy

of

Asian

leaf

turtles

(Cyclemysdentata); though considered a single species by some authorities, others consider the

If turtles were to ever go extinct, seagrasses would eventually die off and this would in
turn affect the marine life and eventually human life as well.

species to form a complex of up to five different species.

Leatherback Turtles and Jellyfish

B.

Importance of Turtles

Leatherback turtles, which forage

Turtles are important as scavengers, herbivores, carnivores and often contribute

in the open ocean throughout their life, are

significant biomass to the ecosystems. They play an important role in ocean ecosystems by

the top predators of oceanic jellyfish. These

maintaining healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs, providing key habitat for other marine life,

jellyfish, in turn, eat larval fish. As the

helping to balance marine food webs and facilitating nutrient cycling from water to land.

numbers of leatherbacks in the ocean

decrease, jellyfish numbers may increase

Green Turtles and Sea Grass Beds

locally and eat more larval fish, leaving

Green

turtles

feed

on

seagrasses and seaweeds that grow

on the ocean floor. These seagrasses
are home to other marine life such as

fewer fish to grow into adults. A wide variety

of marine ecosystems dependent on these
fish, and indeed commercial fisheries, may end up suffering from this cascading effect.
Hawksbill and Coral Reefs

seahorses and also serve as breeding

ground

for

fishes.

Hawksbill turtles may maintain the health of coral reef systems by grazing on

However, they must

sponges, which if left to grow unchecked, outgrow the corals, cover them up and kill the reef. By

be

to

removing sponges from reefs, hawksbills allow other species, such as coral, to colonize and

remain healthy and

grow. Because of this, researchers believe that declining numbers of hawksbill turtles may be a

this

factor in the inability of reefs to resist increasing pressures from pollution, algal overgrowth,

kept
is

short
where

the

turtles come in.

overfishing and climate change.

When
green

sea

turtles

graze, they increase

the productivity and

Loggerheads and Ocean Floor

way,

Ecosystems

turtles

Loggerheads

are

equipped with powerful jaws to feed

on hard-shelled

prey, such

as

crustaceans. This allows them to

reduce the shells of their prey into
fragments that are either discarded
on site or further away in the form

transport nutrients from

of feces. By breaking up the shells

productive

while foraging, loggerheads increase the rate at which the shells disintegrate and increase the

far-away

feeding

grounds to nutrient-poor coastal ecosystems, and play a vital part in their stability.

rate of nutrient recycling in benthic or ocean bottom ecosystems.

Sea Turtles Provide Food for Fish
Loggerheads also find prey by clearing away sand to expose their next meal. As they
glide along the sea floor in search of food, loggerheads create trails in the sediment. This

By carrying around barnacles, algae and other similar organisms known as epibionts,

foraging behavior is important for both loggerheads and the habitat. The loggerheads trails affect

sea turtles provide a food source for fish and shrimp. Other organisms, such as sheepshead

the compaction, aeration and nutrient distribution of the sediment, as well as the species

bream, 40 wrasse, 41 angelfish, and barber pole shrimp, establish cleaning stations for sea

diversity and dynamics of the benthic ecosystem. When foraging, loggerheads naturally alter the

turtles to visit. With outstretched limbs and a raised head, sea turtles expose their bodies,

ocean bottom and benefit the underwater community.

offering a meal to eager fish and shrimp. This behavior not only feeds smaller organisms, but
also benefits sea turtles by reducing drag and keeping their skin and shells clean.44 Schools of

Beaches and Beach Dunes

Beaches have a very fragile ecosystem in that they dont get many sources of
nutrients hence there is very little vegetation. Sea turtles help support this ecosystem when they
nest. Reason being, of the tens of thousands of eggs that are deposited by the turtles, not all will

fish can be seen cleaning sea turtles while they sleep or even following aggregations of sea
turtles in transit.45 some species obtain their diet strictly from epibionts found on sea turtles.
Without this food source, certain species of fish and shrimp might be forced to develop other,
less successful methods for obtaining food.

hatch. Those that do not hatch will decay and nourish the beaches. With declining turtle

All sea turtle species are also prey, providing food for other animals, both on shore

population, fewer eggs are deposited and this would result in lesser vegetation and this would

and at sea. Like many marine organisms, sea turtles are most vulnerable to predation as eggs,

cause beach erosion.

hatchlings and juveniles. Terrestrial animals such as ants, crabs, rats, raccoons, foxes, coyotes,

Marine turtles return to inshore areas for the nesting season and lay hundreds of eggs
each season. In doing so, they provide a source of nutrients that plays a vital role in coastal
dune ecosystems. Limited nutrients in dune ecosystems, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium, are partially provided to the ecosystem by unhatched sea turtle eggs. These vital
nutrients allow for the continued growth of vegetation and subsequent stabilization of beach
dunes.

feral cats, dogs, mongoose and vultures are known to dig up unhatched nests. As hatchlings
emerge from the nest, they provide another feeding opportunity for natural predators, which
includes a variety of seabirds. While most seabirds are daytime predators, species such as the
night heron actually listen for hatchlings emerging from nests. If the hatchlings make it to the
water, they face continued predation from seabirds with an aerial view of the tiny turtles as they
float near the surface. Reef fish, such as grouper and jacks, are also common predators of both
hatchlings and juvenile sea turtles. Clearly, hatchlings provide a significant source of protein for

The eggs and hatchlings provide food for many predators, and the empty shells and
eggs that don't hatch provide nutrients that can be recycled by invertebrates and microorganisms. In turn, these nutrients are used by plants, which help stabilise dune structure. In this

near shore predatory fish.

Sea Turtles Provide Habitat

Many marine organisms rely on sea turtles as a place to call home. These small
creatures called epibionts attach themselves to solid surfaces in the ocean such as floating
debris and sea turtle shells.
Compared to floating debris, sea turtles provide increased survival rates, enhanced
foraging and wider dispersal for attached epibionts. For example, Columbus crabs found on

Specie
Leatherback
Green
Loggerhead
Hawksbill
Olive Ridley
Kemp's Ridley
Flatback

Status
Vulnerable
Endangered
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Vulnerable
Critically Endangered
Data Deficient

loggerheads tend to be larger in size and have higher proportions of female crabs with brooding
eggs than those attached to debris. Furthermore, Columbus crabs found on loggerheads are
more successful foragers with a diverse diet, while crabs found on debris mainly consume algae.
Columbus crabs feed on other epibionts found on loggerhead shells, particles from the

The threats that turtles face include bycatch, illegal trade and direct consumption,
marine debris, ocean pollution, habitat loss, and climate change.

loggerheads captured prey and the shedding skin and feces of loggerheads. Sea turtles clearly
provide numerous benefits to the epibionts they host. Sea turtles also help to structure their
marine habitats through the dispersal of epibionts. Organisms such as plants and crustaceans

By catch

are transported to and from reefs, seagrass beds and the open ocean.
Wherever there is fishing, there is bycatch the incidental capture of non-target
In the open ocean, miles from shore, sea turtles offer an oasis to fish and seabirds.

species such as dolphins, marine turtles and seabirds. Approximately 40% of all animals caught

Similar to floating debris, sea turtles can be used as a place to rest, a foraging ground and even

in fisheries are discarded as trash. Marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, and other species

a safe haven from potential predators. Of all the sea turtle species, olive ridleys are most

are caught and discarded, usually dead. For those animals that are caught and released injured

frequently associated with seabirds, particularly in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. As they surface

but still alive, their fate after being released is unknown.

to bask in the sun, olive ridleys expose the center of their shell and create a platform for
seabirds to perch. Some seabirds take advantage of this opportunity to roost if their feathers are
not extremely water-resistant. By perching on sea turtles, seabirds that would otherwise be
vulnerable to attack, find refuge from sharks. Small baitfish also use sea turtles for protection, by
forming tight schools beneath the turtles body. These schools of fish then provide a food source
for resting seabirds. Some seabirds occasionally feed on epibionts inhabiting the sea turtles
shell. By offering a location to roost, feast and hide, sea turtles represent an important resource
for birds and fish at sea.
Conclusion
Sea turtles clearly play important roles in marine ecosystems. Each sea turtle species
uniquely affects the diversity, habitat and functionality of its environment. Whether by grazing on
seagrass, controlling sponge distribution, feasting on jellyfish, transporting nutrients or
supporting other marine life, sea turtles play vital roles in maintaining the health of the oceans.

Trawls, longlines, driftnets, gillnets, pots, and traps are all responsible for the death of
marine creatures by incidental capture or entanglement. Longlines, containing thousands of
baited hooks on lines that can be tens of miles long, hook and entangle many animals and fish
that aren't intended to be caught. Sea turtles, particularly greens, loggerheads, olive ridleys,
and leatherbacks, and seabirds like albatross, are attracted to the bait and get caught on the
hooks or become entangled in the lines and drown. Trawls are also particularly destructive and
are estimated to catch 20 pounds of bycatch for every pound of target species. Turtle Excluder
Devices have reduced sea turtle mortality in trawl fisheries but are not regulated worldwide.
Recently in the Philippines, an injured Pawikan believed to be an Olive Ridley was
found with injuries along the shore of Barangay Bucana, Davao City last March 6, 2016.
According to Barangay Captain Rolando Trahera, the Pawikan was said to be trapped in the
fishnet of the local fisher folks and its flipper was wounded in the process of setting it free. They
immediately brought the Pawikan to the Cleanergy Park. Based on the result of the physical
examination, the Pawikan needs to be temporarily kept in the Cleanergy Park until its flipper

C.

Threats to Turtles

self-heals with proper medication as prescribed by the veterinarian, and food intake. Once the
Pawikan fully recuperates, it will be released to the sea where it belongs.

Worldwide, out of the seven sea turtle species, a majority is endangered. The ICN
Red List of Threatened Species classified the worlds seven sea turtle species as follows:

Illegal Trade and Direct Consumption

Sea turtles continue to be harvested unsustainably both for human consumption and

Degradation of sea turtle habitat from pollution also poses a threat and can occur over

trade of their parts. Turtle meat and eggs are a source of food and income for many people

large areas. Sea turtle habitat overlaps with areas most likely to be affected by offshore oil

around the world. Their shells and skins are also used to make a variety of objects like jewelry,

exploration and production. Petroleum pollution occurs from intentional discharge from vessels,

sunglasses, tourist trinkets, instruments, and wall hangings. Some also kill turtles for medicine

vessel groundings, offshore oil exploration and production, transport of oil products, spills, and

and religious ceremonies. Tens of thousands of sea turtles are lost this way every year,

runoff of oil from land based sources.

devastating populations of already endangered greens and hawksbills.

Oil from spills far offshore concentrate along convergence zones (where currents
Killing of turtles for both domestic and international markets continues as well. While

meet) which is are important areas for young turtle development. Oil from spills offshore also

international trade in all sea turtle species and their parts is prohibited under the Convention on

washes up on beaches where it degrades nesting habitat, and can impact nests, nesting

International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), illegal trafficking

females, and hatchlings making their way to the water.

persists.
Sea turtles are also affected by ingesting food contaminated by oil or tar balls. Tar
Illegal trafficking is also present here in the Philippines. On May 27, 2015, a bid to
smuggle fourteen pawikan (sea turtles) worth some P450,000 was foiled when the Philippine

balls form when crude oil floating in the water degrades. A large percentage of dead hatchlings
whose stomach contents have been examined have ingested tar balls.

Coast Guard and Philippine Navy intercepted the shipment in Palawan. Initial information
showed the pawikan were "stuffed with formalin for preservation," and placed in rice sacks and
abandoned along the shoreline of Green Island. The turtles were turned over to Palawan Council
for Sustainable Development for proper disposition.

Habitat Loss
Sea turtles are dependent on beaches for nesting. Uncontrolled coastal development,
vehicle traffic on beaches and other human activities have directly destroyed or disturbed sea

Marine Debris

turtle nesting beaches around the world. Turtle feeding grounds such as coral reefs and sea
grass beds are damaged and destroyed by activities onshore, including sedimentation from

Marine debris is manmade waste that is directly or indirectly disposed of in oceans,

clearing of land and nutrient run-off from agriculture. Seawall construction creates impenetrable

rivers, and other waterways. It is a continuing problem for sea turtles. Sea turtles living in the

barriers to nesting females and causes unnatural erosion of beaches.

pelagic (open ocean) environment commonly ingest or become entangled in marine debris (e.g.,

watercraft are responsible for large numbers of sea turtle injuries and deaths. As coastal

Boats and personal

tar balls, plastic bags, plastic pellets, balloons, and ghost fishing gear) as they feed along

populations increase, boating activities increase and collisions with sea turtles that must surface

oceanographic fronts, where debris and their natural food items converge.

to breathe are inevitable.

In the Philippines, it was reported on March 20, 2016 that a dead pawikan or sea turtle

Ocean Pollution
Sea turtles are vulnerable to ocean pollution at all stages of life, from eggs to
hatchlings to juveniles to adults. Pollutants include things like toxic metals, petroleum products,
and agricultural and industrial runoff of contaminants such as fertilizers, chemicals, nutrients,
and untreated waste. Pollutants may cause immediate harm to sea turtles through direct contact

was found dead at the shorelines of Tayasan, Negros Oriental, by a bantaydagat who is
assigned to monitor the seashore of the municipality. At the shoreline, it was found out that the
dead female turtle has wounds in her left front flippers, possibly hit by a pumpboat. It measured
33.5 inches long, and 21 inches in width weighing 15 kilograms more or less. After gathering all
the data, the dead turtle was buried near the shoreline in PoblacionTayasan.

or can build up in tissues over time and lead to immunosuppression resulting in disease and
death.
Climate Change
Sea level rise from the melting of polar ice is already contributing to the loss of beach
and sea turtle nesting habitat. Weather extremes, also linked to climate change, mean more

frequent and severe storms which alter nesting beaches, cause beach erosion, and inundate, or
flood sea turtle nests.

The Task Force Pawikan and its council had been funded for P2,000,000 in order to
achieve and sustain its objectives. Its council was composed of the following representatives:
Ministry of Natural Resources, National Economic and Development Authority, Office of the

Unusually warm temperatures caused by climate change are disrupting the normal
ratios, resulting in fewer male hatchlings.

Regional Coordinator, Southwestern Mindanao Region, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry

of Trade, Ministry of Cultural Minorities, Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, Ministry of

Sea turtles use ocean currents to travel and find prey. Warming ocean temperatures
influence migratory species by altering currents and impacting the distribution and abundance of
prey species. This can result in southerly species being found in more northerly regions, well
outside of their normal range. Warmer water temperatures also affect coral reefs through coral
bleaching which are vital to the survival of species like the hawksbill.

III

Agriculture, Ministry of Public Information, National Media Production Center, University of the
Philippines, Philippine Council for Agriculture Resources Research & Development, Ministry of
Human Settlements, and Forest Research Institute. Moreover, in this law, six years from its
approval date the Council would turn over the project (including its activities and resources) to
the government agency they had deemed appropriate.

b.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9147

Laws
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE
RESOURCES AND THEIR HABITATS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
A.

Philippines Laws

a.

Executive Order 542: Creating The Task Force Pawikan And Appropriating Funds

OTHER PURPOSES
It shall be the policy of the State to conserve the country's wildlife resources and their
habitats for sustainability. In the pursuit of this policy, this Act shall have the following objectives:

Therefor
Enforced on June 26, 1979 by late Ferdinand E. Marcos, Executive Order 542 was
created in order to ensure the survival and development of certain marine species (i.e. marine
turtles) that were in a verge of total depletion. Collective efforts of various concerned agencies
were not able to overcome the overexploitation. In order to reach the balance between
sustaining marine turtles and maintaining the livelihood of Filipinos (i.e. Muslims and seafaring
tribes), Task Force Pawikan was created.
Task Force Pawikan was created in order to:

1.
2.

Enforce and regulate rules in relation to marine turtles

Conduct field investigations relevant to formulation of updated policies for the

3.
4.

economic usage of the species

Promote responsiveness and awareness in order to conserve marine turtles
Form socioeconomic surveys as a basis for formulation of professions wherein these

5.
6.

people can help with the pressure of depletion of these marine turtles
Coordinate with international agencies that works to preserve these species
Manage marine turtle sanctuaries for the absolute protection of the species

(a) To conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitats to promote ecological
balance and enhance biological diversity;
(b) To regulate the collection and trade of wildlife;
(c) To pursue, with due regard to the national interest, the Philippine commitment to
international conventions, protection of wildlife and their habitats; and
(d) To initiate or support scientific studies on the conservation of biological diversity.
This Act shall also apply to exotic species which are subject to trade, are cultured,
maintained and/or bred in captivity or propagated in the country.
There is no specific law that covers the protection of all marine wildlife. RA 9147 or the
Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act cover the protection of all the wildlife
resources of our country, especially the threatened and exotic species. RA 8550 or the Philippine
Fisheries Code mandates the protection of threatened and rare species

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall have

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and

jurisdiction over all terrestrial plant and animal species, all turtles and tortoises and wetland

Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international

species, including but not limited to crocodiles, waterbirds and all amphibians and dugong. The

trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Department of Agriculture (DA) shall have jurisdiction over all declared aquatic critical habitats,
all aquatic resources including but not limited to all fishes, aquatic plants, invertebrates and all

Widespread information nowadays about the endangered status of many prominent

marine mammals, except dugong. The secretaries of the DENR and the DA shall review, and by

species, such as the tiger and elephants, might make the need for such a convention seem

joint administrative order, revise and regularly update the list of species under their respective

obvious. But at the time when the ideas for CITES were first formed, in the 1960s, international

jurisdiction.

discussion of the regulation of wildlife trade for conservation purposes was something relatively
new. With hindsight, the need for CITES is clear. Annually, international wildlife trade is

c.

RA 8550

estimated to be worth billions of dollars and to include hundreds of millions of plant and animal
specimens. The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals and plants to a vast array of wildlife

Protection of Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species.

The Department shall declare closed seasons and take conservation and
rehabilitation measures for rare, threatened and endangered species, as it may determine, and
shall ban the fishing and/or taking of rare, threatened and/or endangered species, including their
eggs/offspring as identified by existing laws in concurrence with concerned government
agencies.

products derived from them, including food products, exotic leather goods, wooden musical
instruments, timber, tourist curios and medicines. Levels of exploitation of some animal and
plant species are high and the trade in them, together with other factors, such as habitat loss, is
capable of heavily depleting their populations and even bringing some species close to
extinction. Many wildlife species in trade are not endangered, but the existence of an agreement
to ensure the sustainability of the trade is important in order to safeguard these resources for the
future.

Fishing or Taking of Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species.

It shall be unlawful to fish or take rare, threatened or endangered species as listed in
the CITES and as determined by the Department.

Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort
to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from overexploitation. CITES was conceived in the spirit of such cooperation. Today, it accords varying
degrees of protection to more than 35,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are
traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.
CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of
IUCN (The World Conservation Union). The text of the Convention was finally agreed at a
meeting of representatives of 80 countries in Washington, D.C., the United States of America, on

B.

International Law

3 March 1973, and on 1 July 1975 CITES entered in force. The original of the Convention was
deposited with the Depositary Government in the Chinese, English, French, Russian and
Spanish languages, each version being equally authentic.

International Laws on Protection of Sea Turtles

CITES is an international agreement to which States (countries) adhere voluntarily. States
There are international laws and agreements that protect endangered wildlife, including sea

that have agreed to be bound by the Convention ('joined' CITES) are known as Parties. Although

turtles. Primarily, the foremost treaty that ensures protection of endangered species is the

CITES is legally binding on the Parties in other words they have to implement the Convention

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

it does not take the place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected by

CITES

each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented
at the national level.

For many years CITES has been among the conservation agreements with the largest
membership, with now 181 Parties.

CMS

It is proposed that a UDAW be adopted by the United Nations. If endorsed by the UN (as
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was) the UDAW would be a non-binding set of
As an environmental treaty under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Program,

principles that acknowledges the importance of the sentience of animals and human

CMS provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals

responsibilities towards them. The principles were designed to encourage and enable national

and their habitats. CMS brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the

governments to introduce and improve animal protection legislation and initiatives.

Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation
measures throughout a migratory range.

It has been argued that a UDAW is consistent with, and could help secure the achievement
of, the UN Millennium Development Goals. and the subsequent sustainable development goals .

As the only global convention specializing in the conservation of migratory species, their

The declaration as of October 2014 has the support, in principle, of 46 countries and of

habitats and migration routes, CMS complements and co-operates with a number of other

ministries from 17 further countries. More than 2.5 million people from a wide variety of UN

international organizations, NGOs and partners in the media as well as in the corporate sector.

Member States have supported the public campaign.

Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of the Convention.
CMS Parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals, conserving or restoring the places
where they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might

Universal Declaration of on Animal Welfare

endanger them. Besides establishing obligations for each State joining the Convention, CMS
promotes concerted action among the Range States of many of these species.
Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international co-operation
are listed in Appendix II of the Convention. For this reason, the Convention encourages the
Range States to conclude global or regional agreements.
In this respect, CMS acts as a framework Convention. The agreements may range from
legally binding treaties (called Agreements) to less formal instruments, such as Memoranda of
Understanding, and can be adapted to the requirements of particular regions. The development
of models tailored according to the conservation needs throughout the migratory range is a
unique capacity to CMS.

PREAMBLE
[1] AFFIRMING that animals are sentient beings and that their welfare is an issue worthy of
consideration and respect by Member States;
[2] CONSCIOUS that humans share this planet with other species and other forms of life and
that all forms of life co-exist within an interdependent ecosystem;
[3] EMPHASIZING that animal welfare should be guided by the best available science & ethical
values;
[4] RECALLING that the five freedoms (freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition; freedom
from fear and distress; freedom from physical and thermal discomfort; freedom from pain, injury
and disease; and freedom to express normal patterns of behaviour) provide valuable general
guidance for animal welfare;
[5] CONVINCED that good practices in animal welfare can have major benefits for humans and
the environment, and that inclusion of animal welfare in policy discussions can strengthen efforts

UDAW

by governments and the United Nations on a range of issues including human and animal
health, food security, poverty & hunger reduction, disaster risk reduction & relief, environmental

The Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) is a proposed inter-governmental

sustainability and social development;

agreement to recognise that animals are sentient, to prevent cruelty and reduce suffering, and to
promote standards on the welfare of animals such as farm animals, companion animals, animals

[6] WELCOMING the FAOs integration of animal welfare into its poverty alleviation, disaster

in scientific research, draught animals, wildlife and animals in recreation.

relief and livestock development programmes, as outlined in the FAO Expert Meeting Report
Capacity building to implement good animal welfare practices (2008);

[7] RECOGNIZING that many Member States already have a system of legal protection for

- work to improve their national animal welfare legislation

animals, both domestic and wild, and that it is important to ensure the continued effectiveness of
these systems and the development of better and more comprehensive animal welfare
provisions;
[8] CONSIDERING that the promotion of animal welfare requires collective action and that all
stakeholders and affected parties must be involved;
[9] ACKNOWLEDGING that the provisions contained in this declaration do not affect the rights of
any Member State;

- introduce animal welfare legislation in countries where it does not currently exist
- encourage those businesses which use animals to keep welfare at the forefront of their
policies
- link humanitarian, development and animal welfare agendas nationally and internationally
- inspire positive change in public attitudes towards animal welfare.

[10] NOTING Resolution XIV adopted on 24 May 2007 by the International Committee of the
OIE (recognized as an international animal welfare standard-setting body) expressing support in

Article V:

principle for the development of a UDAW.

Appropriate policies, legislation and standards on the welfare of animals shall be further
Proclaims the following Universal declaration as a means of improving the welfare of
animals:

developed and elaborated on the basis of this Declaration including, but not limited to, those
governing the treatment and management of wild and companion animals, animals used in

1 The clauses in the Preamble section are numbered for ease of reference for discussion
purposes only.
Article I:

farming, scientific research or for draught and recreational purposes and those kept in captivity.
Article VI:
The policies, legislation and standards attained by each state on animal welfare shall be

Animals are sentient beings and their welfare should be respected.

Article II:

observed, recognized and promoted by improved practices and capacity-building, nationally and
internationally. Whilst there are significant social, economic and cultural differences between
societies, each should care for and treat animals in a humane and sustainable manner in
accordance with the principles of the Declaration.

For the purposes of this Declaration, animal welfare includes animal health and
encompasses both the physical and psychological state of the animal. The welfare of an animal
can be described as good or high if the individual is fit, healthy, free from suffering and in a
positive state of wellbeing.
Article III:
Sentience shall be understood to mean the capacity to have feelings, including pain and
pleasure, and implies a level of conscious awareness. Scientific research confirms that all
vertebrates are sentient animals, and indicates sentience in some invertebrates. This is an
active research area and knowledge of sentience of different species continues to grow.
Article IV:
All appropriate steps shall be taken by Member States to prevent cruelty to animals and to
reduce their suffering. This Declaration provides a basis for states and peoples to:

Article VII:
Member States are called upon to adopt all necessary measures to give effect to these
agreed principles.

IV

2.

Pawicare for Pawikan

Activities and Organizations

As part of SM Olongapos community service through the SM Cares program, Sea Turtle
hatchlings are released Zambalesevery year. Last March 22, 2015, SM was joined by the
Katimpuyog organization chaired by LaRainne A. Sarmiento with the support from former
1.

Pawikan Conservation Center

Comelec Commissioner Atty. Rene Sarmiento, parochial priest Rev. Fr. Roque Villanueva,
Municipal Councilors, Barangay Officials and Pawikan Rangers.

The Pawikan Conservation Center is a protected area in Nagbalayong, Morong, Bataan

where pawikans (marine turtles) are able to lay their eggs away from threats of poaching, egg
gathering, slaughter, illegal fishing, and pollution.
According to Katimpuyog Chair Sarmiento, eggs in the past

The Center began in 1999 as a community-

were hunted to be sold in the public market. But now with the

based program initiated by a local organization

presence of volunteers, poaching has ended. These

called BantayPawikan, Inc. to save the pawikan

from extinction. The center's volunteers consist
mostly of former poachers and egg collectors
who have turned to pawikan conservation
advocacy. With the help of the United Nations
Development Program's Global Environment
Facility Small Grants Program and the provincial
chapter of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction
Movement, more communities and neighboring
towns adopted the conservation effort.
Between September and January, pawikans return to the coasts of Bagac and Morong,
known nesting grounds of three out of five species of pawikans in the country. The volunteers
collect and transfer the eggs to a hatchery for incubation. During the nesting season, many
visitors gather at the Center to watch the pawikans come ashore in the evening and lay their
eggs.

Adopt a Turtle

The Center also offers visitors a chance to interact with the pawikans personally, albeit for a

volunteer fisher folks a.k.a. La Paz Rangers organized the town-based PawiCare, a pawikan
(sea turtle) protection and conservation program that involve a thorough sea turtle watch by the
rangers.

short period of time, with its Adopt-a-turtle program. For a fee of P200, a visitor can hold and
release a newly hatched turtle into the sea. The baby pawikans are released either early in the

Pawikan is on the list of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered

morning or late in the afternoon in order to spare them from stress due to the sun's heat. A t-shirt

Species(CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora, having become endangered because of poaching,

is also given as proof of participation in the program.

slaughter, blast fishing, illegal trade and pollution.

The Pawicare program aims to help conserve and protect the marine species and thereby
help maintain the ecological balance in the fishing grounds.
V
Recommendations

As law students, what are some of many things we can do to help?

As law students, what are some of the ways we can contribute to the protection of not
only the Turtles, but the whole environment per se?
1.

We can be effective channels of information dissemination regarding the current

2.

advocacies with the goal of protecting the environment.

Lobby for the strengthening of the implementation of the Laws concerning the
protection, preservation, and rehabilitation of the environment; and for heavier
sanctions or penalties to those who shall violate such laws, for the further betterment

3.

of the environment and upholding of maximum sustainability of our country.

As future lawyers, we can raise awareness to the populace regarding our right as
human beings to the environment, and as to how all of us must contribute in the
preservation and rehabilitation of the environment, so as to the betterment of the lives
of other creatures like us in this world.

DEFINITION AND HISTORY

namely their wife and their children. Under these laws, the head of the household has the lives
of his children and wives were at his own hands. Ancient Roman Law also stated that women

Honor killing or shame killing as defined by sources is the homicide of a member of a

who were guilty of adultery could be killed by their husbands. Among the Ching dynasty in

family by other members, due to the perpetrators' belief that the victim has brought shame or

China, if a woman was believed to have dishonored her father and her husband, death can be

dishonor upon the family, or has violated the principles of a community or a religion, usually for

bestowed upon her. Among the Amerindian Aztecs and Incas, anyone who has committed

reasons such as refusing to enter an arranged marriage, being in a relationship that is

adultery can be punished by death. Also in Meditteranean Europe, honor killings were justified.

disapproved by their family, having sex outside marriage, becoming the victim of rape, dressing

According to the Honour Related Violence - European Resource Book and Good Practice (page

in ways which are deemed inappropriate, engaging in non-heterosexual relations or renouncing

234): "Honour in the Mediterranean world is a code of conduct, a way of life and an ideal of the

a faith.

social order, which defines the lives, the customs and the values of many of the peoples in the
Mediterranean moral."
Honor killings are acts committed usually against female family members by male

family members who have caused dishonor to their family. Those who have been victims of
honor killings are those who refused to enter into an arranged marriage, sexual assault, divorce
from an abusive relationship, and the like. Honor killings are performed by the mere perception
that a person has brought dishonor upon a certain family.

Although the usual victims in honor killings are women, men can also be victims of
honor killings. Also, in some cultures, honor killings constitute killing of both the man and the
woman in a marriage.

For the family members to be able to perform an honor killing, they usually meet
through a formal family council wherein they discuss how they are going to go about the killing,
when and where they will perform it and who will perform the act. The reputation of a family in a
certain community and whether or not they might lose their social status are said to be one of
the most important aspects in an honor killing. Families committing honor killings dont suffer
negative stigma for this behavior is seen to be justified.

The data on honor killings, in most countries, arent collected systematically due to the
fact that the killings are reported by the families as suicides or attacks. Murder is not the only
form of honor killings but also abduction, acid attacks, mutilations, and beating. The methods
used in honor killings include stoning, stabbing, beating, burning, beheading, hanging, throat
slashing, lethal acid attacks, shooting and strangulation and is performed usually in the public to
warn other women in that particular community of the consequences of their behaviors.

Honor killings were encouraged in Ancient Rome where male family members who did
not take actions against the female adulterers in their family were persecuted. The origin of
honor killings and the control of women are evidenced throughout history in the culture and
tradition of many regions. The Roman law of pater familias gave men control over their family

LAWS

enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of sex. The International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights states that human rights are applicable to all persons and sex is an

Introduction

impermissible distinction. However, they proved insufficient to guarantee women the enjoyment
of their internationally agreed rights. The Commission on the Status of Women was established.
It sought to define and elaborate the general guarantees of non-discrimination in these
instruments from a gender perspective. The work of CSW has resulted in a number of important

Legislation can promote or impede the prevalence of honor killings in the world. It will

declarations and conventions that protect and promote the human rights of women.

depend on how it is used. On one hand, it can authorize such killings because they are
considered justified, on the other hand, they can also be used to criminalize such behaviors. In
history, we see some good examples of laws that authorize such practices, for example, during
the time of August Ceaser the law Lex Julia de adulteris coercendis was implemented.

Some of the works of the Commission are the following: Between 1949 and 1959, the

According to this law, the fathers were permitted to murder their daughters and the lover of their

Commission elaborated the Convention on the Political Rights of Women, adopted by the

daughters who committed adultery. He could also kill the adulterous lover of his wife. In the

General Assembly on 20 December 1952, the Convention on the Nationality of Married Women,

French Civil Code, husbands were allowed to murder their adulterous wives, however, the wives

adopted by the Assembly on 29 January 1957, the Convention on Consent to Marriage,

were not given such a right. It was abolished in 1975, however the 1810 Penal Code of France

Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages adopted on 7 November 1962, and the

included Art. 324. According to that article, in the case of adultery, provide for by article 336,

Recommendation on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of

murder committed upon the wife as well as upon her accomplice, at the moment when the

Marriages adopted on 1 November 1965.

husband shall have caught them in the fact, in the house where the husband and wife dwell, is
excusable.. This provision influenced the 1858 Ottman Penal Code and Jordans Article 340,
the latter is still applied today. Art. 324 of the Penal Code of France inspired a lot of laws in
other Arab countries as well.

The insturments still could not comprehensively deal with discrimination against
women. Thus, on December 5, 1963, it was requested that the Economic and Social Council
invite the CSW to draft an instrument that would combine international standards that dealt with
equal rights of men and women. The process began in 1965, with the Declaration on the

United Nations:

Elimination of Discrimination against Women adopted by the General Assembly on November

7, 1967. During the 1960s awareness against of the discrimination against women became more
apparent and there was an increase the organizations that combatted such discrimination. In
1972, the CSW thought of creating a binding treaty for the provisions of the declarations. After

One of the basic principles of the United Nations is the equality of the rights of women.

two years, the Commission decided to prepare an internationally binding instrument to eliminate

The Preamble of the Charter of the United Nations states that "faith in fundamental human

all forms of discrimination against women. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women". The

Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted in 1979 by votes 130 to none, with 10

fist international instrument obligate members of the United nations to strive towards equality

absentations. On July 17, 1980, in the Copenhagen Conference, 64 states signed the

and realization of all human rights.

convention and two submitted their instruments of ratification. It was entered into force faster
than any previous human rights convention had done.

The international Bill of Human Rights promotes the rights of women. According to the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone is entitled to equality before the law and the

It is can be described as the international bill of rights for women. Some articles of this

Africa:

convention aim to solve the problem of honor killings, some examples of which are: It requires
states to provide legal protection for womens rights on an equal basis with men and to
guarantee the effective protection of women against discrimination through competent national
courts (Art. 2(c)). ;requires States Parties to repeal all penal provisions that discriminate

In Africe, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the

against women (Art. 2(g)); adopt legislative and other measures prohibiting discrimination

Rights of Women in Africa also obligates state parties to provide legislation that promote

against women (Art. 2(b)). (See also of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

equality for women. Article 5 of the protocol requires that state parties take legislative measures

(Article 26)).; and Under CEDAW, states are obligated to take appropriate measures to modify

to abolish traditional practices that may be considered as harmful. It is requested that they

social and cultural patterns that discriminate against women (Art. 5(a)). According to the

impose sanctions against harmful practices, give protection to women that may be at risk

Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women General

because of such practices and support the victims. Another notable instrument is The African

Recommendation 19, [t]raditional attitudes by which women are regarded as subordinate to

Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child which obligates state parties to abolish practices

men or as having stereotyped roles perpetuate widespread practices involving violence or

that adversely affect the childrens welfare, dignity, normal growth and development,, which is

coercion, such as family violence and abuse, forced marriage, dowry deaths, acid attacks and

specifically found in Article 21 of the said charter.

female circumcision. Such prejudices and practices may justify gender-based violence as a form
of protection or control of women. The effect of such violence on the physical and mental
integrity of women is to deprive them the equal enjoyment, exercise and knowledge of human
rights and fundamental freedoms. CEDAW has also expressed concern over practices that

Europe:

uphold culture over eliminating discrimination. Specifically, with regard to honour crimes and
killings, CEDAW General Recommendation 19 states that measures necessary to overcome
family violence include [l]egislation to remove the defence of honour in regard to the assault or
murder of a female family member.

In Europe, the European Unions Parliamentary Assemblys Resolution 1327 (2003)

on honour crimes obligates the member states to revise immigration laws in such way that it
would allow women that are at risk of being victims of honor crims to enter the country,
implement laws that punish honor crimes, guarantee effective investigations of honor crims,

The United Nations also made other efforts to solve the problem on honor killings for

exclude honor as a mitigating factor, and strengthen female representation. The Council of

example, in a report published on November 25, 2006 , it was shown in a UN internet- based

Europe Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1881, obligates the Committee of Ministers to

campaign, also known as the Say No campaign, that more than 5 million people have sent a

create a comprehensive plan to end honor crimes. The Council of Europe Parliamentary

message to their government to act upon the problem of violence against women. It was an

Assembly Resolution 1681, Urgent need to combat so-called honour crimes, 2009 obligates

initiative that originally targeted only 1 million signatures. Different Heads of States and minsters

member states to create a plan of action to prevent violence against women and hold

that represented 60 governments and more than 600 parliamentarians from 70 countries

awareness-raising campaigns.The Stockholm Platform for Action to Combat Honour Related

showed their support for this movement started by the UN. On November 6, 2009, the United

Violence in Europe, 7-8 October 2004, recommends stronger victim support and rehabilitation

Nations started a campaign to mobilize people around the world to stop the violence suffered by

services, as well as cooperation with European police. They also suggest legislative acts to

women. The UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) created a website to spark efforts to

protect citizens who are at risk of honor crimes. It also recommended gender persecution as a

put a stop on violence against women. It also aimed to showcase the problem and how grave

basis for asylum.

the situation really is. IT showed that around 70 percent of all women have been the victim of
some form of violence.
HONOR KILLINGS IN AMERICA

Violence against women is not just a problem in countries like Afghanistan and
Somalia. It's happening in the U.S. too.

real and can not be ignored. It must be addressed collectively by every member of our
community."

Some instances are:

Sandeela Kanwal
PROSECUTION IN AMERICA
In July 2008, New York Post writer John P. Avlon claimed that the murder of 25-yearold Sandeela Kanwalallegedly by her father, Chaudhry Rashidwas an "American Honor
Killing." Rashid is said to have strangled Kanwal to death with a bungee cord after she tried to
end her arranged marriage. Chaudhry Rashid was then sentenced to life in prison with the
possibility of parole.

There is very poor data on the practice of Honor killing (also known as honor violence)
due to the fact that many do not get reported or happen in remote areas or are classified as a
different form of crime. This is the situation for the international data and American data, but for

Amina and Sarah Said

American data, no national or state agency collects data on honor violence. However, the
practice of honor killings do occur with the family committing acts of honor killing believing that

Amina and Sarah Said were the children of Egyptian immigrant Yaser Abdel Said and

the daughter has become too Westernized and/or after she has refused to follow traditional

American Patricia "Tissie" Owens. Both girls were born in Dallas, Texas. Amina was born on

customs such as arranged marriages. The prosecution of such crimes are carried out in the

March 2, 1989 and Sarah was born on March 16, 1990. The girls were found shot to death in a

United States, but the crimes are not identified as honor killings under a form of law. It has been

taxi at the Omni Mandalay Hotel, in Irving, Texas, January 1, 2008. Both girls had left their home

argued that the lack of using the label "honor killings" and instead using the all-encompassing

in Lewisville, Texas earlier that evening, with their father Yaser Said. At 7:33 pm CT a call came

label of "domestic violence" prevents the public from seeing the key differences between honor

into the Irving Police Departments 911 call center. The call was from Sarah Said. She had been

killings and domestic violence and also prevents any policies limiting and ultimately, putting an

shot 9 times and told the operator My Dad shot me and my sister, Im dying! Their mother,

end, to the honor killings.

Patricia Said, claims both girls were killed for having non-Muslim boyfriends. Death threats had
been made by Yaser against the girls. They ran away and were safe, but their mother brought
them back. Yaser Said is still at large, as a FBI Top Ten Fugitive, at the present time the FBI is
offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Said has been featured on

Leaders of the American Muslim community have condemned the practice. Members

America's Most Wanted and a Fox News special about honor killings in America; he is also the

of the Council on American-Islamic Relations have condemned all honor killings as well as

FBI's Ten Most Wanted List.

specific incidents.[13] Many Muslim leaders in the US say that Islam does not promote honor
killings and that the practice stems from sexism and tribal behavior that predates the religion.

Aasiya Zubair

"You're always going to get problems with chauvinism and suppressing vulnerable populations
and gender discrimination," says Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public

In February 2009, Muzzammil Hassan was arrested and charged with murdering his

Affairs Council.

estranged wife Aasiya Zubair with a knife and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Islamic Society of North America responded
with an "Open Letter to Muslim Leaders", expressing shock and sadness at the murder,
condemning domestic violence, and calling on imams and Muslim leaders to "provide support

In February 2009, after the high-profile killing of Aasiya Zubair, Muslim leaders began

and help to protect the victims of domestic violence" and "to never second-guess a woman who

a nationwide, unified effort entitled "Imams Speak Out: Domestic Violence Will Not Be Tolerated

comes to us indicating that she feels her life to be in danger." Imam Mohamed Hagmagid Ali,

in Our Communities," asking all imams and religious leaders to discuss domestic violence in

vice-president of ISNA, stated: "This is a wake up call to all of us, that violence against women is

their weekly sermon or their Friday prayer services. The group, "Muslim Men Against Domestic
Violence", was founded soon after the murder.

Since the beginning of this year, four women have been killed by brothers, fathers or
cousins who felt the women had done something that brought disgrace on their family name.
MIDDLE EAST

We have to change the whole mentality of the nation. To spill someones blood that easily has
Honor killings are a family collaboration. Worldwide, two-thirds of the victims were

become a socially acceptable practice, said Reem.

killed by their families of origin. Murder by the family of origin was at its highest (72 percent) in
the Muslim world and at its lowest in North America (49 percent); European families of origin
were involved almost as often as those in the Muslim world, possibly because so many are firstor second-generation immigrants and, therefore, still tightly bound to their native cultures.

She said that sometimes those who commit such murders are treated with sympathy

Alternatively, this might be due to the Islamist radicalization of third or even fourth generations.

by local communities who see them as victims of the shameful actions of their female relatives.

Internationally, fathers played an active role in over one-third of the honor murders. Fathers were

Such actions range from illicit relationships with men to innocent teenage flirting.

most involved in North America (52 percent) and least involved in the Muslim world; in Europe,
fathers were involved in more than one-third of the murders.

Jordanian law continues to be lenient on those who kill their female relatives in the
name of protecting family honour. Last year, between 15 and 20 women were stabbed, beaten

Male-dominated culture

This is a male-dominated culture. Women are not considered as important as men,

who have made it easier for family members, even women, to accept the killings, she adds.

or strangled to death by family members, sometimes women themselves.

In some cases, mothers and sisters helped set up a murder, or killed with their own
Rights activists point out a number of cultural and political obstacles in their uphill
battle to stamp out the socially acceptable practice.

And at a time when policy-makers are trying to make way for women to gain political posts, they
remain unable - and sometimes unwilling - to fight this practice.

hands. Last year, a girl was killed by her mother and sister after they discovered she was in love
with one of their neighbours.

Mohammad Rai - from Salt, 30km west of the capital, Amman - killed his cousin a few
years ago to uphold his familys honour. He was 17 years old at the time and said he did it under
pressure from family elders. But a few years later, he has no regrets.

There is no political will to fight so-called honour crimes. The tribal mentality is the
main driving force that makes this phenomenon spin out of control, said Reem Abu Hassan, a
leading womens rights activist in the kingdom.

I would do it again if I had to. People here would have stigmatised my entire family if I
had not killed her and shame would have followed us wherever we went, said Rai, who is now a
bus driver. He served just six months in prison because the victims father dropped the charges.

The only crime Rais cousin committed was that she told her conservative father that she was in
love with a man from another family and that he wanted to ask for her hand in marriage.

Activists say current legislation makes it easy for killers to get away with murder, as
long as the killing is proved to be honour-related. Premeditated murder in Jordan is punishable
by death, but the penal code exempts from the death penalty men who kill female relatives
found committing adultery. Instead, men committing honour crimes receive short prison
sentences. Rights activists continue to push for tougher penalties on those who commit honour

We are prisoners of our own social habits, there is nothing we can do about it, said a

crimes.

defiant Rai.

Queen Rania, the wife of King Abdullah, is a strong advocate of womens rights issues
Murdered virgins

and a leading supporter of changes in honour killing legislation. A Royal Commission on Human
Rights, set up by King Abdullah, has already proposed stricter measures against honour killings.

Officials from Jordans National Institute for Forensic Medicine said they had
However, when the government introduced a bill outlining stiff penalties for honour

encountered several incidents where young girls had been killed ostensibly for having sexual
relations with a man but autopsies had revealed they were virgins.

killers, parliament rejected it outright, saying it would encourage adultery and create new social
problems.

But whether a murdered girl was a virgin or not holds little weight in the eyes of her
family or indeed the court.

MPs who supported the draft law said it was shot down because the majority of
lawmakers come from tribal backgrounds and cannot risk angering their electors.

It is often found out that victims were virgins but when the court looks at the case, the

ARE THERE LAWS TOLERATING HONOR KILLINGS?

sentences they give are very mild compared to the crime, said Rana Husseini, a journalist who
has been campaigning to raise awareness of the custom.

Honor Killings often occur within immigrant communities living in the West where the
country of residence is usually more at home legally with the notion of a crime of passion than
that of honor. Such killings raise the issue of cultural defense for the particular Western legal
system: should the immigrant killer be allowed to appeal to the culture of origin to justify his

The most recent honour crime took place on 1 March when a 23-year-old man beat

killing and to get sympathetic understanding from the court?

his aunt with a wooden stick before strangling her to death. The killer said he had seen an
unknown man leaving the house of the 43-year-old woman.
According to a report by the National Institute for Forensic Medicine, the victim was a virgin.

ISLAMIC LAW
Most schools of Islamic jurisprudence treat as legitimate the killing by private
individuals of a married person caught committing adultery red-handed. They argue that since
death is the hadd punishment assigned under Islamic law for adultery committed by married
persons, an adulterer had made his blood halal. The same is true for killing an unmarried person

caught fornicating, even though the punishment assigned under Islamic law for fornication is

"Whoever kills a believer intentionally, their reward will be Hell, to abide therein

mere one hundred lashes. Some jurists justify legal tolerance for the killing in this case on the

forever, and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon them, and a dreadful penalty is prepared

basis of provocation and they limit it to women the killer is related to. Most jurists, however,

for them." (Holy Quran, Chapter 4, Verse 93)

justify killing on the basis of the duty to fend off sin, which they threat as a religious duty. In this
case, the killing is tolerated whether it includes women the killer is related to or not. It is

"On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone kills a person -

important to note that is a later court judgment determines the adultery/ fornication did not in fact

unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if they killed all

take place, the killer is punished for murder. It is also a rule of Islamic jurisprudence that

people. And if any one saved a life, it would be as if they saved the life of all people." (Holy

retaliation is not inflicted against a parent who kills his/her child in the course of correction.

Quran, Chapter 5, Verse 32)

Killing for honor is seen as such an instance. There is evidence to suggest that the Ottomans,
rulers and jurists alike, tolerated the practice of honor killings and left it to the domain of selfhelp.

The practice of so-called "honour killing" is in reality an act of murder. It is usually

carried out against a female family member who is seen by relatives as dishonoring their family
through real or perceived acts of indiscretion, such as premarital sexual relations or unapproved

In contrast, sixteenth and seventeenth century muftis of Syria condemned the practice

dating. In many cases of "honour killing", the accused woman is innocent, and is killed purely

as un-Islamic. Contemporary Saudi Arabia, which characterizes its own legal system is Islamic,

based on suspicion. In other cases, the issue of "honour" is used as a cover to justify a murder

allows the killing of females if they disgrace their family on the basis of custom ( Urf). Urf is

that was really committed for other purposes. No matter what the reason is, "honour killing" is a

treated as one of the sources of law.

despicable crime.

In the Philippines, even the Revised Penal Code treats it as an exceptional

There is absolutely no justification in Islam for "honour killing" of women or men.

circumstance when a legally married person or parent surprises his spouse or his daughter, the

Those who commit these crimes can expect hellfire as their punishment, in addition to the wrath

latter under 18 years of age and living with him, in the act of committing sexual intercourse with

and anger of God, as the previous verse from the holy Quran describes. These types of killings

another person.

are quite simply murder crimes, and should be prosecuted as such. No society, Muslim or
otherwise, should tolerate such extrajudicial murder. This is especially true if these murders are

DOES ISLAM APPROVE OF HONOR KILLINGS?

carried out in the name of Islam or any other religion. There is no justification or leniency in
Islamic teachings for such murder crimes. Those who commit these crimes are either ignorant of

Islam strongly prohibits the killing of any person without lawful reasons. Islamic

Islamic teachings, or they try to invoke religion to get lenient treatment. In both cases, they must

teachings do not allow any person to take the law into their own hands and to commit murder, no

be punished as murderers in order to establish justice and in order to act as a deterrent to those

matter what justification is used. Although Islam does impose the capital punishment for certain

who would consider committing such crimes.

crimes, no one person can act as the accuer, judge and executioner. This would lead to a
complete breakdown of society, as any person would be able to commit murder and then claim

There is no historical background in Islam for "honour killing". No verse in the holy

that they had valid reasons for doing so. Therefore, Islam has instituted a very specific system of

Quran and no saying of Prophet Mohammad sanctions such crimes. There were no cases of

implementing the law. Islam requires that a judge hear the case of both the accuser and the

"honour killing" during the early period of Islam. This is a concept that seems to have appeared

accused, and to listen to witnesses before making any judgment. This ensures that society

only recently, and is based only upon ignorance of the true teachings of Islam, and perhaps

operates based on the rule of law such that justice is established.

some ancient customs that pre-date Islam.

Islam does prescribe strict and sometimes even severe punishments for certain crimes.

The following statements from the holy Quran demonstrate how strongly Islam
prohibits murder:

However, Islam places a great burder of proof on the accuser to prove their accusations.
Otherwise, no conviction and no punishment can occur. Proving a case of fornication or adultery
in court under Islam is extremely difficult. Islamic law requires either a confession by those who
committed the crime, or the testimony of four witnesses. These four witnesses must have seen

the act of fornication by their own eyes. This makes it extremely difficult if not impossible for a

due to anger, outrage, and a perceived loss of honour, and then try to justify their barbarity to

court of law under Islam to find people guilty of fornication or adultery.

themselves and to others using religion.

Perhaps the most common reason for "honour killings" is jealousy, by men who discover that

Islam has prescribed these punishments as a deterrent, and as a way to demonstrate

their wife has committed adultery or is having a relationship with another man. In these

to people how ugly these crimes are and how hated they are in the sight of God. Islam intended

instances, rage, jealousy and revenge are the real motives for the crime.

to prevent crime from happening in the first place, as much as possible, rather than punish

These "crimes of passion" are not limited to Muslims only. As an example, in the United States

people after it is too late and the crime has already occured.

there are approximately 1,200 women killed every year by their husbands or intimate partners.
This demonstrates that these crimes occur in every nation and in every society, regardless of

Therefore, although Islam does prescribe 100 lashes for fornication (sexual relations

religion, race or language. These crimes must be condemned and punished by every society,

between unmarried people), and death by stoning for adultery (married people who have sexual

and especially by Muslim societies, as one of the main aims of Islamic law is the protection of

relations outside of marriage), these punishments are not really meant to be performed as much

the sanctity of life

as they are meant to make these crimes hated in the eyes of the society in order to minimize
their occurance. The only practical way for these punishments to be performed in Islam is by
confession of the guilty person. In these cases, Islam teaches that those who receive these
punishments during their life will have their sins wiped away and will not have to face
punishment for these crimes in the afterlife. However, Islam strongly recommends that Muslims

Reference:

who commit crimes repent, regret their mistakes and not to tell others about what they have
done. Those who truly and sincerely repent to God, regret their sins and commit themselves to
never repeating them again, God will forgive their sins and wipe them away. This is
demonstrated by the following verses:

Thomas, C., Park, R., Ellson, M., Menanteau, B., & Young, L. (2011). DEVELOPING
LEGISLATION ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS. 484-535.

"Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor kill lives which Allah has made
sacred, except for just cause, nor commit fornication, and any person that does this meets

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. (n.d.). Retrieved

punishment, and their penalty on the Day of Judgment will be doubled, and they will dwell

April 04, 2016, from http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/

therein in ignominy, unless they repent, believe and perform righteous deeds, for Allah will
change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Holy

Center

Quran, Chapter 25, Verse 68)

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/isis/articles_and_books/intrafamily_femicide_in_defence_of_hono

for

Inquiry.

(n.d.).

Retrieved

April

04,

2016,

from

ur_the_case_of_jordan/
Of course, the question arises that if Islam does not sanction or justify "honour killing",
then why does it occur? There are many reasons. As stated earlier, in religious societies, religion

Millions join UN in urgent call to step up and eliminate violence against women. (2008).

is invoked by people in order to gain sympathy from others in their society. Therefore, murderers

Retrieved April 04, 2016, from

may try to invoke religion to justify their actions. However, this does not mean that their religion

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29080#.VwJZVTZ94y4

approves of their action. It is just a desperate attempt by them to justify their horrible action and
to get lenient treatment.

UN launches campaign harnessing support to end violence against women. (2009). Retrieved
April 04, 2016, from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32871#.VwJnajZ94y4

Another reason may be ignorance. Many cases of "honour killing" are carried out by
people who are ignorant of Islam. They are not aware of the teachings of Islam, and they

Short

confuse local customs and traditions with Islam. It is likely that these people commit their crimes

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/history.htm

History

of

CEDAW

Convention.

(n.d.).

Retrieved

April

04,

2016,

from

victims are erased from history and the existence and prevalence of honour-based violence in
any particular society is difficult to assess. A historical survey suggests that violence against
women, which would now be considered as honour-based violence has occurred in many
societies and in many historical periods.
According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, In the name of
preserving family honor, mostly women and girls are shot, stoned, burned, buried alive,
strangled, smothered and knifed to death with horrifying regularity. Between 5,000 and 20,000
so-called honor killings are committed each year, based on long-held beliefs that any female
who commits or is suspected of committing an immoral act should be killed to restore
honor to her family. Honor killings are deeply rooted in ancient patriarchal and fundamentalist
traditions, which some judicial systems legitimize by pardoning offenders or handing out light
sentences. Human-rights organizations are demanding that governments and the international
community act more forcefully to stop honor killings, but officials in some countries are doing
little to protect women and girls within their borders.1
Laws, which appear to promote violence against women for the expression of sexual
autonomy, are notable in Assyrian law codes dating back to 6000 BCE, and the codes of
Hammurabi.
II

PAST STATISTICS BY REGION

India and Pakistan both have recorded rates of honour killings of around 1000 per
year, although as ever figures remain unreliable.
In both India and Pakistan, the informal court systems present problems to women.
Where the central criminal justice system is weak or unaffordable to people living in rural
communities, tribal jirga or caste panchayat may order honour killing in cases of intra-familial
disputes. Such informal legal systems may demand the deaths of women, or in some cases
compensation marriages where young girls and women are forced to marry to restore
equilibrium in family disputes.
STATISTICS OF HONOR KILLINGS
I

OVERVIEW

Studies of the phenomenon of honour-based violence are currently limited. Where

the slaying of women and men with the justification of family honour is a collective and even
communal enterprise, and the acts of the dead are considered to have brought shame to the
family, there is a huge motivation for the family and community to cover up murders. Thus

Particular issues in Hindu communities are caste and gotra (patrilineal). Marriage
opportunities are very restricted and there may be particularly fierce opposition to any contact
between a woman and a male of lower caste; it is often the case that it is the man who is the
primary victim of violence by the family of the woman he has approached. While it may be

1 http://library.cqpress.com/, CQ Press, An Imprint of SAGE

Publications

required that any partnerships do not lose caste, marriages within a gotra are condemned as

families." Frequently, women killed in honor killings are recorded as having committed suicide or

incestuous, despite their rarely being any close consanguinity between any members of the

died in accidents. 5

same gotra. Panchayats have actively policed gotra restrictions and called for the deaths of
couples who have contravened such norms.2

Honor killings are tried by the 1990 Qisas and Diyat Ordinance of Pakistan, which
permits the individual and his or her family to retain control over a crime, including the right to

In Pakistan there is more of a culture of impunity and while police reports may be filed,

determine whether to report the crime, prosecute the offender, or demand diyat (or

there is often little follow-up, particularly in rural areas. Honor killings are known locally as karo-

compensation). Since most honour killings are committed by a close relative, if and when the

kari which is metaphoric terms for adulterer and adulteress, but it has come to be used with

case reaches a court of law, the victim's family may 'pardon' the murderer, or be pressured to

regards to multiple forms of perceived immoral behavior. Statistically, honor killings have a high

accept diyat (financial compensation). The murderer then goes free once such a pardon has

level of support in Pakistan's rural society, despite widespread condemnation from human rights

been secured, the state has no further writ on the matter although often the killers are relatives

groups. In 2002 alone over 382 people, about 245 women and 137 men, became victims of

of the victim. Scholars suggest that the Islamic law doctrine of Qisas and Diyya encourages

honor killings in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Over the course of six years, more than 4,000

honor killings, particularly against females, as well as allows the murderer to go unpunished. 6

women have died as victims of honor killings in Pakistan from 1999 to 2004. In 2005 the
average annual number of honor killings for the whole nation was stated to be more than 1,000
3

per year.

While in both India and Pakistan there have been a great deal of discussion around
honour killings, India has taken more assertive legal action, including awarding the death
penalty to large numbers of persons who have colluded in murder.

A 2009 study by Muazzam Nasrullah et al. reported a total of 1,957 honor crime
victims reported in Pakistan's newspapers from 2004 to 2007. Of those killed, 18% were below

Honour killings have been reported in northern regions of India as a result of people

the age of 18 years, and 88% were married. Husbands, brothers and close relatives were direct

marrying without their family's acceptance, and sometimes for marrying outside their caste or

perpetrators of 79% of the honor crimes reported by mainstream media. The method used for

religion. In contrast, honour killings are rare to non-existent in South India and the western

honor crime included firearms (most common), stabbing, axe and strangulation. 4

Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. In some other parts of India, honour killings
completely ceased about a century ago, largely due to the activism and influence of reformists. 7

According to women's rights advocates, the concepts of women as property, and of

honor, are so deeply entrenched in the social, political and economic fabric of Pakistan that the

In Afghanistan, honour crimes remain very high along with many other forms of

government mostly ignores the regular occurrences of women being killed and maimed by their

violence against women, and are increasing as attitudes fail to keep pace with economic and

2 Honour Based Violence Awareness Network

5 Yasmeen Hassan, "The Haven Becomes Hell: A Study of

Domestic Violence in Pakistan", The Fate of Pakistani Women,
1995 August, 72 p. (Special Bulletin), Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg

3 Sohail Warraich, "'Honour Killings' and the Law in Pakistan",

in Sara Hossain and Lynn Welchman, Honour, Crimes,
Paradigms, and Violence against Women, Zed Books (10
November 2005), ISBN 1-84277-627-4
4 Muazzam Nasrullah et al. (March 2009), The
epidemiological patterns of honour killing of women in
Pakistan, The European Journal of Public Health, Oxford
University Press, pp. 1-5,doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckp021

6 Shahid M. Shahidullah (2012), Comparative Criminal Justice

Systems: Global and Local Perspectives,ISBN 9781449604257, pp. 511
7 "Honour Killings in India". Daily Life in India. 16 June 2010.
Retrieved 3 September 2010.

social changes. Economic immiseration has also led to high levels of early marriage. In

says that armed groups, not the government, also kill politically active women and those who did

2012, Afghanistan recorded 240 cases of honor killings, but the total number is believed to be

not follow a strict dress code, as well as women who are perceived as human rights defenders.11

much higher. Of the reported honor killings, 21% were committed by the victims husbands, 7%
by their brothers, 4% by their fathers, and the rest by other relatives. Finding safety is difficult as

There are still "honor" killings in Jordan. A 2008 report of the National Council of

women fleeing their husbands or families may be imprisoned and returned to them and there is,

Family Affairs in Jordan, an NGO affiliated with the Queen of Jordan, indicated that the National

again, a culture of impunity even more profound than that which exists in Pakistan.8

Forensic Medicine Center recorded 120 murdered women in 2006, with 18 cases classified
officially as crimes of honor.12

The Middle East, including the Arab countries of North Africa, Iran and non-Arab
minorities within Arabic countries have high recorded level of honour killings , and it is these

In 2013, the BBC cited estimates by the National Council of Family Affairs in Jordan,

regions that the formal law codes are most likely to allocate reduced sentences for crimes

an NGO, that as many as 50 Jordanian women and girls had been killed in the preceding 13

motivated by honour.

years. But the BBC indicated "the real figure" was probably "far higher," because "most honour
killings go unreported.13

Honor killings in Egypt occur due to reasons such as a woman meeting an unrelated
man, even if this is only an allegation; or adultery (real or suspected). The exact number of

Kuwait is relatively liberal, and honor killings are rare, but not unheard of, in 2006 a

honor killings is not known, but a report in 1995 estimated about 52 honor killings that year. In

young woman died in an honor killing committed by her brothers. In 2008, a girl was given police

2013, a woman and her two daughters were murdered by 10 male relatives, who strangled and

protection after reporting that her family intended to kill her for having an affair with a man. In

beat them, and then threw their bodies in the Nile. Honour killings are illegal in Egypt and five of

2012, a woman and an American male died for dating. The man was allegedly stabbed to death

the ten men were arrested.9

by the woman's male relatives in his apartment and was ruled a "suicide" by authorities. A few
weeks later, the woman's body was found outside a small subdivision, in an open area.14

In Iran, honour killings occur primarily among tribal minority groups, which are
generally more conservative than the mainstream Iranians. Honour killings are particularly

There are also no exact official numbers about honor killings of women in Lebanon;

prevalent in the provinces of Khuzestan and Ilam. Discriminatory family laws, articles in the

many honor killings are arranged to look like accidents, but the figure is believed to be 40 to 50

Criminal Code that show leniency towards honor killings, and a strongly male dominated society

per year. A 2007 report by Amnesty International said that the Lebanese media in 2001 reported

10

have been cited as causes of honor killings in Iran.

In Iraq, as many as 133 women were killed in the Iraqi city of Basra alone in 2006. 79
were killed for violation of "Islamic teachings" and 47 for honor, according to IRIN, the news
branch of the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Amnesty International

11 Arwa Damon (8 February 2008). "Violations of 'Islamic

teachings' take deadly toll on Iraqi women".CNN. Retrieved 8
February 2008.

8 "AIHRC: 400 rape, honor killings registered in Afghanistan

in 2 years". latinbusinesstoday.com. 10 June 2013.
Retrieved 23 December 2013.

12 "Status of Violence against Women in Jordan", National

Council for Family Affairs, 2008, Amman, Jordan

9 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/egm/vaw-gp2005/docs/experts/khafagy.honorcrimes.pdf

13 Maher, Ahmed, ["Many Jordan teenagers 'support honour

killings'"], 20 June 2013, BBC News

10 http://www.landinfo.no/asset/960/1/960_1.pdf

14 http://www.freedomhouse.org

2 or 3 honor killings per month in Lebanon, although the number is believed to be higher by
other independent sources.

15

killings within living memory within Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Greece. There is
limited data on the current extent of honour killings in Eastern Europe and former Soviet
countries, however some cases of forced marriage have been recorded in Eastern European

In Syria, more than 200 honor killings occur every year. The Syrian Civil War has been

communities living in the West.

reported as leading to an increase in honor killings in the country, mainly due to the common
occurrence of war rape, which led to the stigmatization of victims by their relatives and
communities, and in turn to honor killings16

In most of Western and Northern Europe, honour killing is almost entirely associated
with immigrant populations where such acts are seen as the survival of tribal and patriarchal
values from their countries of origin, although these may be exacerbated by the experiences of

A report compiled by the Council of Europe estimated that over 200 women were

translocation and social exclusion.

killed in honor killings in Turkey in 2007. A June 2008 report by the Turkish Prime Ministry's
Human Rights Directorate said that in Istanbul alone there was one honor killing every week,

Honor based violence has a long tradition in Albania, and although much rarer today

and reported over 1,000 during the previous five years. It added that metropolitan cities were the

than in the past, it still exists. The Kanun is a set of traditional Albanian laws and customs. Honor

location of many of these, due to growing Kurdish immigration to these cities from the East. The

is one of the four pillars on which the Kanun is based. Honor crimes happen especially in

mass migration during the past decades of rural population from Southeastern Turkey to big

northern Albania. In Albania the phenomenon of blood feuds between males was more common

cities in Western Turkey has resulted in "modern" cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and

historically than honor killings of females; but honor violence against women and girls also has a

Bursa having the highest numbers of reported honor killings.17

tradition.19

Honor killings are common in Yemen. In some parts of the country, traditional tribal

The concept of family honor exists and is strong in Cyprus. The reputation of the

customs forbid contact between men and women before marriage. Yemeni society is strongly

family in the community is of very high importance. Although the extent of honor based violence

male dominated, Yemen being ranked last of 135 countries in the 2012 Global Gender Gap

is not as high and extreme as in other societies which have cultures of honor, the idea of 'honor'

Report. It was estimated that about 400 women and girls died in honor killings in 1997 in

is often used as an excuse for domestic violence in Cyprus.20

Yemen.

18

A 2009 report by the Council of Europe cited the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium,
Certain Eastern European countries have recorded cases of honour killing within the

France, and Norway as countries where honor crimes and honor killings occur.

indigenous populations, such as Albania and Chechnya, and there have been acts of honour
France has a large immigrant community from North Africa (especially from Algeria,

15"Lebanon at last removes honor crime article from its

penal code". Retrieved 2011.

Morocco and Tunisia) and honor violence occurs in this community. The Napoleonic Code of
1804 is one of the origins of the legal leniency in regard to adultery-related killings in a variety of
legal systems in several countries around the world. Under this code, a man who killed his wife

16 Thomson Reuters Foundation. "Syrian war causing 'honour

killings', child marriages - doctor". Retrieved20 April 2015.

whom he caught in the act of adultery could not be charged with premeditated murder
although he could be charged with other lesser offenses.

21

17 "Number of Honor Killings in Europe Higher Than

Thought". voanews.com. Retrieved 23 December2013.

19 http://www.mcser.org

18 "Yemeni 'burns daughter to death for contacting fiance'".

bbc.co.uk. 23 October 2013. Retrieved23 December 2013.

20 http://www.medinstgenderstudies.org/wpcontent/uploads/hrvresourcebook.pdf

In Germany, precise statistics on how many women die every year in such honor
killings are hard to come by, as many crimes are never reported. Terre des Femmes which is a

In 2011, Belgium held its first honor killing trial, in which four Pakistani family members
were found guilty of killing their daughter and sibling, Sadia Sheikh.26

non-profit organization striving for international networking with other women's rights
organizations, supports women in consulting, and supports projects, organisations and initiatives

Honour killings have also been recorded in North America, Canada, and Australia

by women for women from abroad, tries to protect Muslim girls and women from oppressive

within immigrant populations. In these regions, there appears to be a less organised response to

families. The Turkish women's organization Papatya has documented 40 instances of honor

honor violence as a more recent phenomenon which is in the early stages of recognition.

killings in Germany since 1996.22

A 2007 study by Dr. Amin Muhammad and Dr. Sujay Patel of Memorial
Every year officials estimate that at least a dozen women are victims of honor killings,

University, Canada, investigated how the practice of honor killings has been brought to Canada.

almost exclusively within Asian and Middle Eastern families in the United Kingdom (UK). A

The report explained that "When people come and settle in Canada they can bring their

2006 BBC poll for the Asian network in the UK found that one in ten of the 500 young Asians

traditions and forcefully follow them. In some cultures, people feel some boundaries are never to

polled said that they could condone the killing of someone who dishonored their family.23 In

be crossed, and if someone would violate those practices or go against it, then killing is justified

December 2005, Nazir Afzal, Director, West London, of Britain's Crown Prosecution Service,

to them." The report noted that "In different cultures, they can get away without being punished

stated that the United Kingdom has seen "at least a dozen honour killings" between 2004 and

the courts actually sanction them under religious contexts". The report also said that the

24

2005.

While precise figures do not exist for the perpetrators' cultural backgrounds, Diana

people who commit these crimes are usually mentally ill, and that the mental health aspect is

Nammi of the UK's Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation is reported to have said:

often ignored by Western observers because of a lack of understanding of the insufficiently

"about two-thirds are Muslim.

developed state of mental healthcare in developing countries in which honor killings are
prevalent. Honor killings have become such a pressing issue in Canada that the Canadian

In 2010, Britain saw a 47% rise of honor-related crimes. Data from police agencies in

citizenship study guide mentions it specifically, saying, "Canada's openness and generosity do

the UK report 2283 cases in 2010, and an estimated 500 more from jurisdictions that did not

not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, 'honour killings', female

provide reports.

25

These "honor-related crimes" also include house arrests and other parental

genital mutilation, forced marriage or other gender-based violence."27

punishments. Most of the attacks were conducted in cities that had high immigrant populations.
United States of America do not have proper measures in place to fight against honor
killings, and do not recognize these murders as a specific form of violence, distinct from other
domestic murders, due to fear of being labeled "culturally insensitive". This often prevents
government officials in the United States and the media from identifying and accurately reporting

21 "Honour Killings By Region". Hbv-awareness.com. 18

March 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
22 "The Whore Lived Like a German". Der Spiegel, Germany.
23 "One in 10 'backs honour killings'". BBC. 4 September
2006. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
24 Lily Gupta (9 January 2008). "Multicultural sensitivity is no
excuse for moral blindness ...". London: The Guardian.
Retrieved 8 February 2008.

these incidents as "honor killings" when they occur. Failing to accurately describe the problem
makes it more difficult to develop public policies to address it, according to Phyllis Chesler in her

25 "Nearly 3000 cases of 'honour' violence every year in the

UK". Ikwro.org.uk. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 16
August 2013
26 "Pakistani family guilty of Belgian honour killing: media".
AFP. 12 December 2011. Retrieved16 December 2011.
27 Jamie Baker. "Cultural 'honour' killing brought to
Canada". The Telegram. Retrieved 27 September2008.

argument whether honour killings are simply domestic violence. Although there are not many

usually perceived as men who were unacceptable due to lower class or caste status, because

cases of honor killings within the United States, the overwhelming majority of honor killings are

the marriage had not been arranged by the woman's family of origin, because they were not the

perpetrated by Muslims against Muslims (90% of honor killings known to have taken place in

woman's first cousin, or because the men allegedly engaged in pre- or extramarital sex. Men

Europe and the United States from 1998 to 2008). In these documented cases the victims were

were rarely killed when they were alone and 81 percent were killed when the couple in question

murdered because they were believed to have acted in a way against the religion of the family.

was together.

In every case, perpetrators view their victims as violating rules of religious conduct and act
without remorse. According to CBS News, the extent of honor-based violence in the U.S. is not

Although Sikhs and Hindus do sometimes commit such murders, honor killings, both

known, as no official data is collected. There is controversy about the reasons why such violence

worldwide and in the West, are mainly Muslim-on-Muslim crimes. According to some studies

occurs, and about the extent to which culture, religion, and views on women cause these

worldwide, 91 percent of perpetrators were Muslims. In North America, most killers (84 percent)

incidents.28

were Muslims, with only a few Sikhs and even fewer Hindus perpetrating honor killings; in
Europe, Muslims comprised an even larger majority at 96 percent while Sikhs were a tiny

Crimes of passion within Latin America have also been compared to honor killings.
Similar to honor killings, crimes of passion often feature the murder of a woman by a husband,

percentage. In Muslim countries, obviously almost all the perpetrators were Muslims. With only
two exceptions, the victims were all members of the same religious group as their murderers.

family member, or boyfriend and the crime is often condoned or sanctioned.

In the West, 76 individuals or groups of multiple perpetrators killed one hundred
III

STATISTICAL CONCLUSION

people. Of these perpetrators, 37 percent came from Pakistan; 17 percent were of Iraqi origin
while Turks and Afghans made up 12 and 11 percent, respectively. The remainder, just under a

In the Philippines, honor killings are not recorded, there are no findings or even a
factual articles that can be found. Before the colonization of Spain, America and Japan, mostly
early Filipinos treat their kind fairly regardless of their sexes. Their culture practiced a different
kind of punishment where honor killings were rarely done and was not proven until religion came
and sort beliefs of people which they learned to kill to conceal dishonours in their respective
families. Nowadays, Philippines is one of the countries which strictly prohibits the practice of
honour killings as it contrasts the current Constitution.
In general view from what has been collated based from those recorded and reported,
statistically significant interactions were found for age, geographical region, the participation of
multiple perpetrators (mainly members of the victim's family of origin, including the victim's
father), family position, multiple victims, the use of torture, and the stated motive for the murder.
Between 1989 and 2009, honor killings also escalated over time in a statistically significant way.
As mentioned, the majority of victims were women and that little percentage of victims
were men. Usually men were killed by their families of origin whereas the rest of the male
victims were killed by the families of the women with whom they were allegedly consorting or
planning to consort with either within or outside of marriage. The murdered male victims were

28 Phyllis Chesler, Are Honor Killings Simply Domestic

Violence?, Middle East Quarterly, Spring 2009, pp. 6169;
Meforum.org. Retrieved on 1 October 2011.

quarter in all, came from Albania, Algeria, Bosnia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guyana, India, Iran, Morocco,
and the West Bank.

Present

Murdering a woman in the name of honor is a gender specific form of discrimination

and violence otherwise known as genocide. Each year an increasing number of women are
killed in the name of honor. Relatives, usually male, commit acts of violence against their
wives, sisters, daughters and mothers to regain their family honor from real or alleged actions
that are perceived to have compromised it. Discriminatory societal beliefs and extremist views of
gender often cause officials to condone or ignore the use of brutality against women
consequently the majority of honor killing go unreported and perpetrators face little, if any,
penalty.
The top 18 countries with the most cases of honor-killing are Canada, India, United States,
Ecuador, UK, Sweden, Italy, Morocco, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Kuwait,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan. We can observe that most of these countries are Islamic
countries wherein religion and culture dominate the reason of honor killing.

Relationship

The entire family may all collaborate on this, and in some cases the whole community
may participate and even celebrate the occasion. The significance of honor among most
countries are strict and complex. Most families follow a collectivist identity. Families take pride in
the accomplishments of individual members and feel shame if one of them does something
dishonorable.

Most of the countries related to honor-killing are built upon a patriarchal society where
the men are the leaders of the family and women are to be obedient. Men hold all of the power
in the marriage. They are allowed to have up to four wives and divorce them anytime they want
to. The process for a divorce is much more difficult for a woman to obtain without her husband's
permission and Muslim law favors the rights of the husband in terms of child custody over the
rights of the woman.
A woman's activities are carefully monitored by her family. Her virginity is considered their
responsibility and she is dominated by men her entire life, beginning with her father, then
husband, and finally her sons. When a woman's chastity is questioned, her family feels the
shame. As a result of her shame, the family is compromised.

Views on women

death in cases of adultery, or expulsion of the community. They can also declare a person as an
adulterer who has dishonored their family or the tribe and give death sentences in such cases.

Honor killings are often a result of strongly patriarchal views on women, and the

Honor killings are known locally as karo-kari. Karo-kari literally means "black male"

position of women in society. In these traditional male-dominated societies women are

(karo) and "black female" (kari). This is a metaphoric term for adulterer and adulteress. Once

dependent first on their father and then on their husband, whom they are expected to obey.

labeled as a Kari (which can be done by the family or Jirga court), male family members get the

Women are viewed as property and not as individuals with their own agency. As such, they must

justification to kill the woman and the accused karo to restore family honor, although in the

submit to male authority figures in the family failure to do so can result in extreme violence as

majority of cases the victim is female.

punishment.

Violence

is

seen

as

way of

ensuring

compliance

and

preventing

rebellion. According to Shahid Khan, a professor at the Aga Khan University in Pakistan:

Karo-kari can be defined as acts of murder, which a woman is killed for actual or

"Women are considered the property of the males in their family irrespective of their class,

perceived immoral behavior. Such "immoral behavior" may take the form of alleged marital

ethnic, or religious group. The owner of the property has the right to decide its fate. The concept

infidelity, refusal to submit to an arranged marriage, demanding a divorce, perceived flirtatious

of ownership has turned women into a commodity which can be exchanged, bought and sold". In

behavior, rape, be seen with an unrelated male, and marry someone of their own choice.

such cultures, women are not allowed to take control over their bodies and sexuality: these are

Suspicions and accusations alone are enough to defile a family's honor and declare the woman

the property of the males of the family, the father (and other male relatives) who must ensure

as kari.

virginity until marriage; and then the husband to whom his wife's sexuality is subordinated - a
woman must not undermine the ownership rights of her guardian by engaging in premarital sex

SOURCES:

or adultery.

http://www.humanrights.ch/upload/pdf/070419_Kvinnoforum_HRV.pdf
"Retaliation is obligatory ... against anyone who kills a human being purely intentionally and
without right..." However, o1.2 clarifies that "The following are not subject to retaliation" and then

Religion and culture

lists after the "Muslim for killing a non-Muslim" and "Jewish or Christian subject ... for killing
an apostate" "(4) a father or mother (or their fathers or mothers) for killing their offspring, or

Honor killing is a subject which is not discussed within the Qur'an or Hadith

offspring's offspring"..." - Reliance of the Traveller: A Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law,

collections. However, Islam (as most Muslims will proudly testify) differs from other religions by

"Who is Subject to Retaliation for Injurious Crimes," section o1.1

being a complete system which governs even the most mundane aspects of ones life. Islamic

https://www.behance.net/gallery/1394353/Interactive-Honour-Killings-Infographi

Law consists of Shari'ah (Qur'an and Sunnah), and Fiqh, which is a complementary expansion
of Sharia. Therefore, Muslim scholars have not failed to address this issue. According to the the
highly regarded book of Fiqh, "Reliance of the Traveller: A Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred
Law", which has been approved by Al-Azhar University (the most respected Islamic authority in
the world), no retaliation is permitted against a father or mother "for killing their offspring, or
offspring's offspring".
In Pakistan a woman's activities are monitored by the tribe and cases of dishonor are brought to
the Jirga court. The Jirga is a tribal assembly of elders. They make decisions by a consensus.
They are similar to a town meeting in the Unites States and or to a regional assembly in

CASES

England, where important regional matters are addressed among the people of the area.
Farzana Parveen Honor Killing
The Jirga is also used to make decisions in cases of criminal conduct and it holds the
prestige of a court in tribal areas of Pakistan. The Jirga can award capital punishment, stoning to

Mohammad Iqbal strangled his first wife in 2008 out of love for Farzana Parveen, and
so that he would be free to marry her. Police said he had been released after that murder when

a "compromise" was reached with his first wife's family. Iqbal and Farzana had an engagement
that had lasted years.
According to Mohammed Iqbal, Farzana's father, Muhammad Parveen, withdrew
support for the marriage after Iqbal refused his demands for more money, beyond the originally
agreed bride-price. Farzana was ordered then to engaged with her cousin. When she became
pregnant out of her love with Iqbal, the two have decided to marry which caused anger to
Farzanas family.
Farzana and her husband Mohammad Iqbal had been waiting for the High Court in the
Eastern City of Lahore to open when the attack took place. According to her lawyer, Mustafa
Kharal, said her father had filed an abduction case against her husband, which the couple was
contesting. It was on May 27, 2014, Farzana, 25 years old and three months pregnant and
Mohammad Iqbal, thirty years old, when they were stoned by the family of Farzana. The
attackers were led by her father, Muhammad Parveen, but included her two brothers and other
family members, a total of 20 members. They began by punching and kicking, then it escalated

Nilofar Bibi

to using clubs and bricks, then hurling stones. Farzana was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
On December 7, 2012 in India, Nilofar Bibi was beheaded by his brother in order to
Ms Parveens husband, Mohammad Iqbal, has previously said police outside the

restore their families honor. Nilofar who was married when she was 14 years of age left his

Lahore court did nothing during the 15 minutes the violence lasted. I begged them to help us

husband because as she alleged she was being harassed and abused, she left their house and

but they said, this is not our duty, he said.

was missing for a few months.

Her father even filed a missing persons but they later found out that she was living

Most of the attackers initially escaped except for Farzana's father, Muhammad
Parveen, who was arrested. According to her father, "I killed my daughter as she had insulted all
of our family by marrying a man without our consent, and I have no regret over it." As of 5 June
2014, 12 people have been arrested in connection with Iqbal's death, including her father.

with her former lover Firoz Hossein. Subsequently her brother went to Hosseins house to kill
Nilofar because she disgraced their family.
Nilofar was dragged out to the street by his brother and in front of many people she
was beheaded using a sword. Her brother even walked through the neighborhood while carrying
her head as he went toward the police station in order to turn himself to the police. The family of

This is a huge flaw in the law, Wasim Wagha, a member of the Foundation
told Reuters. We are really struggling on this issue. The case as a whole has brought

Nilofar instead of condemning the killing favored it because as they said It was done to restore
honor to the family name.

international attention to violence against women in Muslim-authority Pakistan, where honour

killings are carried out by families as punishment for alleged adultery or other perceived illicit

Sources :

behaviour.

http://www.religionscell.com/muslim-abuse-stories/nilofer-bibi-honor-killing-murder/
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Honour-killing-in-Kolkata-Man-beheads-sister-in-

SOURCES:
http://hbv-awareness.com/lahore-honour-killing-farzana-parveen-stoned-to-death-by-her-familyfor-marrying-a-man-she-loved/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/farzana-parveen-lahore-honour-killing-father-ofpregnant-woman-stoned-to-death-in-pakistan-charged-9587575.html

public-view-takes-severed-head-to-police-station/articleshow/17527557.cms

She was last missing in 11 Sept 2003. One week after her disappearance, her
teacher, Joanne Code, in Great Sankey High reported to the police after overhearing the news
from her siblings. Her parents put no effort in contacting the girl. When asked by the police why
they were not concerned, the father replied that she was already of age. The police observed
that he seemed disgusted to their daughter after he told them that she brought only western
clothes.
The news burst all over the nation about the lost of Shafilea. Glasgow Pharmacy

Shafilea Ahmed

contacted the police claiming that they think they found Shafilea. The parents watched the CCTV
footage and declared that it was their daughter. On the other hand, the teachers refuted.
A listening device was placed in the family home after two months disappearance of
Shaffilea. Her father discussed that proof is indispensable in the UK system. It was also heard
that his father is concerned about the DNA evidence in the car.
On Feb 2004, her skeleton and remains were found on a flooded bank of the river
Kent in Sedgwick, Cumbria. Her corpse was deliberately hidden; a gold zigzag bracelet and blue
topaz ring was identified by her parents. Her death could not be determined due to the
decomposition of her body. Dog walker in the area testified that they remember that they saw a
scruffy white van after the time of her death. Dr Alison Armour, a Home Office pathologist, states
that the death occurred in another place because part of her skull was missing but no sign of
blood in her head injury. As said by a fellow taxi driver of Shafiles father, Iftikar told him once

(14 July 1986 11 September 2003) born in Bradford, Yorkishe, England.

She was 17 years old when she died. She is the eldest daughter of Iftikhar and
Farzana Ahmed, both ultra conservative Pakistani. Her father was a taxi driver and married her

that when he kill someone, he knows a Lake Distinct inch by inch, and no one will find that body.
The prosecution believes that her parents killed Shafilea because of the belief that she
brings shame to the family.

mother while he was married with a Danish woman. Her mother and father were cousins and
their said marriage was also arranged. She dreamt of becoming a solicitor one day. The girl like

According to Ian Smith, a coroner Shafilea had been the subject of a very vile

many other westerners would want to wear fashionable clothes and choose a boyfriend of her

murder". She had ambitions to live her own life in her own way, he said, to study, to follow a

own. When Shafilea was 11, she already ran away from home.

Unfortunately, her parents

career in the law and do what she wanted to do. "They are just basic human rights and they

wanted her to marry her cousin in his late 20s, a decade older than their daughter, and become

were denied to her." He said she had been a young woman who was frightened of the

a devoted wife, possibly never to return to the UK. The girl refused to the arranged marriage,

consequences of an arranged marriage. Her parents, who were a few feet away, were

which bought shame to their family. She even drank bleach in Pakistan six months before her

impassive. "I am quite sure she was torn between her own wish for freedom and her genuine

death to avoid the said marriage. Prior to that, she ran away. But, when her parents found

love for her family, particularly for her brothers and sisters. I am sure it was agonising for her to

whereabouts, she was drugged and forced to go to Pakistan. According to report, before she

experience."

died, she was frequently beaten up. She was even bombarded by chores before she can begin
with her schoolwork.

Before her killing, there had been traces of violence in her life. Her friend Sarah
Bennet recalled that when Shafilea dyed her hair and put false nails, her mother called her slut,
washed her hair and ripped her nails.

A senior homelessness officer, Ann Marie Woods said

that Shafilea was fleeing from an arranged marriage and violence at home was escalated since
she was 15. Even her friends and teachers saw faded bruises after absence from school. Her
boyfriend, also said that Shafilea told her about the physical violence she experienced at home
and the force marriage in Pakistan. Other friends like Powner also testified about being
witnessed to the volent assault of her parents to Shafilea.
TRIAL AND IMPRISONMENT OF PARENTS
The killing was provoked by an argument on Shafileas clothing when her mother
picked her up from her part-time job. She was wearing a t-shirt, cardigan and tight-fitting
trousers.

The police breakthrough happened after 9 years, when Alesha, Shafileas younger
sister confessed about what really happened. She disclosed that her parents ware the one who
killed her sister; it was in fact witnessed by her other siblings. They were told to keep their mouth
shut. She told in the trial that that her mother said just finish it here. She said that her parents
put a plastic bag inside the mouth of her sister and she was shocked when her sister stopped
kicking. Alesha also recalled that her father punched her sister several times in the chest after
killing. As she narrated in the jury, her mother was in the kitchen 'sorting through pile of blankets
and sheets' and holding a roll of black bin bags and two rolls of tape. After that had happened
she saw a large object wrapped in bin bags with brown tape around it. Shortly afterwards, she
saw her father leaving in a car with Shafilea's body. After the said allegations came out, her
father said that Shafilea ran away. On the other hand, the mother denied and cried that her
husband abused her daughter; he even threaten them that he will do the same to her and their
children.
Aleshas story was found corroborated with the fictional writings of her younger sister
Mevish. The trial began in May 2012 to April 2012. They were both found guilty of murder and
life imprisonment of 25 years.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The concept of family honor is extremely important in many communities. The family is

The enforcement of international human rights law is the responsibility of the nation

viewed as the main source of honor and the community highly values the relationship between

state; it is the primary responsibility of the State to make the human rights of its citizens a reality.

honor and the family. Acts by family members which may be considered inappropriate are seen
as bringing shame to the family in the eyes of the community
Honor killings are often a result of strongly patriarchal views on women, and the

In practice, many human rights are difficult to enforce legally, due to the absence of

position of women in society. In these traditional male-dominated societies women are

consensus on the application of certain rights, the lack of relevant national legislation or of

dependent first on their father and then on their husband, whom they are expected to obey.

bodies empowered to take legal action to enforce them

Women are viewed as property and not as individuals with their own agency. As such, they must
submit to male authority figures in the family failure to do so can result in extreme violence as
punishment. Violence is seen as a way of ensuring compliance and preventing rebellion.

Non-Government Organizations

Major Players in Eradicating Honour Based Violence

the domestic violence sector provide support to people at risk of Honour based violence; and

On an Individual level, we can also help as many minority womens NGOs working in
these are often underfunded, over-worked and face threats from their communities. You may
International Community

consider donating to, or volunteering with, one of these organizations.

There is a growing world-wide awareness of Honor Related Violence and increasing

Relaying of Information and Global awareness are the two things which must be done

services available. However this remains patchy and inconsistent and a victims chances of

so that prevention would be realized. In the short term, protection for victims and potential

obtaining suitable help for their situation vary. It is important to raise awareness through different

victims is necessary. In the long term, only a change in mentalities within the families and

oraganizations of human rights, international and local. We must also develop protection

communities that commit honour crimes will eradicate this practice for good.

procedures across all public sectors in order that prompt action and referrals can be made.
Enforcement of international human rights law can occur on a domestic, a regional or
an international level. States that ratify human rights treaties commit themselves to respecting
those rights and ensuring that their domestic law is compatible with international legislation.
When domestic law fails to provide a remedy for human rights abuses, parties may be able to
resort to regional or international mechanisms for enforcing human rights.
Local Authority
Awareness should also be forwarded to local authorities mainly the police as it is not
certain that any particular police officer will have the levels of training and awareness to deliver
the best response. If the police do not prove to be helpful it should your next step should be to
contact a minority womens NGO area that deals with issues relating to such honor violence,
which can intercede with the police and help you obtain the support and protection you need.

Indigenous and Non Indigenous Trees

Guijo leaves

A.

The leaves are lanceolate to

Indigenous Trees

oblong in shape. The base can be

In biogeography, a species is defined as indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its

rounded or subcuneate, apex

presence in that region is the result of only natural process, with no human intervention. The

caudate or acuminate. Secondary

term is equivalent to "native" in less scientific usage.

nerves are prominent underneath

and depressed in the upper

An indigenous species is not necessarily endemic. In biology and ecology, endemic means

surface.

exclusively native to the biota of a specific place. An indigenous species may occur in areas
other than the one under consideration.
A.1. Meaning of Indigenous
1.

existing, growing, or produced naturally in a region or country; native:

indigenous plant, indigenous to Florida.

2.

Innate; inherent; inborn

Guijo fruit
The nut contains 3 long wings expanded at the base with an obtuse
apex. The base is dense, 3-4 cm long and 9-10 mm in diameter. Guijo
trees have few flowered branches. Flowers are short-stalked with petals
that are 9-10 times as long as thesepal, linear-oblong, obtuse, with

A.2. Its Uses in General

slightly irregular margins, pale outside, darker inside.

They have high resistance to insect and disease attacks. They create different layers of diverse,

Guijo crown

healthy and thriving vegetation underneath the canopy, which reduce the tunnel effect of strong

The

winds and double ability of trees in erosion controls.

Guijos

wood

beautifully grained,

is

reddish

Most insect predators such as bats, birds, predatory insects and parasites build their homes on

brown, and very durable; highly preferred material for

native trees. They provide habitat for smaller animals and insect predators, which are important

construction requiring strength and durability i.e. for

in the control of crop and pasture damaging pests, thereby reducing the use of pesticides.

houses, bridges, wharves, furniture, carriage wheels,

for masts and keels of vessels, shipbuilding, building

By complementing the local landscape, they give an area a unique feel and provide a beautiful

construction (Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., 2016).

landscape. They provide valuable resources for the survival of fauna species. Some local
animals are dependent on certain native tress to survive and/or thrive.

A.3. Examples of Indigenous Trees

A.3.1 Guijo
Scientific Name: Shorea guiso
The Guijo Tree is an indigenous tree of the Philippines. Its average height is 40-55 meters with
a diameter of 180 centimeters.

A.3.2. Yakal

Scientific Name: Shorea astylosa

The branches are protruding and wide-ranging. From the side branches we see the
development of a network of tentacle-like, downward-growing and increasingly widening aerial

Yakal is an indigenous tree of the Philippines that is about

roots. If they have reached the ground, the tree gets a growth push and the air roots are

25 to 30 meters tall with hard and dark brownish-yellow

changing into supporting roots or buttresses. Soon they integrate themselves into the main trunk

wood. Its has slender, blackish, and slightly hairy

and then they are hardly distinguishing from it. The root system is broad and flat.

branchlets. Yakal is commonly found in Luzon, particularly

Quezon and Camarines; Samar; Negros; and Mindanao,

The oval-to heart-shaped leaves are as shoots reddish and then they are grow growing to

particularly Zamboanga, Agusan, and Davao. It can also

leathery, green shining, six to nine centimetres long leaves. The little flowers and fruits have no

be found in primary forests at low altitudes. The Yakals

special feature or use.

contemporary use is for high-grade construction, bridges

and wharves, mine timber, and other installations
requiring high strength and durability (Ramon Aboitiz
Foundation Inc., 2016).
A.3.3. The Balete Tree

Economic Utilization and Health Benefits

The economic benefit is limited. The softwood of the Balete tree is not regarded as of high
quality. The latex juice also contains india rubber, however, is apparently not used. From time to
time ropes are manufactured from the young aerial roots. In folk medicine, the brew of the barks
is used to relieve skin diseases and against worm disorders.

Balete trees are several species of the trees in the Philippines from the genus
Ficus that are broadly referred to as balete in the local language. A number of

Due to its wide treetop the Balete tree is a relatively beautiful tree, suitable

these are known as strangler figs wherein they start upon other trees, later

for planting in avenues and parks. Older trees can be a tourist attraction.

entrapping them entirely and finally killing the host tree. Also called
hemiepiphytes, initially, they start as epiphytes or air plants and grow several
hanging roots that eventually touch the ground and from then on, encircling

Medicinal Uses

and suffocating the host tree. Some of the baletes produce an inferior quality of
Chapped heels

rubber. The India rubber plant, F. elastica were earlier cultivated to some extent
for rubber. Some of the species like tangisang-bayawak or Ficus variegata are

Boils and painful joints

large and could probably be utilized for match woods. The woods of species of
Ficus are soft, light, and of inferior quality, and the trees usually have ill-formed,

Bleeding piles

short boles.
Diabetes
The gnarled Balete tree can be found as wild or culture tree almost everywhere
in the tropics. It is told, that already Robinson Crusoe has allegedly lived in a

Eczema

Balete tree. In the Philippines it grows in almost all regions pines. "Banyan-Tree" and "BaleteTree" are also common names. The Balete tree is belonging to the family of fig trees (Ficus).
About ten of 800 species are growing in the Philippines. The tree is one of the epiphytes, i.e.
fruits perhaps transported by birds - can also develop on other host trees. It feeds on the
substratum located there. Later, the Balete tree can crush the host tree to death. The Balete tree

Gum problems and pyorrhea

Bad breath and oral ulcers

Leucorrhea

Pimples or acne

Skin diseases and venereal diseases

has a short trunk with a grey smooth bark, a broad tree top and usually grows to a height of
height of 10 -20 meters.

Bruises, hemorrhoids, swellings, lumbago and rheumatism

The country started to dread and avoid Balete Drive since the 1950s when stories about a white
lady floating along its streets started to spread. It is said that cab drivers are its favorite victims

Religious Significance of Ficus Trees Around the World

Several figs [ficus] have religious associations including the common fig (F. carica), which
presumably provided raiment for Adam and Eve The sycamore figThe wood of this species
was used by the ancient Egyptians for their sarcophagi. Both the banyan (F. benghalensis) and
the bo tree or peepul (F. religiosa) are held sacred by the peoples of India. Hindus believe that
Brahma, the Creator, was transformed into a banyan tree. Both Hindus and Buddhists venerate
the bo tree. Under one Hindu deity Vishnu is believed to have been born, under another
Gautama Buddha meditated for six years and received enlightenment. Bo trees are planted in
India near temples because of their association with the Buddha and near homes to assure
happiness and prosperity. In New Delhi and elsewhere they are used as street trees. Believers
will not prune of cut down a banyan or a bo or a peepul tree. That work, when necessary, is
done by others. There is a saying in India it is better to die a leper than pluck a leaf of a peepul.

for she has been a victim by one of them. The driver would drive along the place not knowing
that the white lady is silently sitting inside his cabs back seat. He will only know it upon giving a
glimpse in the rear view mirror and will then see that the white lady is intensely staring at him.
Various versions of stories about the identity of this notorious white lady have arisen in the past.
One famous story is that the white lady is a student of the University of the Philippines.
According to a certain barangay security officer who resides in Balete Drive, the victim was
allegedly molested by a taxi driver on her way home from school. The abuser then threw her in a
dark pit beside a balete tree in Balete Drive after raping and killing her. Since then, the spirit of
this young girl have been haunting the streets of the drive, looking for her murderer. This story
was passed on to the present generation by the older residents of Balete. Another story is that
this white lady lives in a deserted ancestral mansion located in Balete Drive. The ghost is said to
be a victim of her own familys cruelty. At 3am, the white lady appears to lone drivers passing her
house in order to seek their help or to run away from home. Some taxi drivers claim that they
have experienced to drive for hours along the same street where the mansion was located. They

Mythology and Folklore

can only get out of the loop after saying several prayers and wearing their shirt inside out.
Because of this mystery, taxi drivers evade this route during midnight to dawn. If ever they need

Urban legends and mythical creatures have long been a part of Philippine folklore. Stories about

to pass the said area, they will blow their horns as a pasintabi (plea to pass) to the white lady.

aswang, tikbalang, duwende, and other terrifying creatures have scared the wit out of a lot of

Rumors had it that the white lady in Balete Drive was only fabricated by a reporter in the 1953 in

Pinoys in their childhood. Ghosts, especially white ladies, were never out of the picture. The

order to come up with an interesting story. Since then, other newspapers followed and allotted

most famous among these ladies is the one who allegedly resides in the vicinities of a place

columns for the controversial white lady in Balete Drive. Pranksters also sprouted since the

called Balete Drive. Balete Drive is a street located between Aurora Boulevard and Rodriguez

controversial stir began. One of such is a 15 year-old boy named Conrado de la Cruz who was a

Avenue in Metro Manila, Philippines. It is a simple street lined with ancestral mansions and

resident of Balete Drive at that time. It happened one night in 1953, at the height of Balete Drive

commercial establishments. At present, you wouldnt think that this place can make any person

scare, that the young boy pulled a trick on his neighbor, Lope Bautista (22 yrs. Old). He put on a

shudder in fear, since the area is well-lit with bright street lights. But in the earlier days, the street

white robe, wore a skull mask and crept into the balcony of Bautista. Terrified to death, Bautista

was lined with massive balete trees that darken the place and make it ghastly. In Pinoy culture,

jumped from his porch and got a sprain. The young rascal was reprimanded by the local police.

balete trees (Ficus benjamina) are regarded as home for spirits and mysterious creatures. This

Whether she is true or not, one thing is for sure: The white lady in Balete Drive remains as the

notion makes Balete Drive all the more frightening. Elders used to warn children against playing

most popular Filipino urban legend. She will always haunt our curiosity for the identity of the

near a balete tree due to certain beliefs such as:

white lady in Balete Drive will forever be a mystery.

A.3.4. Kamagong

Fairies and engkantadas live inside the balete tree. They invite children inside their

kingdom, and if a child eats something from there, she will remain trapped inside the tree for the
rest of her life.

If you point your finger or laugh at a balete tree, the fairies will get insulted and will

curse you.

If you cut a balete tree, the engkantos living in the tree will punish you with death.

Native in the Philippines and in Taiwan, Kamagong is a

Ipil trees are widely distributed in the country from Luzon to Mindanao along coastal areas,

tropical tree which is well suited to grow in hot and humid

riverbanks and occasionally in low hills. Along the seashore, and in some localities, in inland

countries.

forests, from the Babuyan Islands and northern Luzon to Mindanao and Palawan. Also occurs in
Madagascar, across Malaya to the Caroline and Fiji Islands.

Kamagong can be used in the local wooden furniture and

decorative industry in the country because of its unique

Uses

qualities of being dense, and dark. It can also be made

to musical instruments and martial arts equipment.

Wood from the Ipil tree is a beautiful, shiny black-brown and is durable which makes it good for

Cultivating it here will provide jobs to woodcraftsmen and

furniture and house construction, bridge construction, naval construction, church pillars, railroad

wooden designers. If the number of trees eventually

ties, paving blocks, electric and telegraphic poles, wood panels, tiles, cabinets, wharves, even

flourish, we can then export the products to different

for musical instruments and other novelty items. Extracts obtained from the wood in khaki

countries.

shades can also be used as dye.

Kamagong is easy to grow and can also be used as

The fruit is edible fruit has laxative properties, while decoction of the bark contains tannin, which

roadside trees which will help produce oxygen in our populated cities. The trees can be planted

is used to stop diarrhea. Tannin is also used in treating persons suffering from urinary ailments

through seed and by grafting. It only takes a little effort on our part to start doing so.

and rheumatism.

Unfortunately, Kamagong is an endangered species is the Philippines and is protected by

Philippine Laws from exportation. To export, one must be first given permission by the DENR
and Bureau of Forestry.

Ecologicially, Ipil trees are suitable for conservation in eroded gullies and in buffer strips along
creeks, and also in water purification. They provide excellent shade suitable for homes and
parks. Ipil trees are also wind tolerant which makes them ideal as windbreak.

A.3.5. Ipil Tree

Physical Characteristics
Ipil trees can grow as tall as 40 meters with a diameter of 100 centimeters at
breast height. Leaves are simply compound, alternate and with usually 2 pairs
of leaflets. They are about 8-12 cm long and 5-6 cm wide with glossy surfaces.
Midribs are distinct underneath.
Ipil fruit

Studies
Anti-trypanosomal - The ethanol extract showed good and specific
activity against Trypanosoma cruzi. However, it also exhibited high
cytotoxicity which might explain its observed activity. Study has also
suggested immuno-modulatory activity.
Phytochemicals / Radical Scavenging Activity - In a study of four

The Ipil fruit pods are rigid and flat, about 10-25 cm long and 4-6 cm wide. The

Philippine medicinal plants, phytochemical screening of Intsia bijuga

pods are green when young, brown when mature. Pods contain about 2-6

revealed

seeds each. Ipil seeds are about 2-3.5 cm long and wide and about 8 mm

compounds, steroids, tannins and triterpenes. The tannins may justify its

thick.

folkloric use for dysentery (leaves). Results showed radical scavenging

anthrones,

flavonoids,

glycosidic

flavonoids,

phenolic

activity, but with the highest EC50 value.

Smooth to slightly rough, the bark peels off regularly in thin flakes, about 5-8 mm thick, usually
light brown or gray in color with an orange tint.

Cytotoxicity: On brine shrimp lethality assay, I. bijuga leaves had an LC50 value of 86.5 g/ml.
All crude methanol extracts of the four Philippine medicinal plants tested had 100% mortality to

Distribution

brine shrimp at 1000 g/mL.

 Anti-Ulcer - Study evaluated methanol extracts of leaves of nine plants, including Intsia bijuga,

are

smooth

for anti-ulcer activity using HCl-ethanol as ulcerogen. All extracts showed inhibitory activity with I.

yellowish-green below. Its flowers are white-

bijuga among those that showed more than 50% inhibition.

yellowish green.

Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Activity - Xanthine oxidase inhibitors is a urate lowering agent,

The Amugis is widely distributed in the

blocking the synthesis of uric acid, and used in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout. Study

Philippines, Celebes, Moluccas, and Papua

evaluated the xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of methanol leaf extracts of 10 plants, including

New Guinea. The Amugis helps our economy

Intsia bijuga. All the extracts inhibited the action of xanthine oxidase.

by producing wood that is used for wooden

flooring,

Availability : Wildcrafted.

and

general

glossy

green

constrtucion,

above,

and

fine

furniture. Its bark has medicinal uses as well.

Sadly, the Amugis has depleted due to kaingin and logging.

A.3.6. Maritima
The Maritima is an indigenous tree from the family of Euphorbiaceae. It is a small to mediumsized tree reaching a diameter up to 50cm. Bole is regular, remarkably straight, and short about

Tree with a height of 25m and 120cm in diameter

Leaves are smooth and glossy

Flowers are white to yellowish green

Distributed widely in the country

Economic importance: wood is used for floorings, general construction and furniture

Ecological status: Depleted due to logging

6m or less long. Leaves are ovate-elliptic to ovate-lanceolate. This tree is found in Batan Islands,
northern Luzon-Palawan, Mindanao, Sulu Archipelago. The Maritima usually lives in Thickets
and forest near the seashore.
The Maritimas economic importance helps our local market in making guitars, ukeleles, and
other string instruments. It is also used to make furniture and nonvelities. As an ornamental
plant, the maritima is planted in parks, gardens, and parking areas. This tree has moderate salttolerance, and high-durability to typhoon damage.

A.3.8. ANAHAW TREE

Small to medium sized tree

Scientific

Batan Islands, Northern Luzon- Palawan, Mindanao,

Sulu Archipelago.

Habitats: Thickets and forest near the seashore

Economic

importance:

local

wooden

palm in English and Serdang in

other asian countries.

instruments,

It is endemic to the Philippines and

most commonly found in Luzon

Advantage to community: Planted in parks, gardens,

(Benguet,

and public places.

Zambales,

Livistona

It is called the round-leaf fountain

furniture, and novelties.

Name:

Rotundifolia

High durability to typhoon damage.

La

Union,

Pampanga,

Cagayan,
Laguna,

Quezon, Camarines, Albay), Negros,

Cagayan de Oro and in the provinces of Mindanao.

A.3.7. Amugis
Anahaw Tree is an erect palm reaching a height of 15 to 20 m and 25 cm in diameter. The trunk
The Amugis is an indigenous tree from the family of Anacardiaceae and its scientific name is
koordersiodendron pinnatum. It is a tree that grows up to 25m and 120cm in diameter. Its leaves

is smooth, straight, and marked with close, rather shallow obscure rings which are the leaf

scars. The leaves are crowded at the top of the trunk and ascending. The green, smooth,

been used for propeller shaft bearings on

flattened petiole may have hard, black spines. The circular, fan shaped, pleated leaf blades are 1

ships, and its natural oils provide self-

m in diameter and divided into segments 2.5 to 4 cm wide. The green flowers are 2 mm long.

lubrication that gives the wood excellent

The fruit is 1.5 cm in diameter, fleshy and yellow with a hard, round, brown seed inside.

wear resistance.

Anahaw starts to flower from March to July. The palm stars to bear fruits at age 10 attaining a

Note: No Disadvantages have been found,

20-cm diameter at breast height of 5-8 m height. Mature fruits are ready for collection from

but the only problem in this tree is that it is

August to September.

almost abused to the point that it is already

at the brink of extinction.

Benefits
"Lignum vitae" is Latin for "wood of life", and derives its name from its medicinal uses; lignum
Its straight durable trunk is highly in demand for house posts, flooring, pack carriers, fishing rod

vitae resin has been used to treat a variety of medical conditions from coughs to arthritis, and

bows, canes and spear shaft.

chips of the wood can also be used to brew a tea. Other names for lignum vitae includepalo

Its orbicular, fan shaped leaves or fronds and pleated leaf blades are good roofing and fanmaking materials while its trunks are preferred for constructing low cost houses particularly in
rural areas.
The leaf has been used as pambalot (food wrapper) for tikoy, or as a makeshift lunchbox for
children going to school since lunchboxes were very expensive before.
It has been made into Abaniko (fan), which is very beautiful and a work of art. A relief on a
crowded place, or simply a refreshment from a hot, humid day, the colorful abaniko is an
indispensable item in a Pinoy's everyday life.

santo (Spanish for "holy wood") and "bastard greenheart" (not to be confused with true
Greenheart Chlorocardium rodiei, a popular wood in shipbuilding, cabinetry, and woodturning but
a completely different timber); lignum vitae is also one of the numerous hard, dense woods
loosely referred to as ironwood.
Benefits and Use
Lignum vitae resin has been used to treat a variety of medical conditions from coughs to
arthritis, and chips of the wood can also be used to brew a tea. Other names for lignum vitae
includepalo santo (Spanish for "holy wood") and "bastard greenheart" (not to be confused with
true Greenheart Chlorocardium rodiei, a popular wood in shipbuilding, cabinetry, and

Ecologically, anahaw leaves can purify air, has a cooling effect, and improves water supply, and

woodturning but a completely different timber); lignum vitae is also one of the numerous hard,

its roots hold the soil.

dense woods loosely referred to as ironwood.

A.3.9.Guayacan Tree

Due to the density of the wood, cricket bails, in particular "heavy bails" used in windy conditions,
are sometimes made of lignum vitae. It is also sometimes used to make lawn bowls, croquet

Scientific Name: Lignum Vitae

The trees are indigenous to the Caribbean and the northern coast of South America and have

mallets, and skittles balls. The wood also has seen widespread historical usage in mortars and
pestles and for wood carvers' mallets.

been an important export crop to Europe since the beginning of the 16th century. The wood was

It was the traditional wood used for the British police truncheon until recently, due to its density

once very important for applications requiring a material with its extraordinary combination of

(and strength), combined with the relative softness of wood compared to metal, thereby tending

strength, toughness, and density. It is also the national tree of the Bahamas and the Jamaican

to bruise or stun rather than simply cut the skin.

national flower.
According to the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association website, the shaft bearings
Advantages and Disadvantages
Lignum Vitae are regarded by most to be both the heaviest and hardest wood in the world. Its
durability in submerged or ground-contact applications is also exceptional. Lignum Vitae have

on the WWII submarineUSS Pampanito (SS-383) were made of this wood; also The aft main
shaft strut bearings for USS Nautilus (SSN-571), the world's first nuclear-powered submarine,
were composed of this wood.

The United Railroads of San Francisco (an ancestor of the San Francisco Municipal Railway)

Trivia: In the ancient Celtic world, the yew tree (*eburos) had extraordinary importance; a

began installing lignum vitae insulators to support heavy feeder wires for their trolley system in

passage by Caesar narrates that Catuvolcus, chief of the Eburones poisoned himself with yew

1904. The reason for the adoption of lignum vitae was its ability to withstand the high stress at

rather than submit to Rome. (In short: the berries produced by this tree is mostly taken to

high temperature, a problem posed by heavy cables turning corners heated by high current

commit suicide)

overloads. Many of these insulators survived the 1906 earthquake and fires, despite
temperatures high enough to soften the iron poles and melt the copper cables. Many of these
lasted into the 1970s with a small number remaining in service into the late 2000s (most of these
came down when the overhead 600 V DC feeders were replaced with a new system of
underground feeders, the rest coming out of service as aging crossarms supporting the
remaining overhead feeders were replaced).

Medicinal
In 1021, Avicenna introduced the medicinal use of T. baccata for phytotherapy in The Canon of
Medicine. He named this herbal drug "Zarnab" and used it as a cardiac remedy. This was the
first known use of a calcium channel blocker drug, which were not in wide use in the Western
world until the 1960s.
Certain compounds found in the bark of yew trees were discovered by Wall and Wani in 1967 to
have efficacy as anti-cancer agents. The precursors of the chemotherapy drugpaclitaxel (taxol)
can be synthesized easily from the extracts of the leaves of European yew, which is a more

A.3.10. Yew Tree

renewable source than the bark of the Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia). This ended a point of
conflict in the early 1990s; many environmentalists, including Al Gore, had opposed the

Taxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa,

harvesting of yew for paclitaxel cancer treatments.Docetaxel can then be obtained by semi-

northern Iran and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related

synthetic conversion from the precursors.

trees becoming known, it may now be known as English yew, or European yew. (Their
survivability depends on the condition, such as the climate present in a country.)

In the Central Himalayas, the plant is used as a treatment for breast and ovarian cancer.

The word yew as it was originally used seems to refer to the color brown; Baccata is Latin for

Similar to Guayacan, but they differ in such that this tree is that the Wood from the yew is

bearing red berries.

classified as a closed-pore softwood, similar to cedar and pine. Easy to work, yew is among the
hardest of the softwoods; yet it possesses a remarkable elasticity, making it ideal for products
It

is

small

to

medium-sized

that require springiness, such as bows.

evergreen tree, growing 1020 metres

(3366 ft) (exceptionally up to 28

In Asturian tradition and culture the yew tree has had a real link with the land, the people, the

metres (92 ft)) tall, with a trunk up to 2

ancestors and the ancient religion. It was tradition on All Saints Day to bring a branch of a yew

metres (6 ft 7 in) (exceptionally 4

tree to the tombs of those who had died recently so they will find the guide in their return to the

metres (13 ft)) diameter. The bark is

Land of Shadows. The yew tree has been found near chapels, churches and cemeteries since

thin, scaly brown, coming off in small

ancient times as a symbol of the transcendence of death, and is usually found in the main

flakes aligned with the stem. The

squares of the villages where people celebrated the open councils that served as a way of

leaves are flat, dark green, 14

general assembly to rule the village affairs.

centimetres (0.391.57 in) long and 2

3 millimetres (0.0790.118 in) broad, arranged spirally on the stem, but with the leaf bases

It has been suggested that the Sacred Tree at the Temple at Uppsala was an ancient yew tree.

twisted to align the leaves in two flat rows either side of the stem, except on erect leading shoots

The Christian church commonly found it expedient to take over existing pre-Christian sacred

where the spiral arrangement is more obvious. The leaves are poisonous.

sites for churches. It has also been suggested that yews were planted at religious sites as their
long life was suggestive of eternity, or because being toxic they were seen as trees of death.

Benefits

Clippings from ancient specimens in the UK, including the Fortingall Yew, were taken to the

bisexual with numerous stamens, but

Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh to form a mile-long hedge. The purpose of this "Yew

unisexual flowers have been noted in

Conservation Hedge Project" is to maintain the DNA of Taxus baccata. The species is

A. nilotica (cf. Sinha, 1971).

threatened by felling, partly due to rising demand from pharmaceutical companies, and disease.
The wide-ranging genus occurs in a
B. Non-Indigenous Trees

variety of open, tropical to subtropical

habitats, and is locally dominant. In

Non-indigenous species have, by definition, evolved separately from the ecosystem into which

parts of Africa, Acacias are shaped

they arrive, so the native plants and animals are vulnerable to the effects of competition,

progressively by grazing animals of

predation or parasitism which the newcomers may bring.

increasing size and height, such as

However, other introduced species are able to reproduce and proliferate rapidly, due either to
taking over an empty ecological niche, a lack of competing native species or an absence of

gazelle, gerenuk and giraffe. The genus in Africa has thus developed thorns in defence against
such herbivory.

predators in their new environment. It is these invasive alien species which are of most extreme

The Acacia's distinctive leaves make the tree highly distinguishable. While there are more than

concern in the world today. Because of the lack of natural controls on their expansion, they can

800 species of the Acacia trees around the world, most feature small, finely divided green

take over entire areas or regions, eliminating native species in the process, and completely

leaflets that give the stalk a fernlike appearance.

altering or degrading the quality and diversity of the ecosystems into which they are introduced.
Meanwhile, in other species, which grow in the desert and see very little rain, leaves are absent
B.2. Its General Uses
Some non-native trees provide habitat for native plants and animals and can promote diversity.

all together. Instead, the stalks perform the functions of leaves and can appear as sharp spines
or large thorns.

Introduced species can also help restore native ecosystems on degraded land. In Puerto Rico,

Another distinguishing appearance of the Acacia tree is its blossoms. The small, fragrant flowers

for example, much of the native forest was destroyed for farming, and in recent decades

are:

conservation biologists have been trying to nurture them back on abandoned farmland. Native
trees do a poor job of pioneering this degraded landscape. Alien trees, such as African tulip

Pea-shaped

Arranged in compact cylindrical clusters

Yellow in color, though some species produce white blooms

Fuzzy with multiple stamens per flower

Positioned on the edge of airy branches

trees and rose apple, have colonized them instead. These new forests remain dominated by
alien trees for their first three or four decades. But the forests are also a habitat in which native
trees can begin to thrive again.
B.3. Examples of Non Indigenous Trees
B.3.1. Acacia Trees
They are trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing, and are always armed. Younger plants,
especially, are armed with spines which are modified stipules, situated near the leaf bases.
Some (cf. A. tortilis, A. hebeclada, A. luederitzii and A. reficiens) are also armed with paired,
recurved prickles (in addition to the spines). The leaves are alternate and bipinnately arranged,
and their pinnae are usually opposite. The racemose inflorescences usually grow from the leaf
axils. The yellow or creamy white flowers are produced in spherical heads, or seldom in elongate
spikes, which is the general rule in the related genus Senegalia. The flowers are typically

Most Acacia trees have short lifespans of 15 to 30 years. Consequently, they tend to grow
quickly and can reach heights in excess of 40 feet. In addition to the stunning yellow and white
blooms, the Acacia produces a dry seedpod as its fruit. Each pod is about three inches long and
contains five to six brownish black seeds. The combination of its feathery leaves, globular
flowers and dry seedpods creates a dramatic appearance during the tree's peak growing years.
Popular Uses of the Acacia Tree

The Acacia tree's sturdy branches and durable trunk made the species an invaluable resource

Some of these uses still apply today. Here are six ways acacia can be beneficial to your health.

for shipbuilder's in the 1700s. These days, a number of Acacia species have become important
economic boosters in third world countries, such as India, Africa and parts of Asia where nearly
the entire tree is cultivated and used to make vital products.
Some of the most popular uses for the tree include:

1. its a good source of fiber.

Acacia is known as a good source of dietary fiber because it contains about 90 percent soluble
fiber. This type of fiber, which dissolves in water, is an important part of your diet. It helps the
digestive system run smoothly and reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Wood: Used to make flooring, furniture, jewelry, weapons and toys.

2. It can help with digestive issues.

Gum Arabic: A substance used in adhesives, some medicines, and as a thickening

agent in frozen desserts.

Fiber can help alleviate constipation and discomfort associated with digestive disorders such as
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, fiber content may not be the only reason acacia is

Tannin: Found in the bark of the tree, tannin is used to dye ink.

Blossoms: Added as a flavoring to desserts and liqueur. The flower's essential oils are

good for the digestive system. The sap may also be a prebiotic, which means it can help to feed
the good bacteria in the intestines. One study found that yogurt with added acacia fiber was
more effective in reducing IBS symptoms than regular yogurt.

also used in perfumes.

3. It might have a future in diabetes management.

Seeds: Some can be eaten raw or ground and added to sauces.

Some claim that acacia supplements can help control your blood sugar. While theres little

Once used by ancient Egyptian and Arabic civilizations to treat a variety of medical conditions,

clinical evidence to support that, its known that dietary fiber plays an important role in regulating

from colds to leprosy, the acacia plant still plays a role in modern food and medicine.

blood sugar in those with type 2 diabetes. Foods with added acacia may help boost your daily

Native to tropical regions of Africa and Australia, the acacia is a shrub-like tree that has sharp
thorns and can grow up to 15 feet tall. Sap from the acacia tree, often called acacia gum, is used

fiber.
4. Can it lower cholesterol

for medicinal purposes.

Like other dietary fibers, acacia may have a role in lowering cholesterol. While a study by the
You can find acacia at most health food stores in powder, capsule, or gum form. Its also an

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) couldnt establish a direct link between acacia gum and

ingredient in many snack foods and candies like gum drops and marshmallows, as well as in

cholesterol, research has shown that adding soluble fiber to your diet can lower cholesterol

some traditional Arabic desserts.

levels significantly.

Historically, it was used to treat:

5. No more sore throat.

Skin wounds such as burns, cuts, or leprosy

Acacia is a demulcent, a substance that relieves irritation in the mucus membranes of the mouth

Digestive issues

Gonorrhea

coughs

Dysentery

6. Your dentist would approve.

Colds

Early research suggests that acacia gum may have antibacterial properties that help control

by creating a protective film. Historically, this is why it was used to heal wounds, mouth sores,
and cold symptoms. Today its an ingredient in many cold medications such as throat lozenges
and cough medicines.

harmful bacteria in the mouth that cause gum disease. One study found that chewing gum made

with acacia was more helpful in reducing plaque for seven days when compared with regular

France's Commander of Allied Forces described L'Arbre du Tnr as something truly special --

gum.

not only for its ability to survive in the stark desert, but also for the restraint countless passersby
had shown in letting it be.

In the United States, Acacia can be found listed as an ingredient in popular beverages, such as:
"One must see the Tree to believe its existence," wrote Michel Lesourd in 1939. "What is its

Sun Drop

secret? How can it still be living in spite of the multitudes of camels which trample at its sides?

Fresca

"How at each azalai [caravan] does not a lost camel eat its leaves and thorns? Why don't the

RC Cola

Barq's Root Beer

Strawberry-Lemonade Powerade

numerous Touareg leading the salt caravans cut its branches to make fires to brew their tea?
The only answer is that the tree is taboo and considered as such by the caravaniers."
That year, a well was dug near the tree, offering a hint to how it had managed to survive in the
sand. The tree, only around 10 feet tall, had roots that stretched down more than 100 feet to the
water table. It was estimated to be around 300 years old, the sole survivor from an ancient grove

In addition, the gum Arabic cultivated from some Acacia trees is used in Altoids mints, Wrigley's

that existed when the region was less arid than it is today.

Eclipse chewing gum and M&Ms pretzels.

Like all things, this living wonder which had managed to thrive despite the odds stacked against
Acacia Tree and Ants Interestingly, stinging ants and acacia trees have a mutually beneficial

it, was destined to one day die -- but how it met its end perhaps speaks more of human nature

relationship. Ants create cozy living quarters by hollowing out the thorns, then survive by eating

than of Nature itself.

the sweet nectar produced by the tree. In turn, the ants protect the tree by stinging any animals
that attempt to munch on the leaves.

According to a contemporaneous report, in 1973 a truck driver, following a roadway that traced
the old caravan route, collided with the tree, snapping its trunk. In an instant, one single act of

The Ark of the Covenant is said to be made out of acacia wood.

Earth's most isolated tree, the only one around for 250 miles, was knocked down by alleged
drunk driver
For centuries, until one fateful day in 1973, a lone acacia tree grew in the sea of sand that is the
Nigerian Sahara desert. For generations of weary travellers, the solitary tree offered a bit of
shade, and so much more. As the only tree around for 250 miles, it served as an important
landmark along a long-established caravan route through the barren terrain, but also as a
monument to the resiliency of life.
Though the improbability of its survival still comes as a heartening testament that life can indeed
thrive in the harshest of places -- the story of its sad demise is a bitter reminder of how even a
single moment of human recklessness can destroy a wonder so long wrought.
The Tuareg people, a nomadic tribe in the region of Tnr, had already come to cherish the
tree, but by the late 1930s, it caught the attention of outsiders too. European military
campaigners marveled at the lonely acacia in the desert, calling it L'Arbre du Tnr (The Tree
of Tenere), and its inclusion on cartographers' maps made clear the tree's rather remarkable
distinction as the earth's most isolated tree.

carelessness severed a link to history, so deeply rooted in the desert sand and in the ethos of
generations that had come to cherish it.
The driver, who remains unidentified to this day, is alleged to have been drunk at the time of the
accident. (Stephen Messenger)
B.3.2. Para Rubber Tree

Originated in the Amazon Rainforest of South America, the

shrubs. They are generally long-lived, usually

tree itself cannot be cultivated in the region because of leaf

over 100 years in suitable environments. The

blight, which is a fungal pathogenic infection which will

longest living individuals of any kind are the

eventually kill the trees. The tree was propagated and

fabled intermountain bristlecone pine (Pinus

cultivated to tropical countries by the British where leaf blight

longaeva) which currently has living trees at

was not present.

least 4,800 years old. (The root systems of the

creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) may be even

The Para Rubber Tree is the primary source of rubber

older). All pine species are evergreen, i.e.,

around the world. One tree is capable of producing large

they keep their leaves for at least two growing

quantities of rubber for 25-30 years after which the trees are

seasons (and up to about 30 years in the case

felled due to decrease productions but are then made to

of P. longaeva)

wooden furniture.
They are monoecious, i.e., individual trees have both female
The rubber industry can help the agricultural farmers in the country since the rubber tree grows

(megasporangiate) cones which bear the ovules and male

well in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. The process is easily understandable for the

(microsporangiate) cones which shed the pollen. The pollen is carried by wind and gravity; none

collection of rubber, a small incision will be made along the bark of the tree where a slide will be

of the pines is pollinated by insects or birds. All pines have 12 pairs of chromosomes, as do

connected to it leading to a bucket which will collect the sap which the tree produces. Once the

other genera of the Pinaceae family except two (Douglas firs have 13 and false larches have

bucket is full of the latex like substance, it will then be collected by the farmers. This will provide

11).

jobs to our fellow citizens which will provide for the families and this will also help the
environment through the planting of trees.

About three-fifths of the pine species are currently classified in the subgenus Pinus (Diploxylon)
pines, commonly called hard pines or yellow pines. The other two-fifths is comprised of the

B.3.3. Pine Tree

Pine trees (the genus Pinus) are distinguished from all other trees by: (a) having uncovered
seeds borne in pairs on the bracts of (female) cones (as do other genera of the Pinaceae family)
and (b) narrow leaves ("needles") arranged in bundles of 2 to 5 and with a permanent or
deciduous sheath at their bases. Such bundles of needles are called fascicles (after the bundle
of sticks around the axe which represented the power of the Roman senate). There are usually 2
to 5 leaves per fascicle (very rarely 1, or 6 to 8). The individual needles in one fascicle, when
viewed in cross section, are like pie-shaped segments which fit together form a complete circle.

subgenus Strobus (Haploxylon) pines which are also called soft pines or white pines. (The new
subgenus Ducampopinus would account for about one-fifth of the species, leaving
approximately one-fifth in the genus Strobus). The subgenus Pinus has two fibrovascular
bundles running the length of the needle (hence diploxylon) and the Strobus subgenus (and also
Ducampopinus) has one (haploxylon) fibrovascular bundle. Diploxylon pines generally differ from
the Haploxylon pines by having harder yellower wood, cones that are often armed with a prickle,
stiffer needles with permanent needle sheaths and the development of rough scaly bark at a
younger age.

Therefor each needle has a hemispherical cross section (if there are 2 needles per fascicle) or

The pine genus is generally sun-loving and relatively shade-intolerant. They are less likely than

triangular cross section (if there are 3 or more needles per fascicle).

shade-tolerant genera (e.g. spruces and firs) to grow up from seedlings in an already

A third subgenus, Ducampopinus, intermediate between these two, has been proposed. The
Strobus subgenus (and also subgenus Ducampopinus) has one fibrovascular bundle per leaf,
ie., they are haploxylon. The subgenus Pinus has two fibrovascular bundles per leaf, i.e. they
are diploxylon. As a rule (not always), they have the following arrangement of leaves and leaf
sheaths.
Pines are mostly large trees with a straight trunk with whorls of smaller lateral branches, but they
have a wide range of habits varying from tall narrow trees to small bushy trees to prostrate

established shady forest, so pine trees are less favored in mixed conifer and uneven-aged
forests and often are not the "climax" trees in densely vegetated forests. But they are usually
among the first trees to establish on open ground that is being revegetated after fire or other
disturbance and are often found in pure even-age stands or in savanna (more open) settings
where drought and fires control tree density. In the huge Longleaf pine forests along the Gulf and
southeast Altlantic Coasts from east Texas to Virginia and Delaware, fire was just as essential as
rain in preserving the pine's dominance.

The family Pinaceae evolved in the northern hemisphere during the early Cretaceous or Jurassic

have transverse and longitudinal ridges across the middle of the scale surface. The seeds are

Period of the Mesozoic Era, 130 to 200 million years ago and by the late Cretaceous the genus

winged, 67 mm long with a 1.5-2.5 cm wing. Pollination is in mid spring, with the cones

Pinus had already differentiated into haploxylon and diploxylon subgenera. They have flourished

maturing 1820 months after.

and evolved into about 120 species and subspecies world-wide, still almost all in the northern
hemisphere. Only one species (P. merkusii) extends about one degree south of the equator in

Khasi pine usually grows in pure stands or mixed with broad-leaved trees, but does not form

Sumatra. They grow from desert edge to rain forests and from sea level to mountain treeline.

open pine forests.

The country with the most species of pines is Mexico, which has approximately 60 species and
subspecies, followed by the United States (about 45) and China (about 21). The Mexican
highlands have been an evolutionary center for new pine species.

Commercial Use
The soft and light timber of Pinus kesiya can be used for a wide range of applications, including
boxes, paper pulp, and temporary electric poles. It is intensely used for timber, both sourced in

Benguet Pine

natural forests and plantations.

Pinus kesiya (Khasi pine, Benguet
pine or three-needled pine) is one of
the most widely distributed pines in
Asia. Its range extends south and

The good-quality resin is not abundant and has not been much used except during the Spanish
colonial period in the Philippines for the production of turpentine.
B.3.3. LEAD TREE (IPIL IPIL)

east from the Khasi Hills in the

northeast Indian state of Meghalaya,
to northern Thailand, Philippines,
Burma,

Cambodia,

Laos,

southernmost China, and Vietnam. It

is an important plantation species
elsewhere in the world, including in
southern Africa and South America.
The common name "Khasi pine" is from the Khasi hills in India, and "Benguet pine" is from the
landlocked province of Benguet in Luzon, Philippines, where it is the dominant species of the
Luzon tropical pine forests. The Benguet pine is sometimes treated as a separate species, Pinus
insularis; however, the current opinion is to treat these as conspecific with P. kesiya. The city of
Baguio is nicknamed "The City of Pines", as it is noted for large stands of this tree.

Scientific Name: Leucaena Galicia

It is originated from Mexico and Central America and introduced to the
Philippines by the Spanish. It is widely distributed in the country from
Luzon to Mindanao along coastal areas, riverbanks and occasionally
in low hills. It has adapted to the Philippines very well and can be
found easily, as it is a type of a tropical rainforest plant.
Ipil-ipil is a tree growing up 8 meters high. Leaves are compound, 15
to 25 centimeters long, with hairy rachis. Pinnae are 8 to 16, and 5 to
8 centimeters long. Leaflets are 20 to 30, linear oblong, and 7 to 12
millimeters long. Heads are solitary, at the axils of the leaves, long-peduncled, globose, and 2 to
5 centimeters in diameter, with many flowers. Flowers are whitish, in dense globule heads, 2 to 3
centimeters in diameter. Fruit is an oblong or linear pod, strap-shaped, 12 to 18 centimeters
long, 1.4 to 2 centimeters wide, papery, green turning to brown and splitting open along two
edges when mature, and several fruits developing from each flower head. Each pod contains 15

Bark of Benguet Pine

Pinus kesiya is a tree reaching up to 3035 m tall with a straight, cylindrical trunk. The bark is

to 25 elliptic, compressed, shining, brown seeds, each 5 to 8 millimeters long, 3 to 5 millimeters

wide.

thick and dark brown, with deep longitudinal fissures. The branches are robust, red brown from

Most of the time, ipil-ipil plants are used for agriculture and animal feed. The ipil-ipil plants can

the second year, the branchlets horizontal to drooping. The leaves are needle-like, dark green,

be planted as hedgerows to prevent erosion in the soil and act as mulch or other things as well.

usually 3 per fascicle, 1520 cm long, the fascicle sheath 12 cm long and persistent. The cones

Meanwhile, it can also be used to feed animals raised on the farm, such as goats, sheep, and

are ovoid, 59 cm long, often curved downwards, sometimes slightly distorted; the scales of

other animals.

second-year cones are dense, the umbo a little convex, sometimes acutely spinous. The scales

BENEFITS
Wood from the Ipil tree is a beautiful, shiny black-brown and is durable which makes it good for

Reforestation

furniture and house construction, bridge construction, naval construction, church pillars, railroad
ties, paving blocks, electric and telegraphic poles, wood panels, tiles, cabinets, wharves, even

Mentioned above, ipil-ipil trees are well adapted to tropical climate, such as the Philippines. That

for musical instruments and other novelty items. Extracts obtained from the wood in khaki

is why they are a good choice of plants to plant for reforestation.

shades can also be used as dye.

Advantages: In addition to the ipil-ipil plant being well adapted to the climates in the Philippines,

The fruit is edible fruit has laxative properties, while decoction of the bark contains tannin, which

ipil-ipil trees have legumes in their roots, which help fertilize the soil. It seems that ipil-ipil plants

is used to stop diarrhea. Tannin is also used in treating persons suffering from urinary ailments

are a great choice to plant for reforestation since ipil-ipil trees are well adapted to the Philippines

and rheumatism.

climate, have legumes to fertilize the soil, and are easy to find and access. Because the ipil-ipil
trees in the Philippines are well adapted and abundant, it seems to indicate that it will survive

Ecologicially, Ipil trees are suitable for conservation in eroded gullies and in buffer strips along

and be able to reforest an area. Through reforestation, not only will it help the environment, but it

creeks, and also in water purification. They provide excellent shade suitable for homes and

can also help people by using them as tools mentioned above in the overview or the first

parks. Ipil trees are also wind tolerant which makes them ideal as windbreak.

paragraph.

The ipil-ipil leaves can be dried for use in concentrate feeds. Ipil-ipil is also well known for its

Disadvantages: Once again, mentioned above, only planting ipil-ipil plants is dangerous.

high nutritional value and for the similarity of its chemical composition with that of the alfalfa.

Because of the lack of biodiversity, the ipil-ipil plants face danger of pests, diseases, and lack of

Basically, its use can be effective in agriculture as mulch, hedgerows that prevent erosion,

nutrients. Besides, if there is only one biodiversity, it cannot really be considered as a

legumes for fertilization, and others. It can also be used to feed animals and even be helpful to

reforestation. The main reason for reforestation is to restore an area that once was a natural

peoples daily lives as firewood or building materials.

habitat. By only planting ipil-ipil trees, it cannot be considered a tropical rainforest. To overcome
this conflict, it is best to plant the ipil-ipil plants first as a pioneer plant, and add other plants that

Erosion Control

will help reforest a specific area.

As for erosion control, ipil-ipil trees are great for preventing erosion. That is why most ipil-ipil

Green Manure

trees are grown in hedgerows and trimmed to prevent the soil from being eroded.
Ipil-ipil plants are known to be good food for animals and plants as well. For animals, ipil-ipil
Advantages: By planting many ipil-ipil trees, which are well adapted to this country, it will lead to

plants contain good nutrients that helps feed the animals. For plants, ipil-ipil helps plants by

the plant absorbing excess water from rain, cover the soil from some heavy water, and protect

providing mulch, returning some nutrients to the soil, preventing erosion, and acting as

the soil from flowing away. Thus, it has all the basic components for preventing erosion. In

hedgerows.

addition, the tree has a high survival rate, it is easy to obtain ipil-ipil seeds, and the fact that it
can absorb enough amount of water qualifies it to be a plant fit for erosion control.

Advantages: One of the main advantages of using ipil-ipil plants is the low cost. Rather than all
the other expensive fertilizers for plants and food for animals, ipil-ipil can be easily substituted

Disadvantages: However, there are also some possible problems that may occur. Because of

for them. Sometimes, ipil-ipil animal feeds are even better than other products for the animals.

pests and diseases, by planting only the ipil-ipil trees, it may kill all the plants in that area. If

Ipil-ipil plants have rare and natural nutrients that are essential for animals. Also, ipil-ipil plants

there is no biodiversity in an area, it will be easier for that one plant to be attacked by specific

have legumes in their roots that help fertilize the soil, and act as hedgerows and erosion control

pests and diseases. That is why, to solve this problem, it is advisable to plant other plants that

as an added bonus. In addition, toxin and chemicals that are mixed in the fertilizers and animal

will help prevent erosion along with the ipil-ipil trees to create more biodiversity. Besides, by only

feeds are harmful for the plants and animal, but ipil-ipil plants are naturally non-hazardous.

planting one specific plant, specific nutrients in the soil cannot support all the same plants in that

Overall, ipil-ipil plants are clean, safe, and environmentally friendly fertilizers and animal feeds.

area. By creating biodiversity, the nutrients in the soil will be used and added equally, creating a
harmonious balance.

Disadvantages: Similar to the disadvantages above, by only feeding animals with ipil-ipil is not

consider them to have aphrodisiac qualities. Japanese cooks add ginkgo seeds (called ginnan)

necessarily good for the animals. Too much ipil-ipil feed to the animals can have a negative

to dishes such as chawanmushi, and cooked seeds are often eaten along with other dishes.

effect instead. Likewise, fertilizing the soil with only ipil-ipil legumes could cause negative effect
on plant growth, as ipil-ipil legumes does not necessarily create nutrients for every specific
plants. Overall, just using too much of one thing, is not always a good thing.
B.3.5. Gingko Biloba Tree

Disadvantage
Ginkgo may have undesirable effects, especially for individuals with blood circulation disorders
and those taking anticoagulants such asaspirin or warfarin, although recent studies have found
ginkgo has little or no effect on the anticoagulant properties or pharmacodynamics of warfarin in

Native to China, the tree is widely cultivated and was

healthy subjects.

introduced early tohuman history. It has various uses

in traditional medicine and as a source of food. The

Additional side effects include increased risk of bleeding, gastrointestinal

species was initially described by Carl Linnaeus in

discomfort,

1771, the specific epithet biloba derived from the Latin

palpitations, and restlessness. Ginkgo should be used with caution when

bis, "two" and loba, "lobed", referring to the shape of

combined with other herbs known to increase bleeding (e.g. garlic, ginseng,

the leaves.

ginger).

Ginkgos are large trees, normally reaching a height of

According to a systemic review, the effects of ginkgo on pregnant women may

2035 m (66115 ft), with some specimens in China

include increased bleeding time, and it should be avoided during lactation

being over 50 m (160 ft). The tree has an angular

because of inadequate safety evidence.

crown and long, somewhat erratic branches, and is

usually deep rooted and resistant to wind and snow
damage. Young trees are often tall and slender, and sparsely branched; the crown becomes

nausea,

vomiting,

diarrhea,

headaches,

dizziness,

heart

C. Laws
C.1 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3571

broader as the tree ages. During autumn, the leaves turn a bright yellow, then fall, sometimes
within a short space of time (one to 15 days). A combination of resistance to disease, insect-

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE CUTTING, DESTROYING OR INJURING OF PLANTED OR

resistant wood and the ability to form aerial roots and sprouts makes ginkgos long-lived, with

GROWING TREES, FLOWERING PLANTS AND SHRUBS OR PKANTS OF SCENIC VALUE

some specimens claimed to be more than 2,500 years old.

ALONG PUBLIC ROADS, IN PLAZAS, PARKS, SCHOOL, PREMISES OR IN ANY OTHER

PUBLIC GROUND

The tree is the official tree of the Japanese capital of Tokyo, and the symbol of Tokyo is a ginkgo
leaf.

In order to promote and conserve the beauty of objects of scenic and ornamental value along
public places and help preserve cool,fresh and healthful climate, it is the policy of the

Benefits
An extract of Ginkgo biloba leaf (GBE) is marketed in dietary supplement form with claims it can
enhance cognitive function in people without known cognitive problems. Studies have failed to
find such effects on memory or attention in healthy people.

Government to cherish, protect and conserve planted or growing trees, flowering plants and
shrubs or plants of ornamental value along public roads, in plazas, parks, school premises or in
any public ground.
C.2. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10176

The nut-like gametophytes inside the seeds are particularly esteemed in Asia, and are a

AN ACT REVIVING THE OBSERVANCE OF ARBOR DAY BY AUTHORIZING THE LOCAL

traditional Chinese food. Ginkgo nuts are used incongee, and are often served at special

GOVERNMENT UNITS THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CELEBRATING THE DAY FOR TREE

occasions such as weddings and the Chinese New Year (as part of the vegetarian dish

PLANTING AS AN ANNUAL EVENT

calledBuddha's delight). In Chinese culture, they are believed to have health benefits; some also

It is hereby mandated that all provinces, cities and municipalities with their component
barangays shall be required to revive, by appropriate proclamation of their respective local chief
executives, an Arbor Day at an appropriate fixed date every calendar year as shall be deemed
suitable according to the proper time and season for planting trees in the respective provinces

Letter application
LGU Endorsement/Certification of No Objection (Municipality and Barangay)
Copy of Land Title (OCT/TCT) for Private Property
Photographs of trees to be removed
Site Development Plan and ECC for big projects

and their respective component municipalities or cities concerned. Although adoption of uniform
dates for every province and its component municipalities and cities shall be encouraged,
varying dates for Arbor Day celebrations may be permitted in order to afford flexibility in planning
and in implementing tree planting programs to adjust to the proper time and period of the year

Procedure

previous tab). The request order will then be assigned an Inspection Officer to conduct

most suited to the trees selected to be planted, and as local budgetary allotments shall allow.

C.3. Republic Act No. 9168

Submit application letter addressed to the CENRO with the required documents (see
inventory/inspection
Receive Payment Order
Pay inventory fee (P1,200/hectare) for planted and naturally growing trees but no

AN ACT TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO NEW PLANT VARIETIES, ESTABLISHING A

payment required for less than 20 trees or if inventory will be conducted by the

NATIONAL PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION BOARD AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

customer
o
If Inventory undertaken by customer:
o
Timber
o
Inventory/Inspection Report with Tally Sheet/Stand and Stock Table, and

The State recognizes that an effective intellectual property system in general and the
development of new plant variety in particular is vital in attaining food security for the country. To
this end, it shall protect and secure the exclusive rights of breeders with respect to their new
plant variety particularly when beneficial to the people for such periods as provided for in this
Act.

o
o

Pictures
Tree Charting Map
Receive tree cutting permit

C.6. Children's Environmental Protection Act

C.4. P.D No. 1152

It is the policy of the State, concordant with the Constitution, to protect and advance the right of
Philippine Environmental Code

the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature
and to promote and protect the children's physical well-being in recognition of the youth's vital

Chapter III Forestry and Soil Conservation

role in nation-building.

The national government, through the Department of Natural Resources, shall undertake a
system of rational exploitation of forest resources and shall encourage citizen participation
therein to keep the country's forest resources at maximum productivity at all time.
C.5. Tree-Cutting Permit
The Department of Natural Resources and Community Environment and Natural Resources
Office (DENR-CENRO) issues tree-cutting permits for (public places, private lands, infrastructure
projects, government projects).

D. International Organizations and Laws for Tree Protection

D.1.The Billion Tree Campaign
It was launched in 2006, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a response
to the challenges of global warming, as well as to a wider array of sustainability challenges, from
water supply to biodiversity loss. Its initial target was the planting of one billion trees in 2007
(achieved by November). One year later, in 2008, the campaign's objective was raised to 7
billion trees a target to be met by the climate change conference that was held in
Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009. Three months before the conference, the 7 billion
planted trees mark had been surpassed. In December 2011, after more than 12 billion trees had

Requirements

been planted, UNEP formally handed management of the program over to the youth-led not-forprofit Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation, based in Munich, Germany. Over 14.2 billion trees have

been planted as of 2016.[4] The Billion Tree Campaign calls upon all individuals, countries and

E. Frequently Asked Questions

companies to participate, and accepts all contributions.

E.1. what is tree planting?
The Billion Tree Campaign was inspired by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai,
founder of the Green Belt Movement. When an executive in the United States told Professor
Maathai their corporation was planning to plant a million trees, her response was: "Thats great,
but what we really need is to plant a billion trees. The campaign was carried out under the
patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco.
"It's the little things citizens do. That's what will make the difference. My little thing is planting
trees." Wangari Maathai

Tree planting is an area of the reforestation activity that involves planting seedlings.
E.2. Why is tree planting important?
Because of the benefits that our planet and ourselves get from trees, such as trees being
oxygen filters, providing shelter and food for humans as well as other animals and their influence
on the climate (to mention a few); it is essential that we make sure we make up for all the trees
we loose or use. If performed properly tree planting can ensure the successful restoration of a

D.2. Forestry Law

deforested area, hence creating ecologically sustainable resource use.

A subcategory of environmental law, Forestry Law relates to all statutes and regulations that

E.3. Who can be a tree planter?

deal with the preservation of forests and parks, reforestation activities to ensure the
sustainability of the nation's lands, and the prevention of illegal logging activities. These laws
derive from both federal and state sources.
Preservation
A major focus of forestry law is preservation. Many forests take decades or centuries to

Anyone can be; all you have to do is plant a tree and watch over it as it grows and you will have
become a tree planter.
E.4. When to plant a tree?
Despite the fact that planting a tree does not necessarily need a special occasion for it to

regenerate. Indeed, some species of tree, such as the California Redwood, can take thousands

be done, you can nonetheless make the act an unforgettable one by picking an important date

of years to reach their enormous size. As a result, preservation of such resources must be a

(your birthday, special event day etc.) for you to plant it and share the experience with loved

primary focus of any conservation law, as these resources are not readily replaced once they

ones around you. But of course, you must look to the weather and because the climate plays an

are lost. Preservation laws include limitations on logging, anti-forest fire campaigns, and other

important role for deciding on the right planting time. Newly planted trees do best when exposed

environmental protections. These laws also affect those in more urban settings, by regulating,

to moderate temperature and rainfall

for example, the removal of trees from personal property, or requiring special permits to trim or
cut down trees over a certain diameter or age.

E.5. Where to plant a tree?

Reforestation

Different people have different ideas for planting sites: personal gardens, schools, parks and
work are one of the locations you can choose from. Once you have chosen the location on

In cases where forests are lost through natural disaster, forest fire, or man's activities, often the

which you would like to plant a tree, you need to speak to the owner or the manager of the

only means of replacing what has been lost is through reforestation efforts. A number of state

property in order to get the permission to go ahead and plant. This person can either be a park

and federal initiatives support such efforts by providing incentives to land owners who replace

ranger, the principal at your school or your employer.

trees on their property. In the logging industry it is now often mandated that after an area has
been cleared, new trees must be replanted in the place of those that have been removed. This
not only protects the environment, but promotes the sustainability of the logging industry as a
whole.