Famoso, Maribeth G.

BSEd Sci 3-3

Activity 5: Human Impacts on Ecosystems

Impacts of Human Activities on Biodiversity and Ecological Stability of

Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems

Ecosystems being the foundation of life on Earth regulate climates, cycle nutrients, and
support biodiversity. However, in the Anthropocene era (the era wherein humans gained
dominance in shaping the planet’s geology, atmosphere, and ecosystems), human activities have
drastically altered both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Rapid industrialization, urbanization,
and agricultural expansion have greatly contributed to deforestation, pollution, and
overexploitation of natural resources (Rockström et al., 2009). These changes cause disruption of
ecological balance and reduce biodiversity, which is critical for sustaining human lives. For
example, terrestrial ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest are shrinking at alarming rates due
to logging and agriculture while aquatic ecosystems such as coral reefs suffer from pollution and
illegal fishing that drives overfishing (FAO, 2020; UNEP, 2022).

In today’s interconnected world, often described as a global village, the destruction in one
region eventually has an impact on the health and stability of ecosystems around the world. This
essay argues that the scope of human influence on the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is so
vast that identifying a single starting point can be difficult. The discussion will highlight driving
land-use changes, pollution, and resource overexploitation, which contributed to the biodiversity
loss and ecological instability.

Land-use Changes and Deforestation

Land-use change is the most direct human impact on terrestrial ecosystems. Expanding
agriculture, logging, mining, and urban development drive deforestation, particularly in tropical
regions. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) states that
through land-use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF), human activities impact terrestrial
sinks. As a result, the exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the terrestrial biosphere is
altered. Supporting this statement, as per Yadav et al., (2022), forest ecosystems are emphasized
as important sinks and reservoirs of carbon. However, deforestation and other human activities
raise atmospheric CO2 levels, negatively affecting biodiversity and carbon cycle. Moreover,
according to the Food and Agriculture organization (2020), the world has lost about 420 million
hectares of forest between 1990 and 2020, with the Amazon rainforest and Southeast Asian
forest being the most severely affected. This large-scale deforestation harmed habitats, lowered
biodiversity, and accelerated soil erosion.
 In the Philippines, widespread deforestation has resulted in major biodiversity losses and
degraded watershed systems that lead to frequent floods and landslides (Suarez & Sajise, 2010).
The continuous danger to the Sierra Madre Mountain Range which is the country's longest
mountain range and an important hotspot for biodiversity is a pressing example. Similarly
deforestation in the Amazon has driven many species to extinction and emitted massive volumes
of CO2 into the atmosphere, triggering global climate change (Laurance et al., 2014). These
examples are just a gist of what human-driven environmental degradation can cause to the
terrestrial ecosystems.

Pollution in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems

Pollution is another major cause of ecosystem deterioration. On land, modern agriculture
relies heavily on fertilizers and pesticides, which pollute soil and groundwater, harming
organisms and decreasing ;ong-term soil fertility (Tilman et al., 2011). Industrial emissions and
garbage from urban areas also contribute to environmental pollution by introducing heavy metals
and pollutants.

The Climate Change Commission states that the energy sector contributed the highest
GHG emissions in the Philippines in 2015 and 2020, reaching 74.89 Tetragrams of carbon
dioxide equivalent (Tg CO2e) and 99.85 Tg CO2e, respectively, followed by the sector with
52.70 Tg CO2e in 2015 and 54.08 in 2020. The country’s total GHG emissions totaled 204.33 Tg
CO2e in 2020, a decrease of 12.3 percent from 232.99 Tg CO2e in 2015. The energy,
transportation, agriculture, IPPU, and waste sectors combined emitted 230.26 Tg CO2e, while
the FOLU sector sequestered 25. 94 Tg CO2e (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2024).
 Climate change is accelerated by emissions from the energy, transportation, agricultural,
and waste sectors. This causes changes in rainfall patterns, increases droughts and escalates
natural disasters that endanger forests, farmlands, and biodiversity. However, by sequestering
carbon dioxide, the Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU)sector plays a vital role, showing how
terrestrial ecosystems function as organic carbon sinks that aid in emission balance.

Pollution causes considerably more of a hazard to aquatic ecosystems. Fish and other
aquatic life are suffocated by algal blooms brought by eutrophication, which is caused by
untreated sewage and agricultural runoff (UNESCO, 2017). Over 8 million metric tons of plastic
enter the oceans annually, affecting marine lives and food webs, making plastic pollution one of
the most urgent worldwide environmental issues (Jambeck et al., 2015). Coral reefs, such as
those in Southeast Asia and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, are especially vulnerable to pollution
and warming waters. These contaminants endanger fisheries and coastal livelihoods in addition
to reducing marine biodiversity.

In the Philippines, one of the main causes of marine pollution is the sachet economy,
which is defined by the sale of consumer products in small, single-use plastic packets. An
estimated 164 million sachets are thrown away by Filipinos everyday; many of these are
composed of multilayered polymers that are very difficult to recycle. More than half of the
leftover plastic garbage comes from these sachets which choke rivers and coastal seas and
seriously contaminate delicate marine habitats (GAIA, 2019). According to the DENR (2025),
up to 35% of the 61,000 metric tons of solid trash produced everyday escapes into the
environment and oceans with the sugar beach accounting for a significant portion of this.
Additionally, nearly 1/3 of the sachet plastic garbage discovered in a regional audit
encompassing four Asian countries was caused by the amount of sachet pollution in the
Philippines (Rappler, 2024).

Overexploitation of Natural Resources

When human demand for resources outpaces an ecosystem's ability to recover,
overexploitation occurs. Illegal wildlife trading, mining, and unsustainable logging all harm
terrestrial ecosystems. For example, poaching has caused many megafauna species such as
tigers, rhinos, and elephants to become extinct, disrupting the natural equilibrium of the
ecosystem (Ripple et al., 2016). For instance, in the Philippine setting, between 2000 and 2017,
an estimated 740 Philippine pangolins were taken into custody. Authorities captured an estimated
6,894 pangolins between 2018 and 2019 which accounted for 90% of all pangolins caught in the
illegal trade in the Philippines over the previous 20 years. However, the trade rose ninefold in the
following 2 years (Alberts, 2020).

On the other hand, overfishing is a serious issue in aquatic ecosystems. 1/3 of the world's
fish supplies are being exploited at levels that are not biologically sustainable (Food and
Agriculture Organization, 2022). Decades of over-fishing have resulted in drinking sardine and
tuna supplies in the Philippine Moro Gulf, which was formerly one of the nation's most
productive fishing areas (BFAR, 2020). The livelihoods of fishing communities, and food
security are also at risk, in addition to the effects on biodiversity. Overexploitation can lead to
long term failures in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems if appropriate management is not
practiced.

In conclusion, land use change, pollution, and over exploitation are all examples of how
human activity has significantly altered terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Deforestation, water
pollution, habitat loss and dwindling biodiversity are the results of these activities which have
eventually threatened the stability of ecosystems. Human cultures which rely on ecosystems for
food, water, and climate regulation, are at risk from ecosystem deterioration in addition to
animals.

Sustainable initiatives, such as reforestation, pollution prevention, sustainable fishing,

and enhanced enforcement of environmental laws must be given top priority in order to lessen
these effects. For the preservation of our delicate ecosystems, community-based conservation
and international collaboration are also crucial. Since the planet's health ultimately determines
human life, protecting ecosystems is both morally and environmentally necessary. Although we,
humans, are the major contributors of harm to our ecosystems, we cannot deny that it is also in
our hands to protect, restore, and sustain them.

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