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Biodiversity Threats
Biodiversity Threats
Habitat Loss
Habitat Loss
Habitat loss in Pangasinan is a serious threat to forests, mangroves, and coastal ecosystems, driven by deforestation, mining, agriculture and aquaculture expansion, infrastructure development, and pollution. Forests and mangroves have been significantly reduced, releasing CO₂, degrading fish nursery habitats, increasing coastal erosion, and reducing carbon storage.
These changes fragment populations, reduce connectivity, and magnify other threats, leading to declines in endemic and threatened species, including birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates, which also impacts local livelihoods.
Bolinao
Bolinao, a coastal municipality in Pangasinan, Philippines, is located on the western coast along the South China Sea and is known for its rich marine biodiversity, coral reefs, white sand beaches, and fishing communities, as well as natural attractions such as Cape Bolinao Lighthouse, Bolinao Falls, and popular diving spots. The local economy relies heavily on fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism. Climate change is impacting the area through rising sea temperatures and changes in salinity, which affect macrophyte growth and reproduction, while increased storm frequency and intensity cause physical damage and uprooting of seagrasses. Seasonal variations, such as monsoon-related turbidity, further influence light availability and species cover, affecting the health and resilience of coastal ecosystems.
The data were obtained from the field research titled ‘Vegetation Analysis of the Grassland in Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Bani
Bani, a coastal municipality in Pangasinan, Philippines, is located along the western coast of Luzon facing the South China Sea and is known for its long white sand beaches, fishing communities, and small-scale agriculture. The local economy relies mainly on fishing, aquaculture, and tourism. The area faces environmental challenges from extreme weather events, such as typhoons and droughts, which affect forest structure and species survival, while shifts in temperature and rainfall influence the growth and reproduction of native trees.
The data were obtained from the field research titled ‘Biodiversity of Native Trees in Bani Communal Forest, Bani, Western Pangasinan, Northern Philippines’.
Overexploitation
Overexploitation
Forests face serious pressures when illegal logging and unsustainable harvesting remove trees faster than they can regrow. Mature trees, which provide seeds, shade, and habitat for wildlife, are often the first to disappear. This leads to soil erosion, reduced biodiversity, and greater vulnerability to floods and landslides.
Once a forest is overexploited, restoring it becomes slow, difficult, and costly. The damage affects both the land and the ecosystem services it provides, making long-term recovery a major challenge.
Overexploitation also impacts local communities that rely on forests, rivers, and coastal areas for food and income. As populations grow and demand rises, sustainable strategies—such as protected areas, seasonal harvest limits, regulated extraction, and community monitoring—are essential to ensure natural resources remain available for future generations.
IMAGE PHOTO: JEROME ASCAÑO
Climate Change
Climate Change
Climate change in Pangasinan is worsening water scarcity and flooding, driven by rising sea levels, temperature changes, and more frequent extreme weather events such as fires, floods, and droughts. These impacts act as a “force multiplier,” intensifying existing environmental and social challenges. Ecosystems are being altered, causing shifts in species distribution, disrupting biological cycles, and increasing extinction risks.
Vulnerable groups—such as the elderly, children, and those with health conditions—face heightened risks from extreme heat, waterborne diseases, and disrupted access to healthcare.
The Agno Basin
The Agno Basin, the drainage basin of the Agno River—one of the largest rivers in Luzon, Philippines—spans several provinces, including Pangasinan, Benguet, and Nueva Vizcaya. It is vital for agriculture, fisheries, and water supply, and supports diverse ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and coastal areas. However, habitat loss from deforestation, shifting cultivation, overgrazing, and forest burning causes soil erosion and sedimentation, damaging river habitats. Mining and agricultural activities further alter natural riverbanks, reducing habitat quality, while sediment build-up negatively impacts fish spawning areas and aquatic vegetation.
The data were obtained from the FAO Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources.
Bolinao
Bolinao, a coastal municipality in Pangasinan, Philippines, lies on the western coast along the South China Sea and is known for its rich marine biodiversity, coral reefs, white sand beaches, and fishing communities, as well as natural attractions like Cape Bolinao Lighthouse, Bolinao Falls, and popular diving spots. The local economy depends heavily on fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism. However, the area faces environmental pressures: coastal development, anchoring, and destructive fishing methods such as trawling and gleaning cause physical disturbances; sedimentation and erosion from upstream land use bury or shade seagrass beds; high water turbidity reduces light penetration and seagrass photosynthesis; and fragmentation of seagrass meadows leads to reduced biodiversity and degraded habitat quality.
The data were obtained from the field research titled ‘Vegetation Analysis of the Grassland in Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Bani
Bani, a coastal municipality in Pangasinan, Philippines, is located along the western coast of Luzon facing the South China Sea and is known for its long white sand beaches, fishing communities, and small-scale agriculture. The local economy relies mainly on fishing, aquaculture, and tourism. However, environmental pressures such as deforestation and forest conversion for agriculture, settlements, and infrastructure are causing habitat fragmentation, reducing connectivity between forest patches. Soil erosion and loss of forest cover are further affecting forest regeneration and biodiversity.
The data were obtained from the field research titled ‘Biodiversity of Native Trees in Bani Communal Forest, Bani, Western Pangasinan, Northern Philippines’.
Pollution
Pollution
Pollution is a persistent pressure on ecosystems, affecting water, soil, and air. Often, it begins quietly—household waste on riverbanks, plastic in canals, or chemicals from farms—and gradually builds up. Polluted waterways show cloudy water, strong odors, and declining fish populations. Fertilizers and pesticides cause algae blooms that deplete oxygen, while plastics break into microplastics that enter the food chain.
Urban areas face different challenges. Air pollution from traffic and industries harms humans and wildlife, and toxic substances in soil and water make it harder for plants and animals to survive. Mining sites, open dumps, and improper waste disposal add to soil contamination.
What makes pollution especially serious is how far it spreads. Waste on land flows into rivers and eventually reaches the sea, making recovery slow and costly. Communities that depend on fishing, farming, or tourism are economically affected. Reducing pollution requires proper waste management, responsible chemical use, and stronger environmental enforcement.
Invasive Alien Species
Invasive Alien Species
Different introduced species in Pangasinan bring harm to its forests, agricultural lands, as well as its waters, including freshwater, brackish, saltwater, and aquaculture systems. These invasive alien species pose a threat to the biodiversity and ecological composition of their ecosystems, which in turn magnifies other disturbances and threats to the environment.
A study in the forest areas of Pangasinan and Kalahan Forest Reserve in Nueva Vizcaya (Ikalahan-Kalanguya Ancestral Domain) conducted a vegetation analysis to propose the area as worthy of being protected and conserved due to its rich biodiversity. However, upon further inspection, Chromolaena odorata is present in their species composition list. It is one of the most cited invasive alien species in the Philippines, according to DENR, listed in their National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan 2020-2030 (NISSAP). Another potentially invasive species that can be noted in their study is the Gmelina arborea. Despite its popularity as a reforestation species, it is known to be highly competitive, which can suppress the native trees in certain areas.
On the other hand, in the agricultural scene, cases of Spodoptera frugiperda pesting corn fields have been rising in the Philippines, including Pangasinan (Caasi-Lit, M.T. & Marmeto, A.M.D., 2022). These have affected the livelihood of local farmers, leading to reduced crop yield caused by feeding on plant parts and disruption to the nutrient flow, weakening the land's functionality. Other forms of livelihood in Pangasinan include aquaculture and fishing, yet studies have also shown occurrences of AIS affecting these negatively, competing with the native species in the area. Those of which include Channa striata, Clarias batrachus, Oreochromis niloticus, Sarotherodon melanotheron, Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus, Monopterus albus, and even snail species like Tarebia granifera.
References
References
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Dantis, M., & Lacap, M. (2021). Aquatic Macrofauna Assessment Along Agno River in the Province of Pangasinan, Philippines. Southeast Asian Journal of Science and Technology, 6(1), 88–97. https://www.sajst.org/online/index.php/sajst/article/view/254
Divine, R., & Aquino. (2025). Risk Assessment of Introduced Species in the Aquaculture Areas of Pampanga, Philippines. 29(3), 311–324. https://ejabf.journals.ekb.eg/article_426853_20497e10566fc9a38fff4edadcb811d0.pdf
Caasi-Lit, M. T., & Marmeto, A. M. D. (2022). Maize response to fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis) in the Philippines. SABRAO Journal of Breeding and Genetics. http://doi.org/10.54910/sabrao2022.54.5.24
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van den Berg, J. (2025, October 14). Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm). https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.29810
According to the Climate Change Commission (March 03, 2025 ), Mangroves, Mitigation, and Mobilization. clim
According to the Philippine News Agency (March 4, 2025 ), CCC hails Pangasinan’s climate action, disaster preparedness programs, https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1245372
According to Sotelo (August 18, 2024 ), in Pangasinan, farm time shifts amid climate change, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1973937/in-pangasinan-farm-time-shifts-amid-climate-change
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (n.d.). The Agno Basin (The Philippines). In Fisheries management in the Philippines (Chapter 2.1). Retrieved from https://www.fao.org/4/x6861e/X6861E06.htm#ch2.1
Paz-Alberto, A. M., & Teñoso, A. R. D. (2022). Assessment of marine protected areas in four coastal barangays of Bolinao, Pangasinan. Silliman Journal, 54(1). Retrieved from https://sillimanjournal.su.edu.ph/index.php/sj/article/view/135
Dantis, M. C., & Lacap, M. P. (2023). Biodiversity of native trees in Bani Communal Forest, Bani, Western Pangasinan, Northern Philippines. Proceedings of International Social Sciences and Humanities, 2(3), Article 769. Retrieved from https://proceeding.unmuhjember.ac.id/index.php/issh/article/view/769/745
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