Ecology and Biodiversity of Major Inland Bodies of Water: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Water is essential to life linking different ecosystems. Wetland or inland water bodies support the widest range of ecosystem services to humanity from being sources of potable drinking water, water for agricultural activities, and hydroelectric power to sites of aquaculture/fishery services. This paper focuses on the Philippines' three major wetlands: Laguna Lake, Lake Lanao and Agusan Marsh. Biodiversity and environmental integrity of these bodies of water are critically confronted by the different problems generated through the services they provide such as introduction of invasive species and rise of domestic, industrial and agricultural pollutants including potential impacts from climate change. Management still remains a challenge in these areas. Localized rehabilitation programs that have been put forward should be implemented urgently to stop and if possible reverse environmental degradation in these major inland bodies of water.