To Whom It May Concern
A letter dated in the distant future about an imaginary Philippines’ ecological balance harmed by invasive species. Written by Kelly Choy.
To whom it may concern,
It’s 2101. Philippines is now a wasteland. Our trees have disappeared. Our flowers cease to bloom. Our native animals have gone extinct. We are barely surviving. I can still distinctly remember how it all began.
We citizens wanted to increase the production of protein-sourced food, so golden apple snails were introduced into our farms and fields. What we did not know was that golden apple snails hinder the growth of direct-seeded rice. Additionally, they were hosts to rat lungworm parasites that brought about disease to humans. Chemically eliminating the snails cost a whopping $23 million, and after failing to completely control the growing population, the citizens decided to evacuate the area. The Philippines’s rice exports were halted, and the disease caused by the parasites was spreading like wildfire. The government tried to instigate volunteers’ help in mass collecting the snails’ eggs, which could potentially save the farms and fields, but lack of volunteerism and abundance of the snails doomed the Philippines’s agricultural system.
We had no choice but to rely heavily on the country’s aquaculture activities. However, a new threat soon arose. Water hyacinths, native to South America, started dominating the country’s waterways. Its invasiveness halted boat transport and fishing activities, ultimately leading to a decrease in fishing productivity. Heavy damage to the country’s fish pens and cages brought great distaste to the Philippines’s aquaculture reputation. Consequently, their dense monospecific mats lower dissolved oxygen levels underwater, which greatly impacted the population of countless marine species. Reduced phytoplankton growth and food of fish have also been observed after the initial sprout of water hyacinth in various bodies of water, leading to the downfall of the aquaculture system of the Philippines.
The government said that due to the expensive cost of herbicides and the infinite amount of water hyacinths that spread all over the country, our country’s waterways could not be saved. What I do not understand is why we did not take immediate action when the water hyacinths started taking over our waterways. Did we not know of this herbicide? Or perhaps we were too scared of the effects the herbicide has on the marine creatures? I do not think we will ever find out. The government was under a lot of pressure from the citizens and the ecological state of the country. Imports increased, and exports were rarely made. The increase in imports brought in countless of rodents, lizards, birds, and frogs from foreign countries. They dominated the streets and infrastructures of the Philippines. Nothing we did seem to work on them. Whenever we thought that we had finally gotten rid of them through extermination, more arrived. The imports did not stop, and so, foreign species poured into the country, like endless sand contained in an hourglass that is our country.
An overwhelming amount of invasive species were introduced into the Philippines’s ecosystem, and the country greatly suffered. Diseases that were once known only through stories became a reality. The streets, sidewalks, and infrastructures of the country became a concrete jungle. Nonnative animals were feared by the citizens. Agricultural and aquaculture produce from the Philippines were shunned away. The country’s popularity gradually dropped, and tourists rarely visited the Philippines. Numerous species native to the Philippines, such as Pila conica (edible snails), were driven out and displaced by these invasive species. The ecosystem was in a state of constant imbalance.
Eventually, we gave up. Most of the Filipinos left their country to seek greener pastures. I decided to stay. Why? Because the Philippines is my home, and I do not see why I should abandon my country for another. I still believe that our country can be saved through perseverance, volunteerism, and faith. I want to rid our country of these invasive species and give Filipinos our home back. How? First and foremost, I need the unwavering support and financial aid of the government. The tools needed to win this battle are for them to provide. Perseverance and passion are our greatest allies. Invasive species are difficult to get rid of, but we must not stop trying. We cannot drive them away; they always find a way to come back and torment our motherland. Through their elimination from our lands, our indigenous species will begin to flourish in our country once more. Lastly and most importantly, I need you to join me. Join me rid our country of these pests. Join me pave the way to a brighter future. Join me in raising awareness of our country’s condition. Join me and make a difference. This is our country; we must fight for it. Someday, I know that we will be able to make the Philippines ours once more. We will take our home back.
Working towards a better future,
Hope
References:
Ravindra, J. n.d. Invasive alien species (IAS): concerns and status in the philippines.
Retrieved from
http://www.fftc.agnet.org/htmlarea_file/activities/20110826121346/paper-729213301
pdf on June 13, 2019
Golden apple snail. n.d. Retrieved from
http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/step-by-step-production/growth/pests-and-diseas
s/golden-apple-snails on June 13, 2019
Water hyacinth control. n.d. Retrieved from
https://www.lakerestoration.com/t-water-hyacinth-control.aspx on June 13, 2019
