Philippines Tourist Guides — Environment

The Philippines are a group of islands, about 7000 in number, at the northern tip of the Malay Peninsula. To the east is the Philippine Sea and Pacific Ocean, to the west is the South China Sea, and the south is washed by the Celebes Sea. Of the 7000 islands, only about 2000 are occupied.

The islands are part of a volcanic chain running through South East Asia, and the terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous, with the mountain ranges extending from north to south. Multiple earthquakes strike the islands each year, and there are about 20 active volcanoes. The highest peak is Mount Apo, at 2954 meters on Mindanao.

The climate is tropical, with the average temperature at about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Relative humidity is high at about 77%. The summer monsoons make May to November the wet season, usually with typhoons, while the dry season is from December to April. March to May is very hot and humid, whilst the months of November to March are pleasant.

South East Asia is one of the zones which has the world's most endangered species, the Philippines has its share of fauna and flora which are on the most-threatened list - the Philippine eagle, mouse deer and tarsier, dugong (also known as a sea cow or sea pig), marine turtles, the Subic fruit bats and the cockatoo are some of these. Some of these are dying out because of heedless destruction of their habitat, and some because they form part of a lucrative trade, while some animals such as the dugong because of a lengthy reproduction cycle of thirteen months, and a gap of 3 to 5 years between one birth and another.

Amongst the indigenous mammals, there is the carabao (domesticated water buffalo), pigs, mongoose, various deer species, the wild dwarf buffalo and numerous humped cattle, There are about 760 bird species and numerous reptiles such as crocodiles and pythons. The Philippines has an abundant marine fauna life, which unfortunately is also suffering from indiscriminate harvesting and pollution.

About a quarter of the Philippines consists of forests, with introduced species such as rubber, palms, banyans, and indigenous trees such as mayapis, apitong, lauan and camagon. The Abaca or Manila hemp are important plants economically - the fiber being used to make textiles, hats and other items. Orchids abound - there are about 900 species of orchids. Cash crops such as cinnamon, pepper plants and cloves are plentiful.

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