Topic: 2025-Regulating Invasive Species
Country: Philippines
Delegate Name: Bryan Oh
The Philippines increasingly faces significant challenges with invasive species. Non-native
species damage the country’s biodiversity and affect the economy, severely impacting local
ecosystems and economic development. The Philippines contains approximately 150,000
species, with at least 700 species that are endangered, making it one of the most biodiverse
countries in the world and one of the world’s top priorities for conservation efforts. In response
to this, the Philippines believes that a global monitoring system is needed to control the spread of
invasive species.
Recent legislative efforts, including the Philippine Biodiversity Act and the Wildlife Resources
Conservation and Protection Act, have been implemented to manage the spread of invasive
species. The Philippines is also a participant in the National Invasive Species Strategy and
Action Plan (NISSAP), which is intended to prevent the introduction and spread of these harmful
species. These laws specifically prohibit invasive species within protected and critical habitats by
enforcing strict entry controls and trading regulations. Moreover, these laws support the
eradication of existing invasive species through physical removal and biological control.
However, the rise in food importation has caused an increased entry of invasive species into the
country. Among the invasive species that have affected the Philippines are Ipil-Ipil from the
Tropical Americas, which outcompetes native vegetation, and the Golden Apple Snail, which has
spread into forest areas; this has damaged the economic potential of rice growing, one of the
Philippines’ main economic functions, by 12.5-17.8 million dollars. Invasive species have
decreased biodiversity and disrupted native ecosystems, making it difficult for other species to
survive.
The effects of invasive species extend beyond ecological damage, which could lead to the
extinction of indigenous wildlife, destruction of biodiversity, and a reduction of wildlife habitats.
This is concerning for the Philippines, a maritime country that relies on trading and agriculture.
Agriculture contributes 9.4% of the nation’s GDP and is at risk as invasive species continue to
damage ecosystems and agricultural resources. This threat is not unique to the Philippines; other
biodiverse, developing countries rely on agriculture as a major source of GDP and are also facing
the harmful effects of invasive species. This is why regulating invasive species is important, as
their spread can cause economic instability.
The Philippines recognizes the growing threat of invasive species to all countries’ environments
and ecosystems. One possible solution to this is the creation of an international monitoring and
reporting system. Although some monitoring systems already exist, the UN doesn’t have a
centralized one, which could enhance these efforts by establishing a global network to track
invasive species. This system would collect and share data on invasive species, their spread, and
ecological and environmental effects. This warning system would prevent the further spread of
invasive species by alerting countries to take immediate action. Furthermore, many of the
countries most at risk, specifically developing countries with limited resources for monitoring,
struggle to combat invasive species effectively. In response to this, the Philippines would
strongly support increased funding to help developing countries combat invasive species once
detected.
