The eruption since January 12 of Taal Volcano, one of the world’s smallest, has caused devastating impacts on surrounding communities, with tons of volcanic ash spewed that have covered entire villages and towns near it.
Tens of thousands of people in Batangas have fled their homes for safety amid the threat of hazardous magmatic eruption, which similar activity in 1754 had changed the landscape of Batangas.
The successive eruptions and spewing of volcanic debris since January 12 has threatened not only people who were caught flat-footed by the sudden turn of events. It also devastated the unique ecosystems and the wildlife that thrives within.
Unique volcano, unique lake
Taal Volcano and Taal Lake form a unique landscape described as a lake within a volcano, within a lake.
Situated in Batangas province, Taal Volcano is at the heart of the Taal Lake, the third-largest lake in the Philippines, next to the Laguna de Bay and Lake Lanao.
Taal was identified as Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior for being “worthy of particular study in light of their history of large eruptions and proximity to populated areas.”
Protected area
The volcano and the lake’s surrounding landscape, form the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL), a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (Nipas) Act, which has a total of 62,292 hectares.
Formerly known as Taal Volcano Island National Park, the popular tourist site approximately 95 kilometers south of Manila, was declared a Protected Landscape under Presidential Proclamation 923 on November 19, 1996.
A common treasure
TVPL’s natural resources are shared by lakeshore barangays from different towns in Batangas and Tagaytay City in Cavite.
Around the lake can be found fish cages and fish pens where tilapia and bangus are grown by communities.
The lake, being a tourist magnet, also employs fishermen who work as tour guides and offer boat rides to visitors.
As such, the TVPL continues to generate much-needed government revenues, and create jobs and livelihood opportunities for the towns of Talisay, Malvar, Tanauan, Laurel, Agoncillo, Santa Teresita, Cuenca, Alitagtag, Mataas na kahoy, Lipa City, Balete, San Nicolas, Lemery and Taal, all in the province of Batangas; and Tagaytay City in Cavite province.
Conservation area
It was classified as “Extremely High Urgent” for biodiversity conservation, based on the results of the National Biodiversity Conservation Priority Setting Project that was jointly undertaken by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies, and Conservation International Philippines.
TVPL is one of the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) of the Philippines.
DENR Assistant Secretary Ricardo Calderon, also the concurrent BMB director, said they intend to conduct a rapid assessment of the damage wrought by the eruption as soon as possible.
The lake and its surrounding environment are home to many species of flora and fauna, a number of which are endemic or can be found only in the Philippines.
Rich biodiversity
Being a KBA, TVPL is rich in biodiversity. Its Biological Profile, according to the DENR-BMB, states that wild faunal species found in the area consists of white and brown heron, crow and other common bird species.
Monitor lizard, different species of snakes and frogs also dominantly thrive in the area.
Moreover, the lake is home to different kind of fish species.
Common species found in the lake are tawilis, maliputo, tilapia, bangus, hito, dalag, biya and ayungin.
The DENR-BMB believes that many floral and faunal species in the area have already perished.
To survive, animals must fly or swim across the lake where they are in danger of being captured by communities.
Public appeal
DENR Undersecretary Benny D. Antiporda on Thursday appealed to the public not to harm wildlife species fleeing Taal Volcano.
Antiporda made the appeal as he turned over to Calderon a hornbill that was rescued by a member of the Cavite Educators Lions Club. The hornbill is now under the care of the DENR’s Wildlife Rescue and Research Center at the Ninoy Aquino Park in Quezon City.
Calderon said field personnel of the DENR are out to secure rescued wildlife but said so far, it appears that only one has, so far, been rescued.
He said it is likely that many species from the island have escaped and sought refuge to nearby habitats, but expressed fear that because of the eruption of the volcano, many could have perished as tons of ash have covered entire ecosystems within the protected area.
Unique species
Tawilis (Sardinella tawilis) is the only freshwater sardine known in the world. The maliputo that thrives in the lake, commonly known as the “giant trevally,” is also a freshwater fish having adapted to the lake’s water condition for centuries since the volcano’s 1754 eruption.
These are the most valuable fish in the area that demands massive conservation.
Taal Lake is also home to a venomous sea snake (Hydrophis semperi), the only freshwater sea snake in the country.
Devastating impact
A forestry expert, Calderon said volcanic eruptions can be very devastating.
What is happening in Taal Volcano’s environment, he said, happened during Mount Mayon and Mount Pinatubo eruptions.
Director Ludy Wagan of the DENR’s Forest Management Bureau (FMB) said volcanic debris, such as ash and lava, which usually contain sulfur dioxide, have an adverse impact and can affect vast tracts of forestland.
“They can definitely kill trees, shrubs, and grasslands,” she said, adding that volcanic debris are minerals that can be toxic to plants and animals, as they are to humans.
Worse is yet to come
Experts believe the worst is yet to come to Taal-affected areas as the ongoing eruptions may turn violent as warned by volcano experts.
Currently, Taal Volcano is placed under Alert Level 4 but Director Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology maintains that magmatic hazardous eruption can happen anytime.
This means a more devastating impact on people and their surrounding environments, which may compel authorities to declare additional high-risk areas outside the 14-kilometer radius from the main crater of the volcano.
Along with it is the devastation of TVPL’s rich biodiversity.
Mount Pinatubo experience
Like what happened in Mount Pinatubo, a dormant volcano for more than 600 years before its eruption in 1991, its entire forest, river, caves and other ecosystems were destroyed as they were buried underneath tons of volcanic debris spewed by the volcano.
“It can completely destroy entire ecosystems and displace wildlife,” he said.
As people in high-risk areas near Taal Volcano flee their homes, Calderon said many wildlife escape and seek refuge in nearby habitats.
However, what is worse, Calderon added, is that it would take time for biodiversity to recover, which usually starts with the natural regeneration of forests.
“On Mount Pinatubo, we can see that it took many years before wildlife was able to return and thrive,” he said.
Image credits: AP/Aaron Favila, Wikimedia Commons