Davao City - The proliferation of foreign tree species and the decreasing habitats of endemic native flora are one of the contributing factors in the spread of mosquitoes and the diseases related to it like malaria, dengue and lymphatic filiriasis.
Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, chairman of the Coalition for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filiriasis-Philippines (CELF-Philippines) said that the planting of foreign species of trees like African Mahogany and Australian eucalyptus has disturbed the ecosystem which has caused the mosquitoes to spread.
According to Tan ideally endemic tree species makes ideal growing habitats for native plants, which has defenses for mosquitoes. Native plants also are habitat for insects and small animals which feed on these mosquitoes thus controlling their numbers. Tan said the planting of foreign species is akin to mono-cropping which not an ideal ecosystem.
Foreign trees kill off surrounding native vegetation and makes, these places are ideal breeding grounds of mosquitoes.
Galvez is encouraging people to instead plant endemic local trees and plants like in reforestation projects. He said that Banaba, Guava, Philippine Mahogany and Mindanao Eucalyptus could be planted instead of imported varieties.
Aside from dengue and malaria, mosquitoes are also vectors of lymphatic filiriasis, it is a tropical disease caused by parasitic worms which afflicts the lymphatic system. One of the well-known symptoms is elephantiasis which is an edema characterized by the thickening and swelling of the skin and underlying tissues. Though not deadly persons severely afflicted are considered as persons with disabilities or PWDs.
To date the disease is endemic to 43 provinces in the country afflicting about half a million Filipinos. But recent multi-sectoral efforts have scored successes in seven provinces which have been declared as lymphatic filiriasis-free areas. (RG Alama, PIA)
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