VOLUME 14 NUMBER 1 (January to June 2021)

Vachel Gay V. Paller*¹, Damasa Magcale-Macandog², Emmanuel Ryan C. de Chavez¹, Michelle Grace V. Paraso³, Maria Claret L. Tsuchiya¹, Joseph G. Campang², John Vincent R. Pleto², Modesto Z. Bandal, Jr.¹, Yves Christian L. Cabillon¹, Amalia G. Elepaño³, Jeph Roxy M. Macaraig¹, and Sedney S. Mendoza¹

¹Animal Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences,
      College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines,
      Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
²Environmental Biology Division,
      Institute of Biological Sciences,
      College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines,
      Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
³Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences,
      College of Veterinary Medicine,
      University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

The Seven Lakes of San Pablo City in Laguna, Philippines, provide ecosystem services such as freshwater supply, food, aquaculture, and tourism for the locals and tourists. Due to its vast natural resources, there has been an increase in aquaculture, agriculture, urban settlements, and tourism activities in the lakes in recent years. Realizing the effects of these anthropogenic activities, a comprehensive monitoring effort should be in place to formulate a more holistic approach to sustainable lake management. This review paper summarizes the past and current monitoring and research activities conducted in the Seven Lakes of San Pablo City. While the quarterly monitoring efforts of the lakes’ water quality conducted by the Laguna Lake Development Authority remain necessary, there is a need to employ a more holistic Ecosystem Approach which includes understanding the biological organization which encompasses the essential processes, functions and interactions among the organisms and their environment, and includes the analysis of the role of human society as an integral part of the ecosystem. This includes monitoring the spatial and temporal diversity patterns of native and introduced species, documenting the presence of endocrine disruptors in freshwater fishes currently cultivated in the lakes, identifying the potential risk factors of waterborne parasites contributing to contamination, and generating models for the lakes’ recreational and aquaculture carrying capacity in future monitoring and research efforts. Ecosystem Approach to lake management is proposed, integrating monitoring activities on biophysical dimensions with the socio-economic aspects and stakeholders’ participation to promote sustainable development, equity, and interlinked social-ecological resilience systems.