The Philippines was once famous for its reef-ringed islands, white beaches, and lush forests. In less than a half-century, these were degraded by deforestation, over-fishing, and destructive fishing. This rapid harvest of ecologically and economically critical natural resources brought droughts, deadly flash floods, and the collapse of fisheries and the timber industry. Regional rural economies weakened, sending hundreds of thousands of ecological refugees to cities where they overwhelmed the urban infrastructure. Today, the Philippines stands as an example of the profound and sweeping consequences of environmental degradation. This book documents this tragic trajectory, but the story it tells is not one of hopelessness and inevitable defeat. The book traces the struggle for natural resource conservation in the Philippines, from isolated villages to large cities, illustrating innovative ways that conservation and economic growth can effectively coexist. It describes how individuals and institutions at all levels of Philippine society have responded to the environmental change, and gives background information on environmental policy. It argues that recent initiatives to conserve or rehabilitate resources — by local and national government, non-governmental organizations, or communities — can be an important part of sustainable development and nation-building. It also questions whether western environmentalism, which can pit environmental protection against economic need, is appropriate for developing countries. The book offers in-depth case studies of environmental governance and sets the consequences of rapid industrialization and environmental change in their historical context.