STAND FOR TRUTH

Group warns plantitos, plantitas against uprooting endemic plants

The Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society Inc. (PNPCSI) has warned the public against uprooting endemic plants out of their natural habitat as this may lead to their extinction and could impact on the ecosystem.

“Ang mangyayari kapag ito ay kumbaga nakuha nang nakuha irresponsibly, puwede mo siyang ma-push sa extinction or pagkawala niya sa isang natural area," Anthony Arbias of the PNPCSI said in a report on Stand for Truth.

“Marami siyang ano, kumbaga, ecological uses. One is part siya ng isang ecosystem or ng isang habitat type. So parang isang, kumbaga isang system, kapag nawalan ng isang pyesa, ito ay posibleng meron siyang parang domino effect,” he added

Endemic plants are those that can only be found in the country.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Zamboanga Peninsula, they have caught plant poachers who illegally take endangered plants from the mountains.

“[A]nd napansin namin there were also reports, local reports, na parang may pag-aamin na nakukuha nila from sellers who get their, the plants that are being sold from the forest itself. So medyo naalarma kami doon,” DENR executive director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez said.

Data from the DENR showed that there are 984 threatened plant species in the country. Of this, more than 700 are endemic plants.

In Rizal province, Ground Orchids were being sold.

“So meron nang isang member doon sa lugar who’s apparently been selling plants that they sold 20 pots of the Ground Orchids. Ang dami na. So we told them that shouldn’t be happening. Illegal ‘yan gawin. Hindi ‘yan dapat ginawa,” Ann Dumaliang, Masungi Georeserve managing trustee, said.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF,GMA News