ENDANGERED WILD PLANTS ALLEGEDLY FOR SALE
MALINTUBOAN, Labason, ZN – A post in social media led to the retrieval of 15 pieces of Pitcher Plants (Nepenthes ventricosa Blanco) at Malintuboan, Labason, Zamboanga del Norte by personnel from the Conservation and Development Section and Monitoring and Enforcement Section of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Liloy yesterday morning, October 3.
Liloy CENR Officer Dionisio B. Rago instructed his team to monitor and investigate on the alleged illegal wild plant trade upon receipt of a social media post of Pitcher Plants allegedly for sale in the area.
The team, in coordination with local barangay officials, was able to retrieve 15 pieces of Pitcher Plants which were posted for sale in social media. Further investigation is being conducted by the team to ascertain the identities of the perpetrators.
The Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes ventricosa Blanco) is a species of plants in the family tropical pitcher plant. It is listed as Category B, Endangered per DENR Administrative Order No. 2017-11 dated May 2, 2017. The collection and trade of this plant is prohibited under Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
CENRO Liloy continues to strengthen the surveillance and monitoring of illegal plant trade and strictly imposes fines and penalties on offenders.
