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Saving our Fragile Flora

Category: Articles
Date Posted: 2005-12-25

Man depends on plants for food through crops and indirectly, through animals. Plants are the primary producers in the food chain; their extinction then is more tragic than that of any other life form. It is estimated that of the more than 250,000 species of plants around the world, approximately 25,000 are now seriously threatened.

In the Philippines, close to 13,000 plant species are found. Of this number, 8,000 are flowering plants while the rest are ferns, fern allies, mosses, hepatics, liverworts, fungi, and algae. 3,500 of these are native to the country and cannot be found anywhere else. Some of them are now on the brink of extinction.

Breaking Ground

Plant conservation in the Philippines started as early as December 3, 1932, when Republic Act No. 3983 was passed to protect wild flowers and other plants from extinction. After World War II, more specific laws were enacted to protect and conserve our forest and wildlife, including the endangered species.

In the early 80's, D.A. Madulid, Scientist III, of the Philippine National Museum's Botany Division, analyzed the causes of endangerment of Philippine endemic plants; and proposed measures on how to conserve endangered plants and ensure their continued existence. At present, he is preparing a Red Data Book on Plants of the Philippines which will serve as a comprehensive reference on the rare and endangered plants of the Philippines. This book will include the plants' descriptions, distributions, conservation status, and other important information.

Our Fragile Flora

Due to their economic, industrial, medicinal, and ornamental values, an alarming number of Philippine plants are sought and collected without care. Moreover, their habitats are being indiscriminately destroyed. If their conservation is not given attention, the following are just a few of the species we stand to lose.

Scientific Name	Common/ Local Name	Conservation Status	Threats
Nepenthes sp	Pitcher Plant	Vulnerable	Over-collection for ornamental purposes
Hedychium philippinense	Philippine Garland, Philippine Camia	Rare	Over-collection for ornamental purposes
Areca ipot Becc.	Bungang-Ipot	Threatened	Over-collection for ornamental purposes
Platycerium grande (J. Sm. ex Fee) Presl	Staghorn Fern	Threatened	Over-collection due to ornamental value
Cycas chamberlainii Br. & Kienh.	Chamberlain's Pitogo	Endangered	Destruction of habitat; collection of plants for ornamental purposes
Livistona saribus (Lour.) Merr.	Fan Palm	Threatened	Over-harvesting; conversion of land for agriculture
Pemphis acidula	Kabantigi	Threatened	Over-collection as bonsai or rock garden plants
Agathis philippinensis Warb.	Almaciga	Threatened	Valuable in local and international trades because the wood is excellent veneer and lumber for furniture, picture frames, etc.
Strongylodon macrobotrys A. Gray	Jade Vine	Threatened	Collection for ornamental purposes
Cyahthea sp.	Tree Fern	Threatened	Over-collection for ornamental purposes
Phoenix hanceana Naud. var. philippinensis Becc.	Philippine Date Palm	Threatened	Collection of the whole plant for ornamental purposes, fruit or food, leaves for raincoat-making, bags, hats, baskets, and others; grassland fires
Lilium philippinense Baker	Kanyon, Luplupak	Vulnerable	Over-collection for ornamental use; conversion of land for agricultural and other purposes
Vanda sanderiana Reichb.f.	Waling-waling	Endangered	Over-collection for ornamental purposes

Critical Plant Sites

Critical plant sites or centers of plant diversity are areas around the world of great importance for conservation. A research was conducted in the late 80's by the World Conservation Monitoring Center toward the publication of a Centres of Plant Diversity. This center aims at identifying critical plant areas and providing a reference for a most effective and practical way to achieve the conservation of many plant species as possible. Another objective of the center is to highlight the potential value of each site for sustainable development in the countries concerned.

A set of criteria for the selection of the site was developed through a series of consultations with experts around the world. The criteria is a combination of biological, operational, political, and socio-economic indices.

Here are some of the critical plant sites in the Philippines, click the link to view their profiles.

* Mount Apo in Mindanao
* Mount Pulog in Luzon
* Camiguin Island
* Bohol Island
* Batanes Island
* Sibuyan Island, Romblon Province
* Palanan Wilderness Area in Luzon

Branching Out

If you think that scientists and environmentalists have a monopoly on the game of conservation, think again. Everyone can be a key player in saving our endangered flora. Here's how:

* Be conscious of the plants you buy and collect in the wild. Check if they are on the list of endangered plants of the Convention on the International Trade for Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).
* If you suspect illegal trade of plants, intervene. You can inquire if they have permits. If they don't, report them to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
* Participate in campaigns seeking to educate people about saving our environment, especially the endemic plants around us.

Current efforts to save our endangered Philippine flora are not enough. There's a lot more to be done, so many more could be saved. Act now!!!