[ad_1]
Issued on:
Manila (AFP)
A so-called “plantdemic” gardening craze has swept the Philippines after coronavirus restrictions boosted demand for greenery, driving up plant prices and prompting increased poaching in public parks and protected forests.
Photos of delicate flowers and broad-leaved foliage grown on backyards and balconies have flooded social media as homebound Filipinos turn to nature to relieve stress and boredom.
“It’s amazing. People are super interested in plants these days,” said landscape gardener Alvin Chingcuangco, who has seen prices for some varieties of monsteras reach 55,000 pesos ($ 1,140) each, compared to the 800 pesos before the pandemic.
Manila plant seller Arlene Gumera-Paz said her daily turnover tripled after it reopened after months of closure.
Demand remained strong even as prices for the most popular varieties of indoor plants, such as alocasias, spider plants and peace lilies, doubled or even quadrupled.
“It’s hard to understand people. When plants were cheap, they were ignored,” said the 40-year-old, who buys her plants in bulk from growers in nearby provinces.
But as demand has grown, authorities have warned that many plants on the market may not have been legally obtained.
Rangers patrolling the southern Zamboanga forests in search of illegal loggers and wildlife poachers were ordered to watch out for plant thieves after officials noticed some species posted on social media they could only be found in the protected areas of the region.
“Before the pandemic we had not observed many plant poachers,” said María Christina Rodríguez, Zamboanga regional director for the Department of Energy and Natural Resources.
“This only became popular during the confinement.”
The removal of endangered species from forests is illegal under Philippine law and carries heavy penalties. Collecting other native plants is allowed but only with a permit.
Thieves are targeting popular plant varieties on social media, such as staghorn ferns and pitcher plants, Rodriguez said.
But catching violators is difficult: once the plant has been dug up and sold “it is difficult for us to show that it comes from forests or from our protected areas,” he added.
A series of plant thefts in public parks in the northern city of Baguio prompted authorities to tighten security and issue a request on Facebook for people to leave vegetation alone.
So far, only five people have been arrested for stealing flowers, said Rhenan Diwas, officer in charge of the Baguio City Office of Parks and Environment Management.
“Maybe it’s boredom or they want to generate income,” he said.
– ‘Little plants and little plants’ –
The stress of the confinement and the financial pressure caused by the pandemic have led many Filipinos to seek comfort in their gardens, earning the nicknames “little plants and little plants”, or uncles and aunts of plants.
“The surest way to be happy is by growing little things,” said Norma Karasig Villanueva, former president of the Philippine Horticultural Society.
Planter Ivy Bautista, 30, said taking care of her plants helped “kill the boredom” and make some money selling cuttings from her extensive collection.
But he opposes the “crazy” prices charged by other sellers, fearing they could fuel poaching of plants.
“It’s ridiculous. A plant that I bought for 400 pesos now sells for 5,000 pesos,” said Bautista.
In an editorial titled “Plantdemic” last month, the Philippine Daily Inquirer condemned the high prices being charged and urged buyers to obtain their plants from sellers “with legitimate and legal sources.”
Rodríguez in Zamboanga said she appreciated the interest in gardening, but wanted them to plant flowers or foodstuffs instead of native flora.
“Be responsible seedlings and seedlings and be aware of where the plants come from,” he said.
“We take this very seriously because it creates an imbalance in the ecosystem once the species are uprooted from their natural habitat.”
© 2020 AFP
