PHNOM PENH – The Ministry of Environment has urged the public to protect endangered Nepenthes, a genus of tropical pitcher plants, after reports that people have begun harvesting them to make desserts.
Ministry spokesperson Khvay Atitya called on citizens and tourists to help conserve the plants, warning that several Nepenthes species in Cambodia are at risk.
“These plants are highly endangered and require collective efforts for their protection,” Atitya said.
He noted that Nepenthes species are listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), meaning their trade must be strictly controlled to avoid threatening their survival.
The appeal follows social media posts showing the plants being collected and used in dessert preparation, raising concerns among conservation authorities.
According to the ministry, there are around 129 Nepenthes species globally, with around five species found in Cambodia.
Nepenthes bokorensis grows in the Bokor mountain range and within Preah Monivong National Park. Nepenthes holdenii is found in the mountainous regions of southwestern Cambodia, including the Cardamom Mountains.
Meanwhile, Nepenthes kampotiana occurs in Kampot province, Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary and the Cardamom Mountains. Nepenthes mirabilis is distributed across Kampot, Kep and Sihanoukville provinces, while Nepenthes smilesii can be found in Kampot province and Preah Suramarit Kosom National Park in Kampong Speu province.
The ministry said harvesting wild plants for commercial or personal use can contribute to biodiversity loss and urged stricter awareness to protect Cambodia’s unique flora.
Website: plantscientist.org
Nomination Link
Registration Link
Here with connected:
Follow the Plant Scientist Awards channel on WhatsApp:
Comments
Post a Comment