UP Diliman to fine plant poachers caught on campus
To those strolling inside UP Diliman only to eye some rare plant to eventually take home, let this be your last warning.
UP's Campus Maintenance Office has recently reiterated its caution to the public against plant poaching—or the illegal uprooting of wild flora.
It might penalize thieves once caught, UP's campus media platform DZUP Balita reported.
UP echoed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' reminder against plant poaching last September.
DENR said that gathering and collecting wild flora in a forest without permit violates Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation government-issued permits.
Poaching critically endangered plants may lead to six to 12 years in prison and a fine of P100,000 to P1 million, DENR stressed.
This, as indoor gardening as a hobby spikes with more people forced to keep busy at home while in lockdown.
UP, the country's premier state university, spans 493 hectares. Its protected forest area expands up to 18.35 hectares, with the parks and open spaces on campus altogether covering almost 45 hectares.
The biodiverse campus has since remained one of the populated metro's most visited "parks."
Banner image by Barry Viloria