Wildlife trade: Cebu town, 2 cities ‘hotspots’

CEBU, Philippines- Some areas in Cebu have been identified as “hotspots” in the rampant smuggling of endangered bird species in the region.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources named them as Minglanilla town and the cities of Talisay and Cebu.

Specifically, the areas in Cebu City are Carbon Public Market and Escario, Apitong, Magallanes, Colon, and Jakosalem Streets.

The commonly smuggled wildlife are the Hill Myna, Lovebirds, Black Masked Lovebirds, Tarictic hornbill, African Lovebirds, Philippine Hawk Eagles, Crested Serpent Eagle, Cockatoos, Blue-backed Parrot and Dark-eared Brown Dove.

DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said the country as a whole is also a hotspot area where biodiversity is under “constant threat from over-harvesting, pollution, over pollution and poverty.”

“It has been said that the commercial and social demand for the terrestrial and coastal resources of the Philippines has resulted in high rates of biodiversity loss,” he said.

Section 27 of Republic Act 9147 (An Act Providing for the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources and Their Habitats, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes) prohibits trading of wildlife.

Under the said provision, violators may face imprisonment of two years and one day to four years and/or a fine of P5,000 to P300,000 if they commit the crime on species listed as critically endangered; and imprisonment of one year and one day to two years and/or a fine of P2,000 to P200,000 for endangered species.

Montejo urged the public not to buy certain wildlife species being sold along streets so as to discourage the illegal trading and selling of wildlife in the country.

He reminded the public to always ask for a copy of the sellers’ certificate of wildlife registration or any permit from DENR to ensure that what they are buying are legal wildlife and are not the prohibited or endangered ones.

In relation to this, 100-page book entitled “Status of Cebu’s Biodiversity” was launched yesterday as guide for local government units, academe, government and non-government sectors for a comprehensive land use, protection conservation efforts, related management plans, among others.

The book is also a tribute to William Oliver, who championed conservation programs in the Philippines, particularly in Cebu. At least 2,000 copies will be distributed for free. 

The book was conceptualized by the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc (PBCFI) and the Foundation for the Philippine Environment.

PBCFI executive director Lisa Paguntalan, one of the book’s authors, said a highlight of the book is a checklist of bird species in different cities and municipalities and other satellite islands here in Cebu.

“It is easier for the LGUs or those interested to study on these areas to know what species are located in their areas,” she said.

The book, PBCFI president Rafael Coscolluela also said, is an updated biodiversity profile for each of the identified Key Biodiversity Areas in Cebu.

“It forms an integral part in advocating for the conservation of Cebu’s unique wildlife and threatened habitats,” he said.

Montejo also said the book “clearly and pragmatically” describes and illustrates the status of biodiversity in Cebu. He said it would encourage the public to take part in protecting, conserving and managing the region’s vast and rich biodiversity.

“Conservation efforts for Cebu’s unmatched biodiversity have always been among the top priorities of the DENR, grounded on the fact that the country is identified as one of the hottest hotspots in terms of species extinction,” he said.

“The publication of the ‘Status of Cebu’s Biodiversity’ is a fitting instrument to recognize the importance of addressing the many challenges and concerns embracing Cebu’s biodiversity, which calls for collective and shared actions toward achieving a healthy and sound biodiversity,” he added.

Cebu ranks amongst the world most important areas in terms of biodiversity conservation, with 15 endemic grouping of birds, 12 of which are globally threatened, such as the Black Shama (Copsychus cebuensis), Cebu Hawk Owl (Ninox rumseyi), Streak-breasted Bulbul (Ixos siquijorensis) Monticola, among others.

The island also harbors the endemic and critically endangered Cebu Cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum cebuense), critically endangered Cebu Small Worm Skink (Brachymeles cebuensis); and the Kawasan damselfly (Drepanoticta plicata) and the Cebu frill-wing damselfly (Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi).

It is because of this that Cebu has been identified as an important bird area and an endemic bird area by Birdlife International and Haribon Foundation Inc. — /RHM (FREEMAN)