The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-SOCCSKSARGEN (DENR-12), through its Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Matalam, has documented five pitcher plant species in Cotabato.
The government agency shared the news on its Facebook page on February 25, after conducting a three-day foot patrol in Brgy. San Miguel, Arakan, Cotabato, from February 18 to 21.
According to their post, species of Nepenthes pitcher plants were documented within a 135-hectare tropical forest in Mt. Sinaka, highlighting the area’s rich biodiversity.
Here are the five Nepenthes pitcher plant species documented in Arakan, Cotabato:
- Nepenthes truncata Macfarl
- Nepenthes surigaoensis Elmer
- Nepenthes alata Blanco
- Nepenthes mindanaoensis Sh. Kurata
- Nepenthes talaandig Gronem
TAKE a closer look at the five pitcher plant species documented in Cotabato here:
“These species are designated as Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU) under DENR Administrative Order No. 2017-11, which presents the Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Plants and their Category. This classification underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these rare and ecologically significant plants,” the government agency said.
Due to these findings, DENR-12 announced that efforts are underway to designate Mt. Sinaka as a critical habitat site.
“Brgy. San Miguel is one of the surrounding barangays, and this designation aims to protect the diverse ecosystems and biodiversity found in the area. These actions are essential to preserving the unique plants and animals for future generations,” DENR-12 added.
“This unique group of carnivorous plants, recognized for their pitcher-shaped leaves, demonstrates the urgent need for effective conservation efforts in the region.”
DENR-12 also highlighted that Mindanao hosts numerous threatened and endemic Nepenthes species, earning it the title of the pitcher plant capital of the Philippines. To date, 60 species have been identified, several of which are critically endangered.
In recent years, new species of flora and fauna have been discovered in the Philippines, including a new species of helmet orchid found in the mountains of Palawan Island in 2020. That same year, an endemic plant species called Pyrostria arayatensis was discovered in Mount Arayat National Park (MANP) in Pampanga.
