About 400 sacks of abandoned mangrove tanbark were recovered by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Enforcement Team in a temporary stock area at Sitio Sayab, Brgy. Tagnato, Bataraza, Palawan at around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 15.
Surveillance revealed these tanbark sacks are regularly shipped out to Malaysia by different groups in Southern Palawan, according to a spot report from the PCSD Enforcement Team.
An investigation will be made as to responsible person/s for possible filing of criminal complaint for violation of P.D. 705, otherwise known as the Philippine Forestry Code, said the report.
The recovered tanbarks were brought to Puerto Princesa for proper disposition.
Environment experts said the rampant debarking of mangroves is irremediable, and has ill-effects to nature.
In 2008, local officials in Palawan called for more teeth to prevent the illicit gathering and trading of tanbarks which was found to be one of the major causes of crocodile attacks in Bataraza.
The activity had reportedly disturbed the natural habitats of the saltwater crocodiles causing them to stray near the shore or river banks where there are residents.
The tanbarks are traded for use in dyeing and tanning, they are also the source of soga browns used to dye Javanese batiks, bark extracts are also used to preserve nets and sails from decay, and other uses.