With the arrival of the Christmas season, environmental authorities in Mérida, Venezuela, have intensified controls to curb the extraction and marketing of moss and ferns traditionally used in nativity scenes. The aim is to preserve local ecosystems during a period of increasing pressure on these natural resources.
According to the director of the Ministry of Ecosocialism in Mérida, Yeibert Castillo, will be applied relevant economic sanctions Those who are detected extracting, transporting, selling or profiting from these materials in an irregular manner, including species such as stick beard and other plant elements used in nativity scenes.
What changes and who is affected
The control campaign is not limited to the collectors; it also extends to those who market, transport or store Moss and ferns without authorization. Authorities have emphasized that there will be active enforcement and that, after public warnings, there will be no excuses for those who violate the regulations.
This increased surveillance is part of a coordinated action by the Ministry of Ecosocialism, which seeks to reduce the environmental impact associated with the holiday season and promote responsible practices in the decoration of nativity scenes.
Amounts of the penalties
According to information released by local media, the fines range between 3.000 and 10.000 tax units (UT), depending on the severity of the infraction and the degree of exploitation of the resources.
Based on estimates shared in media coverage, those figures would roughly equate to a minimum penalty of 129.000 bolivars (about 545 dollars) and a maximum of 430.000 bolivars (around $1.817), always subject to the current exchange rate.
Legal basis and territorial scope
The measures are based on the Official Gazette 4.305 (2013)which expressly prohibits the extraction and sale of certain natural components. This legal framework allows for expanded inspection and enforcement actions during year-end operations.
The campaign is not limited to Mérida: actions have also been deployed in Táchira, Trujillo, Miranda, Aragua and Caracas, with patrols, checkpoints and preventive notices directed at merchants and citizens.
Recommendations and alternative materials
Authorities insist there are options for setting up the nativity scene without damaging the environment: from artificial moss and reusable materials, even textured papers or plant fibers from controlled crops.
In addition to avoiding penalties, resorting to these alternatives helps to conserve moisture and biodiversity of wooded areas where moss plays a key ecological role, promoting the balance of local ecosystems.
The institutional message emphasizes that protecting these resources is a shared responsibility: beyond controls, the citizen collaboration This is essential to reducing the demand for moss and ferns collected from the wild.
With operations already underway and regulations in place, the fines and surveillance actions aim to deter illegal extraction and promote the use of alternatives, making it clear that the preservation of the environment During the holidays, it is a priority that concerns everyone.
