Venezuelan environmental authorities reported the seizure of 74.400 units of processed moss in the state of Carabobo, following a control deployment carried out in the days leading up to Christmas.
The seized material was found in a company and was distributed in 310 boxes ready for sale, an act that violates current regulations on the extraction, transport and sale of protected species.
How the operation unfolded
The procedure was carried out within the campaign "Christmas Without Moss, in Peace and with Sovereignty", coordinated by the Committee for Monitoring and Control of Environmental Impacts, with support from officials of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB).
During the inspection, the agents seized the packages and notified the company. citation slip and the retention of plant material, which was placed under the custody of the General Directorate of Monitoring and Control of Environmental Impacts.
According to authorities, the objective of the deployment is to cut off the supply chain of products extracted from the natural environment, such as java moss, without the required permits and controlsespecially in high-consumption campaigns.
Applicable legal framework
The action is based on the Resolution No. 000175 (Official Gazette No. 40.305, 2013), which prohibits throughout the national territory the extraction, transport and commercialization of mosses, lichens, tree ferns and stick beard.
This legal framework provides for the opening of administrative and legal procedures against those who engage in these practices, with immediate measures such as the retention of the material and the summoning of those responsible.
Environmental impact of moss plundering
During the operation, information was reinforced about the effects of removing these species from the forest: moss extraction accelerates the soil erosion and desertificationand causes losses in biodiversity that are difficult to reverse.
Moss plays a role key role in the regulation of humidity and substrate stability in forest ecosystemsTherefore, its removal destabilizes the ecological balance and affects multiple forms of life.
Public awareness and next steps
In addition to the seizure, a day of environmental awareness aimed at businesses, citizens and community organizations, with talks and distribution of informational material.
The General Directorate for Monitoring and Control of Environmental Impacts will maintain the custody of the retained material while the administrative and judicial proceedings provided for by law are carried out.
Institutional coordination and official source
The Ministry of Popular Power for Ecosocialism highlighted the joint action between the Oversight Committee and the National Guard, emphasizing that compliance with regulations is priority for protecting ecosystems during periods of high demand.
According to official information, the campaign will intensify controls during the Christmas season and reinforce the monitoring illegal trade de protected plant species throughout the region.
The seizure in Carabobo sends a clear message: the trade in moss and associated species, beyond its seasonal use, is subject to a express prohibition with legal backing, and its extraction entails ecological impacts that the administration seeks to avoid.
