ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Press Release 11 Mar 10;
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Deputy Secretary-General Dato’ Misran Karmain today called on ASEAN Member States to exert greater effort in conserving the region’s rich biodiversity. The call was made during the launch of the celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity in Southeast Asia held in Manila on 05 March.
“ASEAN Member States should do more to derive optimum benefits and conserve our natural biological wealth. While we have made some pioneering efforts in the region, we have yet to fully integrate this natural wealth into all aspects of daily life and the economic and social development of our countries,” DSG Karmain told about 100 representatives of national environmental agencies of the 10 ASEAN Member States, the diplomatic community, business, schools, and media who participated in the launch.
Hosted by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the event is part of the global celebration which is aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of biodiversity and the consequences of its loss. The celebration’s theme is Biodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life.
Other key speakers were Mr. Demetrio Ignacio, Undersecretary of the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Mr. Rodrigo U. Fuentes, Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity; H.E. Alistair MacDonald, Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines; H.E. Makoto Katsura, Ambassador, Embassy of Japan to the Philippines; Hon. Juan Miguel Zubiri. Senator, Republic of the Philippines (represented by Atty. Dave Torres); Dr. Vann Monyneath, Chairman of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity’s Governing Board; and Dr. Filemon Uriarte, Jr., Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation. A videotaped message Dr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, was also shown.
According to DSG Karmain, the celebration holds a special significance for ASEAN. “At almost every event pertaining to ASEAN’s natural heritage, we often hear what I would now call the ASEAN 3-20 Endowment, that is, although occupying only three per cent of the earth’s surface, the ASEAN region contains more than 20 per cent of all known plant, animal and marine species, most of which are found nowhere else in the world. The region is home to three mega-diverse countries (Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines), one-third or 284,000 square kilometres of all known coral reefs in the world, 35 per cent of the world’s coastal mangrove forests, among others,” he added.
DSG Karmain highlighted the theme “Green ASEAN” and the region’s efforts at embarking on building one community for all ASEAN Member States through a road map adopted by the ASEAN leaders in 2009. “We expect this theme to lay the basis for an environmentally sustainable ASEAN Community with our rich natural biological diversity leading our quest for sustainable economic growth and social development,” he said.
DSG Karmain also called on the ASEAN Member States to pledge stronger support to the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, the intergovernmental organization that facilitates collaboration for biodiversity conservation among the 10 ASEAN countries.
At the launch, the ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General awarded the ASEAN Heritage Parks certificate to the Philippines recognizing the Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Mindanao as the 28th and newest ASEAN Heritage Park in Southeast Asia. The award was received on behalf of the Government of the Philippines by DENR Undersecretary Ignacio.
Undersecretary Ignacio said that “with this recognition, the Philippines is now home to three ASEAN Heritage Parks – Mt. Apo Natural Park in Davao, Mt. Iglit-Baco in Mindoro, and now, Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon. This reinforces the fact that despite its relatively small size, our country is home to an astonishing range of biodiversity. The Philippines stands out in the region in terms of richness of biodiversity as it cradles a treasure trove of plant, bird, marine, insect and other animal species. In fact, it is one of the region’s mega-diverse countries, along with Indonesia and Malaysia.”
Ignacio said that award is timely as it was given during the International Year of Biodiversity. He called on all ASEAN citizens to join the world in celebrating life on earth and the value of biodiversity.
The launch of the International Year of Biodiversity also featured the formal call for nominations for ASEAN Champions of Biodiversity – a recognition program that will award outstanding biodiversity conservation and advocacy projects by corporations, youth and media.
ACB and the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau presented the ASEAN Regional Clearing-House Mechanism and the Philippine Clearing-House Mechanism, which are both aimed at building strong biodiversity information networks.
A Media Forum on Ecotourism and Biodiversity featuring experts from the ASEAN region capped the launch.
