Rhodina Villanueva The Philippine Star 6 Nov 15;
MANILA, Philippines - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has formally declared Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) as an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP).
“A piece of heaven on Earth,” was how Roberto Oliva, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity’s executive director described the park.
The environment ministers of the 10 ASEAN member states approved the nomination at the 15th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment held in October last year.
Known as an “ultimate diving destination,” the park is home to almost 80 percent of all coral species in the Philippines and to at least half of all coral species in the world.
The newly declared AHP has 10,000 hectares of coral reef and at least 86,000 hectares of waters at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the center of global marine biodiversity.
Tubbataha reef was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993.
“We hope we can serve as a role model to other marine natural parks,” Angelique Songco, protected area superintendent of the TRNP, said of the declaration.
Nelson Devanadera, director of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, said the recognition is a welcome development.
“There is a need to highlight Tubbataha not just as a diving site, but as a biodiversity haven that is worth exploring for a total unique experience,” Devanadera said.
He said the declaration is an opportunity to replicate the good practices of Tubbataha in other protected areas in the country.
Mundita Lim – director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau, an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – said the recognition is proof of the country’s rich marine biodiversity.
“This means we need to continue or even intensify protection of the TRNP. Stricter rules should be followed as to activities being undertaken near Tubbataha. Utmost care should be observed,” Lim said.
She expressed optimism more funds would come in for Tubbataha’s protection and conservation. “This just shows that our country is indeed rich in marine resources given the recognition for the TRNP at the regional level,” she said.
The TRNP is the seventh AHP in the country.
Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve in Laguna, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental, Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park in Mindoro, Mt. Apo Natural Park in Davao, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Bukidnon and Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park in Misamis Occidental are the other AHPs.
Tubbataha Reefs now an Asean Heritage Park
Jonathan L. Mayuga Business Mirror 5 Nov 15;
THE Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) is now officially an Asean Heritage Park (AHP).
The Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) handed over the certificate to the TRNP management on Thursday during the ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol of Palawan in Puerto Princesa City.
The TRNP, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) World Heritage site, is the fifth location in the Philippines to earn the recognition as AHP. It is the 35th AHP and the country’s seventh. It is the first of its kind in the Philippines, it being a marine-based park.
The nomination of the TRNP was approved by the environment ministers of the 10 Asean member-states at the 15th Informal Asean Ministerial Meeting on the Environment held in October last year.
The TRNP boasts of a wide array of marine biodiversity. It is home to almost 80 percent of all coral species in the Philippines and to at least half of all coral species in the world.
The TRNP has 10,000 hectares of coral reef and at least 86,000 hectares of surrounding waters. It sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the center of global marine biodiversity in the world.
In 1993 TRNP was declared a Unesco World Heritage site.
In a statement, Angelique Songco, Protected Area superintendent of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, said: “We hope we can serve as a role model to other marine natural parks.” She noted the need to be more vigilant in protecting the richness and beauty of Tubbataha.
Nelson Devanadera, director of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, said the declaration of the TRNP as an AHP is a welcome development, underscoring the need to highlight Tubbataha, not just as a diving site, but as “a biodiversity haven that is worth exploring for a total unique experience.”
Devanadera said the declaration also opens an opportunity to replicate the good practices of Tubbataha in other protected areas in the Philippines.
“Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is the Seventh AHP in the Philippines, and this is a testament of this country’s rich natural resources and biological diversity. This also underscores the need to conserve the park as it benefits the entire Southeast Asian region,” said lawyer Roberto V. Oliva, ACB executive director.
The AHP Program supports the management of a regional network of national protected areas of high conservation importance that provides a complete spectrum of respective ecosystems to generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment and conservation of Asean’s rich biodiversity. ACB serves as the secretariat of the AHP Program.
The other AHPs in the Philippines are Mount Makiling Forest Reserve in Laguna; Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental; Mount Iglit-Baco National Park in Mindoro; Mount Apo Natural Park in Davao; Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Bukidnon; and Mount Malindang Range Natural Park in Misamis Occidental.
Tubbataha now ASEAN Heritage Park
Ellalyn De Vera Manila Bulletin 6 Nov 15;
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) formally declared on Thursday the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) in Palawan as an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP), making it the 35th AHP in the region and seventh in the Philippines.
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) handed the certificate of AHP Declaration to the Tubbataha Management Office during a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol of Puerto Princesa City yesterday.
TRNP also serves as the first marine-based AHP in the Philippines.
Park superintendent Angelique Songco said the declaration assured the management team that they have been doing the right thing.
“We hope we can serve as a role model to other marine natural parks,” she said, noting the need to be more vigilant in protecting the richness and beauty of Tubbataha.
Meanwhile, Nelson Devanadera, Director of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development said the declaration is a welcome development, adding that there is a “need to highlight Tubbataha not just as a diving site, but as a biodiversity haven that is worth exploring for a total unique experience.”
He stressed that this also opens an opportunity to replicate the good practices of Tubbataha in other protected areas in the Philippines.
“Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is the 7th AHP in the Philippines, and this is a testament of this country’s rich natural resources and biological diversity. This also underscores the need to conserve the park as it benefits the entire Southeast Asian region,” ACB Executive Director Roberto Oliva said.
He explained that the AHP Programme supports the management of a regional network of national protected areas of high conservation importance that provides a complete spectrum of respective ecosystems to generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment, and conservation of ASEAN’s rich biodiversity.
ACB serves as the secretariat of the AHP Programme.
The nomination of the TRNP was approved by the environment ministers of the 10 ASEAN member-states at the 15th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment held in October last year.
Known as an “ultimate diving destination” in the Philippines, the park boasts of a wide array of marine biodiversity. The newest AHP is home to almost 80 percent of all coral species in the Philippines and to at least half of all coral species in the world.
It has 10,000 hectares of coral reef and at least 86,000 hectares of surrounding waters right at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the center of global marine biodiversity. In 1993, TRNP was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
TRNP joined the ranks of six other AHPs in the Philippines namely: Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve in Laguna, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental, Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park in Mindoro, Mt. Apo Natural Park in Davao, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Bukidnon, and Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park in Misamis Occidental.
