Pakse, Lao PDR— The Sixth ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference (AHP6) kicked off on Monday, gathering about 300 officials, protected area managers, top experts, stakeholders, and partners in stewardship from ASEAN Member States and across the globe. 

With theme “Sustainability and Innovation for Parks and People—Celebrating 35 years of ASEAN Heritage Parks,” AHP6 builds on the experiences and knowledge of protected area managers and international experts in the bid to improve the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) network and strengthen camaraderie among AHP stakeholders and other dialogue and development partners under the AHP Programme, one of the flagship initiatives of ASEAN.

Organised by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and the Government of Lao PDR through the Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, with support from the European Union (EU), the German Development Cooperation through the KfW, German development agency GIZ, SwedBio, Convention on Biological Diversity, and THE Japan Biodiversity Fund, the four-day AHP6 ALSO CELEBRATES THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AHP PROGRAMME in the charming city of Pakse in Champasak province in Lao PDR on 21-24 October 2019.

AHP6 began on Monday with the European Union-ASEAN policy dialogue, which focuses on the EU’s “Larger than Tigers” report, the EU’s inputs for a strategic approach to biodiversity conservation in Asia.

The dialogue serves as a platform for ideas on several aspects of protected areas management; landscape and seascape approaches to conservation; and approaches to address wildlife crimes in ASEAN.

“This ASEAN-EU dialogue demonstrates our continued partnership within the framework of ASEAN cooperation on environment, with governments, non-government organizations, experts, private sector, women, youth, indigenous and local communities and other key stakeholders,” ACB Executive Director Theresa Mundita Lim said in her message.

Enrico Strampelli, head of cooperation for the EU delegation in the Philippines, underscored the need for “a global vision and a political will at the highest level” to stop biodiversity loss.

“I have no doubt that the ASEAN–EU partnership can reinforce that vision towards a common objective and interest. The EU takes a particular pride in having a constructive dialogue with ASEAN on biodiversity issues as this is one of the highest priorities on its development cooperation with South East Asia,” Strampelli said.

Lim noted that while approaches to address biodiversity loss can be done locally or nationally by every ASEAN member state, several issues require collaboration between and among countries in the region.

“Many large landscapes and seascapes important for biodiversity conservation are shared between multiple countries. Many protected areas are situated close to national borders and offer potential for transboundary collaboration, while much of the wildlife crime plaguing the region is also transnational in nature,” Lim said.

She said the ACB plays a key role in facilitating collaboration and strengthening capacity for jointly addressing strategic issues.

Participating in the dialogue are members of the ACB Governing Board, members of the ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, ASEAN Working Group on CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and Wildlife Enforcement, the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime, key development partners from the Delegations of the European Union, as well as protected area and wildlife conservation stakeholders in the region.

The delegates were welcomed by Sousath Sayakoummane, director general of Lao PDR’s Department of Forestry.

The EU has been supporting the AHP programme through the Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas in ASEAN (BCAMP) project, a five-year initiative designed to contribute to global sustainability by ensuring that the ASEAN’s rich biological diversity is conserved and sustainably managed.

Brunei Darussalam’s Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park, a sprawling 78-square-kilometer protected area, is a sanctuary for rare and endangered species — including the white-collared fruit bat, hornbills, clouded leopard, slow loris, tarsier, sun bear, great argus pheasant, Bornean gibbon, white-bellied sea eagle, and Vordermann’s flying squirrel. It also hosts endemic species of damselfly, and biggest and the smallest species of dragonflies from Borneo.

With the serene blackwater lake, the country’s largest at 2.2 square kilometers, the park draws in visitors interested in the country’s rich culture and biodiversity. No wonder, it is one of the country’s top destinations for nature lovers and researchers.

Brunei Darussalam’s lone ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP), Tasek Merimbun, also boasts its tourist-friendly facilities, one of which is its spacious exhibition hall providing a panoramic view of the lake and the park and featuring exhibits about the park’s history, biodiversity, and culture.  Another attraction is Dusun house, a traditional two-floor structure built entirely with forest resources and without a nail used. Forest products from over 42 species were used as supports, walls, thatches, and ties.

The wraparound veranda of its multipurpose hall called Balai Puru also offers great views of the park.

Visitors may enjoy a relaxing walk along a wooden bridge crossing over the lake and connecting to a small group of islands right at the park’s centre.  These islands hold some of the country’s most important archeological remains, including brass and bronze artifacts, Chinese and European ceramics, and Dusun burial jars. These are pieces of evidence that Tasek Merimbun was one of the earliest sites of human settlement in the country.

Tasek Merimbun likewise offers other activities through its nature trails and lakeside gazebos. Visitors may choose to take a cruise on the lake or stay overnight at forest campsites.

A laboratory building with an office for processing data and sleeping quarters for guests was built to attract more researchers in the park.

Like Tasek Merimbun, many of the AHPs are highly visible in tourism. The AHPs are protected areas of high conservation importance, showcasing wealthy ecosystems that are uniquely ASEAN. To date, 44 protected areas have been designated as AHPs. This number, however, may increase with the nomination of five protected areas from Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.  These are Hat Chao Mai National Park and Mu Ko Libong Non-hunting Area (Thailand); Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park (Thailand); Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park (Viet Nam); Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve (Viet Nam); and Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary (Myanmar).

 “What attracts tourists the most is the beauty of these ecosystems. AHPs like Tasek Merimbun show us that ecotourism and biodiversity conservation can go hand in hand,” ASEAN Center for Biodiversity Executive Director Theresa Mundita Lim said.

In promoting tourism, she added, factors like the carrying capacity of the area and the involvement of the community in the decision making are considered.

“We also take the opportunity to raise awareness among tourists on the importance of biodiversity conservation,” Lim said.

The ACB, as the secretariat of the AHP Programme, facilitates the effective management of the AHPs and the capacity-enhancement of the park managers.

Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park’s management has been successful in conserving Brunei’s rich flora and fauna in one of the first AHPs in the region.  Its achievements and milestones are among the highlights at the Sixth ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference (AHP6) that will be held in Pakse, Lao PDR on 21–24 October 2019.

With the theme “Sustainability and Innovation for Parks and People—Celebrating 35 years of ASEAN Heritage Parks,” the conference will gather protected area managers, representatives from international environmental organisations, businesses, academe, traditional and local communities, and youth to discuss knowledge and best practices in managing protected areas.

Organised by the ACB and the Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Lao PDR with support from the European Union (EU), the German Development Cooperation through the KfW, German development agency GIZ, SwedBio, Convention on Biological Diversity, and Japan Biodiversity Fund, the conference aims to improve the AHP network and strengthen camaraderie among AHP stakeholders and other development partners.

For more information on AHPs, log on to aseanbiodiversity.org and follow the ACB on https://www.facebook.com/ASEANBiodiversity/.

Five protected areas from Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam have joined the network of ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs), areas of high conservation value that best represent the region’s rich natural resources and cultural identity. 

Environment ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) declared Hat Chao Mai National Park and Mu Ko Libong Non-hunting Area and Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, both from Thailand; Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park and Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve of Viet Nam; and Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary of Myanmar as new AHPs during the 15th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME) and related meetings held from 7–10 October 2019 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. 

“We are happy to announce that we now have 49 ASEAN Heritage Parks. These are models of effective protected area management,” said Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, executive director of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). 

The ACB serves as the Secretariat of the AHP Programme, a flagship initiative of the ASEAN that recognises national parks and nature reserves with outstanding wilderness and biodiversity values.  

“These additions to our growing list of protected areas in the region demonstrate ASEAN’s intensified and unified efforts to conserve a wider area and cover all types of ecosystems,” Lim said noting that of the 49 AHPs, 12 are marine and coastal parks. 

The AHP programme encourages the sustainable and equitable management of protected areas to contribute to the progress of achieving Aichi Target 11 under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Target 11 calls for the conservation of at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, by 2020. 

“The AHPs represent the rich and diverse species and ecosystem of the ASEAN region. We hope to cover more areas in line with our main goal of reducing the rate of biodiversity loss in the region,” Lim said.

For a protected area to be an AHP, it must meet criteria, including ecological completeness, representativeness, naturalness, high conservation importance, legally gazetted conservation areas, approved management plan, transboundary, uniqueness, high ethno-biological significance, and importance for endangered biodiversity.

The AMME is held every two years for the environment ministers to discuss a wide range of environmental issues. The 15th AMME tackled biodiversity conservation, climate change, environmentally sustainable city, coastal and marine environment, environmental education, chemical and hazardous waste management, transboundary haze pollution control, and eco-schools.

The ASEAN environment ministers also attended related meetings, including the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, the 16th ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, and South Korea) Environment Ministers Meeting, and the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Dialogue on the Environmental Cooperation.

AHP6 

The new AHPs and other conservation topics are expected to take the spotlight at the Sixth ASEAN Heritage Park Conference (AHP6) on 21–24 October 2019 in Pakse, Lao PDR.

With theme “Sustainability and Innovation for Parks and People—Celebrating 35 years of ASEAN Heritage Parks,” the AHP6 will gather protected area managers, representatives from international environmental organisations, businesses, academe, traditional and local communities, and youth to discuss knowledge and best practices in managing protected areas. 

Organised by the ACB and the Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Lao PDR with support from the European Union (EU), the German Development Cooperation through the KfW, German development agency GIZ, SwedBio, Convention on Biological Diversity, and Japan Biodiversity Fund, the conference aims to improve the AHP network and strengthen camaraderie among AHP stakeholders and other development partners.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Hat Chao Mai National Park and Mu Ko Libong Non-hunting Area 

Hat Chao Mai National Park and Mu Ko Libong Non-hunting Area are protected areas situated beside each other in Trang Province, Southern Thailand, towards the Andaman Sea. Declared as Ramsar wetlands of international importance in 2002, the two sites possess high ecosystem diversity including evergreen, karst, and beach forests, limestone cave ecosystems, mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs. These areas are known as home to dugongs, a marine mammal listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

These also host other threatened flora and fauna, including 265 identified floral species and 50 faunal species, which have been listed as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable species, and nearly threatened. Unique rock formations, such as caves, limestone formations, cliffs, and sinkholes can also be found in the sites.

Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park 

The Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park is a protected area situated in Surat Thani Province in Thailand. With an area of 102 square kilometres, it is an archipelago and a protected area composed of diverse ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves, and karst ecosystems. It is a popular tourist destination featuring panoramic views of the area, geological formations, and sandy beaches. The area is also known to offer numerous ecosystem services, especially on the life cycle of mackerels, which is a very important commercial fish product in Thailand. It is home to endangered and threatened species. Among others, the orchid Ang Thong Lady Slipper (Paphiopedilum niveum) is endemic only to this area.

The area was recognised as a Ramsar site in 2002. It was also awarded a 5-star beach rating by the Pollution Control Department of Thailand for the sound environmental management of the area. 

Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park

Located in Tay Ninh Province of Viet nam, Lo Go-Xa Mat National covers a total area of 191.50 square kilometres of core zone and 186 square kilometres of buffer zones. The Park plays an important role in the conservation and development of biodiversity values, border protection, and natural landscapes, especially the forest and wetlands habitats of the transitional region between the Central Highlands, Southern Lowlands, and Mekong Delta ecoregions of Viet Nam. The Park was established to conserve threatened plant and animal species. It serves as a location for scientific research, environmental education, and ecotourism development. This site is also potentially important for transboundary conservation action between Viet Nam and Cambodia.

Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve

Ngoc Linh is the second highest mountain range in Viet Nam, following the Hoang Lien Mountain, the highest in South Viet Nam and Indochina. The Ngoc Linh mountain has a strongly fragmented terrain and is a transitional area between the Northern Annamite Range and the Southern Annamite Range, between the coastal plain and the Central Highlands. With these characteristics, Ngoc Linh has a unique location that creates high and unique values of biodiversity.

Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated in the largest contiguous landscape in Myanmar, Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary is home to rare wildlife species, including seven Asian wild cat species and their prey; endemic species like Burmese Roofed Turtle; and endangered species such as Asian elephant, Bengal tiger, Dhole, and Shortridge’s langur. 

It is also a haven for other animal and plant species which include: 16 orchid species; 38 mammal species; 266 bird species; 77 reptile and amphibian species; and more than 100 butterfly species. This 215,072-hectare sanctuary can be found in Sagaing Region in Northern Myanmar.

For more information on AHPs, log on to aseanbiodiversity.org and follow the ACB on https://www.facebook.com/ASEANBiodiversity/.