Sungei Buloh: a Refuge Data Sharing

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CONTENTS VOL. 12 z NO. 3 z SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2013

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SPECIAL REPORTS FEATURES 6 Facilitating data sharing in the 21 Saving nature’s aesthetic value ASEAN Region through art About the cover. There is a need 9 Clearing things out: 22 Born to be wild in a warming to bridge the data and information gaps on biodiversity. One key Clearing-House Mechanisms world step toward achieving this is the recognition of the importance of and their relevance 25 Sungei Buloh: a refuge data sharing. ACB is employing to ASEAN Member States for migratory birds and innovative means to bridge biodiversity information gaps. 11 Learning from the Malaysian Singapore’s native biodiversity Featured on the cover are mobile apps - innovative and easy-to-use Biodiversity Clearing-House 26 Understanding the legal tools for biodiversity information Mechanism framework of access and management. 14 Using maps to communicate benefit sharing of genetic Photo by Pamela Q. Reblora biodiversity trends resources 15 Mobile apps as tools for 27 On a shopping spree – how biodiversity information much is the value of nature? management 29 International Coastal 16 ACB mobile apps Clean Day, September 15 17 Fourth AHP Conference: Every litter bit hurts promoting efficient parks 31 International Day for management Preventing the Exploitation of 19 Key Messages and the Environment in War and Recommendations: Armed Conflict, 6 November 4th ASEAN Heritage Parks Giving nature a voice in times Conference of conflict

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32 International Day for the 45 Germany grants Euro 51 Biodiversity meeting affirms Eradication of Poverty, 10M for biodiversity key role of traditional 17 October conservation in ASEAN knowledge in implementing Poverty and biodiversity Heritage Parks the UN biodiversity 33 International Mountain Day, 45 ASEAN launches convention Dec 11 secondment programme 52 ASEAN environment No place like home: on biodiversity ministers support 10-year habitats from oceans deep 46 Winners of Zooming framework on sustainable to mountains high in on Biodiversity and consumption and 36 World Food Day, Climate Change photo tilt production 16 October announced 52 Asia Parks Congress Building systems that bring 47 Looking for youth concludes with pledge for food to the table volunteers for biodiversity new era in protected area 47 International treaty on collaboration PROFILES biosafety marks 10th year 53 Workshop highlights 36 Indonesia 48 Maintaining rich biodiversity initiatives on wetlands and Lore Lindu National Park in and around cities is migratory birds flyway sites 39 Viet Nam possible and can improve 54 Asia-Pacific policy Xuan Thuy National Park global sustainable makers discuss valuing development and accounting for the BOOKMARKS 49 Coral Triangle Atlas environment 42 ACB holds biodiversity presents maps of regional 54 14th IAMME and COP9 information management change on transboundary haze training for Brunei 49 UNCCD sets theme for pollution held in Indonesia Darussalam 2014 World Day to Combat 55 Indonesia ratifies 42 ACB holds dialogue with Desertification Nagoya Protocol, donors and partners 479 IFPRI considers reaches halfway mark 43 ASEAN declares socioeconomic impacts of to entry into force Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve GM crops as 33rd ASEAN Heritage 50 IDB 2014 to focus on 56 BIODIVERSITY NEWS Park island biodiversity SOUTHEAST ASIA 43 ACB launches taxonomy 50 Ocean acidity is increasing publications, opens at an unprecedented rate FOCUS AHP exhibit 51 Threatened marine 63 Dusky fruit bat 44 Asia-Pacific countries ecosystems get boost from 64 Javan tailless fruit bat discuss biodiversity US$4.5 million grant from 65 Large fl ying fox information sharing GEF 66 Lyle’s fl ying fox

4 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org Publisher About the Contributors Roberto V. Oliva Jerome Alano is ACB’s Geographic Information been involved with the ASEAN Heritage Park programme since Editor-in-Chief System Officer. Jerome has a Bachelors 2002.Some of his authored publications include “Our Fragile Rolando A. Inciong Degree in Computer Science with extensive Rainforest”, “Migratory Birds of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve” experience and professional trainings on and “Birds seen at the Istana”. Geographic Information Systems and Remote Managing Editor Sensing Analysis. He is tasked with developing map-based Joey Gan is the Manager of the Bukit Timah Karen Lapitan information and their analysis for the ASEAN CHM and Nature Reserve under Singapore’s National Parks conducting capacity enhancements for ASEAN Member Board. A certifi ed arborist and an experienced Head Writer and Researcher State technical staff for their mapping requirements in their mountain biker, he has added signifi cant respective national CHM. recreational value to the nature reserve for the Sahlee B. Barrer residents of Singapore by regularly inspecting the trees and Aslina Baharum received her B.Sc. (Hons.) upgrading the mountain biking trails. Designer, Graphic and degree in E-Commerce in 2003 from Sabah Hadzlinda Samri works at Singapore’s National Layout Artist University of Malaysia and obtained her M.Sc. in Information Technology from MARA University Parks Board where she is Conservation Offi cer at Nanie S. Gonzales of Technology in 2010. After joining the Forest the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. With over seven Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) in 2006 until 2013, years’ experience of taking care of the nature Circulation Assistant he mainly worked on Establishment of the Clearing-House reserve, she is not only familiar with the many Angela Rose Crissie A. Metin Mechanism for Malaysia as the Information Technology Offi cer plant and animal species that make their home in the forest, in Forest Biodiversity Division, FRIM. Currently, she furthers her but has also met many of the half million annual visitors who research studies in PhD level in Human Computer Interaction provide her with valuable feedback for improving the visitor Editorial Board (HCI) from the Institute of Visual Informatics, National University experience. Clarissa C. Arida of Malaysia. Chew Ping Ting has been working with the Rolando A. Inciong National Parks Board since graduating from the Wilfredo J. Obien Sahlee B. Barrer is the publications consultant of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity. In the National University of Singapore. She started as Roberto V. Oliva past 15 years she has worked with a number a Research Offi cer in the Nature Conservation Monina T. Uriarte of environmental organizations in developing Branch (NCB) with the Nature Reserves Survey Sheila G. Vergara and editing contents for publications and Project (1992-1997), followed by other biological surveys advocacy materials on biodiversity conservation, protected and fi eldworks in nature areas throughout Singapore. She areas, ecotourism, climate change and fi sheries resource had also represented Singapore in ASEAN Regional Centre for ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity management. Previous engagements include the National Biodiversity Conservation and ASEAN meetings and workshops Integrated Protected Areas Programme and the Fisheries in the past while with NCB. Presently, she is a Senior Manager Headquarters Resource Management Project. Sahlee has a degree in for Conservation in the Central Nature Reserve Branch where 3/F ERDB Building, Forestry Communication Research from the University of the Philippines she assesses and monitors research projects and botanical collection requests carried out within the central nature Campus and has fi nished course work towards a masters degree in Environmental Studies from Miriam College. reserves. Her main interest is in the native tree fl ora and forest University of the Philippines vegetation ecology of the nature reserves and nature areas in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines Pauline Carmel Joy Eje holds a Bachelor’s Singapore. degree in Agribusiness Management from the Jeanne Tan works as a senior manager at the Telephone: University of the Philippines, Los Baños. Carmel is ACB’s Data Encoder responsible in uploading Central Nature Reserve. She started out in the +6349.536-3989; +632.584-4210 species and protected areas information as well Outreach section as a Senior Outreach Offi cer as contents of the e-library and the Friends of Biodiversity with the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, where Telefax: (FOB) database. she worked with students, corporate groups and the public community through different nature programmes. +6349.536-2865 Christian Kit Elloran is a web programmer and She was also editor of “Wetlands” newsletter for two years is currently ACB’s Database Specialist tasked at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Jeanne joined the Central E-mail: with managing ACB’s biodiversity information Nature Reserve later to continue bringing an appreciation and [email protected] databases. Prior to his appointment at the ASEAN awareness of natural heritage out to the community. Centre for Biodiversity, Kit was the Web Master of the following projects: Fishbase, Sealifebase and Incofi sh Ana Maria Tolentino has a degree in International Website: under WorldFish Center. Studies from Marymount College of Fordham www.aseanbiodiversity.org University, New York, and a Masters degree in Philipp Gassner is a cross-disciplinary Environmental Law from the University of Sydney. environmental scientist with an international She is currently the Project Staff-Technical Disclaimer: Views or opinions track record in project management, research, Specialist on Access and Benefi t Sharing at the ASEAN Centre expressed herein do not consultancy, and science communication. or Biodiversity and provides overall technical and operational necessarily represent any offi cial He has a B.Sc. degree in Geoecology and backstopping in the coordination, implementation and views of the Association of Ecosystem Management, with technical expertise and strong management of the Regional Project on Access and Benefi t Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). interest in both the science-policy and the development Sharing; assists in the review and development of national environment interface. Philipp is currently enrolled in an work plans for the execution of the national components of the The authors are responsible for any M.Sc. in Environmental Governance, and works as an external Project; and assists in the review of existing policies, as well data or information presented in consultant and project correspondent for the ACB-GIZ as legislative and institutional capacity for ABS in each ASEAN their articles. Biodiversity and Climate Change Project. Member State. Karen Lapitan is currently a Writer-Editor at Dr. Sheila G. Vergara is a marine ecologist Letters, articles, suggestions and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). Before by training and has managed projects on photos are welcome and should joining the ACB, she worked as a consultant coastal zone management, marine biodiversity be addressed to: for various local and international organizations conservation, coastal zone management training focused on producing communication materials. and databases. She has worked with then She also worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and The Editor-in-Chief Inquirer. She served as a fellow of Hong Kong-based Global Development of the Department of Science and Technology, ASEAN Biodiversity Magazine Exchange in Leadership Initiatives in 2012 and one of the the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity UNESCO Youth Peace Ambassadors in 2011. Resources, and international non-government organizations College, Laguna such as the Worldfish Center, World Wildlife Fund and James Gan works at Singapore’s National Parks Conservation International. At present, she leads ACB’s Board where he is in charge of the Central Nature Biodiversity Information Management team. Their combined E-mails: Reserve and holds the appointment of Assistant efforts have produced the ASEAN Clearing House Mechanism [email protected] Director. Prior to this posting, he was Assistant for Biodiversity (http://chm.aseanbiodiversity.org) a platform [email protected] Director at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. He has for sharing biodiversity related information in the region. [email protected]

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 5 SPECIAL REPORTS Facilitating data sharing in the ASEAN Region

By Dr. Sheila G. Vergara

iodiversity Information Management Having more informa- its Clearing-House Mecha- tion therefore can tell more nism (CHM): http://chm. (BIM) is quite a mouthful and at times, stories about biodiversity. aseanbiodiversity.org. Even Bintimidating. However, a broader Information on recently dis- the list of potentially inva- view can give one the realization of the covered species in a coun- sive alien species can be try can inform about new viewed in the same CHM to importance of having a BIM facility in place. discoveries or introductions allow stakeholders to come What biodiversity is available? Are there any of species from elsewhere. up with pro-active steps on left? Where are they? How is biodiversity It is important to know the this biodiversity concern. whereabouts of these re- Increasing the number of changing? What threatens biodiversity? Can cent discoveries as some species listed incrementally I have these data and information accessible species may have been- will provide a real time idea through my phone? There are just some of the brought in from other areas how diverse the biodiversity and may prove non-benefi- of a country is. Extremely few questions that may be answered by BIM. cial or competitive to native biodiverse countries, espe- species. cially those in tropical re- Dissecting BIM vive, such as temperature In the opposite manner, gions, may make it to the list As its name denotes, and habitat type. These globally changing environ- of megadiverse countries BIM is a system or a group information can be put to- mental circumstances or defined by Conservation In- of systems that enable the gether in several ways and human vectors may cause ternational as countries that management of data re- it is amazing to later find some species from the re- harbor the majority of the lated to biodiversity. These out how many species can gion to move to areas where earth’s species. data may consist of com- be common among several they may disrupt local spe- mon and scientific names countries, how many species interactions, modify the Using biodiversity maps of living things, where they cies are threatened in each environment, or cause the Biodiversity informa- are found, when they were country or across a region extirpation of native spe- tion can also be presented discovered, their threat sta- such as the ASEAN, and cies. The ASEAN Centre for through maps. Such visual tus if any, and where data is how some species can be Biodiversity (ACB) presents representations can inform available, the circumstanc- concentrated in a few lo- helpful information about environment managers es where they best sur- calities. invasive alien species on and policy makers where it

Increasing the number of species listed incrementally will provide a real time idea how diverse the biodiversity of a country is. Extremely biodiverse countries, especially those in tropical regions, may make it to the list of megadiverse countries.

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will be ecologically feasible and most cost effective to conserve biodiversity and at the same time provide a repository of natural resources such as plants and plant parts to provide for local livelihoods, traditional medicine, materials for housing, food prepara- tion, as well as places for worship. ACB maps on different information can be put together to produce yet another set of information. Temperature regimes painted on a map placed over information on the distribution of hard corals in the region show where corals are most likely vulnerable to extreme temperatures. Unsworth, et al (2008), found out that there are more fish on adjoining set of coastal habitats such as seagrasses in affinity with mangroves as opposed to more distant circumstanc-

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es. BIM can take such information and develop a regional picture and locate where mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs occur together to inform marine conservation pros- pects. The value of the BIM team is in its ability to develop and showcase knowledge products and tools to bring about a better understanding of biodiversity and the responsibility to conserve natural resources. The e-library contains over 10,700 references, all related to biodiversity and is available for download as an E-Lib Mobile App on your Android Phone: enable downloads from ‘Unknown Sources’ which can be facilitated through the mobile’s ous concerns on biodiversity and subsequently contribute and assist in preparing draft Application Settings, then, to relevant stakeholders. to data to populate the data- national reports. download the E-Lib App from ACB is committed to im- bases of the CHM. The advocacy of Biodi- http://chm.aseanbiodiversity. prove capacity of ASEAN versity Information Manage- org/templates/regionalchm/ Member States to develop, ACB’s BIM team ment in the ASEAN region apps/E-Lib.apk while using populate and maintain their The BIM team of ACB, is for all ASEAN Member your mobile’s web browser. own CHMs. A CHM for biodi- composed of programmers States to establish their Upon downloading, you have versity is a website that pro- and research and knowledge CHMs, develop their biodi- to locate the .apk ﬁ le and in- vides information to better management personnel, are versity databases, populate stall it manually. contribute to the implemen- equipped to assist the prepara- them, and share the infor- From the collection of tation of the Strategic Plan tion of national CHMs, speciﬁ - mation to enable a regional species and protected areas for Biodiversity 2011-2020 cally, support the development analysis useful for conser- information and based on and the achievement of the of CHM websites, facilitate vation focus, alignment of information found in the e-li- Aichi Biodiversity Targets.The CHM stakeholder discussions, national policies, and trans- brary, ACB produced videos CHM is maintained by a team and aid the preprocessing of boundary conservation ar- on the marine and coastal composed of the CHM focal species and protected areas rangements. Effective data environment, on threatened point, the CHM manager, information into common da- sharing, after all, serves as species, and an overview other technical team mem- tabase formats and train en- one of the pre-requisites of on how the ASEAN is faring. bers and a stakeholder con- coders. In addition, they can sustainably managing the These knowledge products stituency to provide ideas on provide orientation sessions region’s rich yet threatened help in promoting the vari- the CHM site development on simple mapping processes biodiversity.

8 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org SPECIAL REPORTS Clearing things out: Clearing-House Mechanisms and their relevance to ASEAN Member States

By Karen Lapitan

Open your web browser, search for information using biodiversity-related keywords, and copy-paste the information provided by search engines.

echnology today has made things easier, especially for tools in sharing knowledge and facilitating cooperation on those who need instant results. The downside, how- biodiversity conservation within the region. Tever, is that you might end up in trouble when you hap- With majority of the ASEAN Member States having their pen to get information from unveriﬁ ed or outdated sources. respective national CHMs, getting verified data is easier, This also applies to biodiversity-related researches. Getting which could make biodiversity management more efficient. information from online sources – no matter how credible ACB has been promoting the use of CHM as a tool to facili- they seem – is often not a guarantee of their accuracy. tate the exchange of biodiversity information. This tool can For policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders, also help ASEAN Member States to implement their biodi- biodiversity conservation starts with getting the right and versity strategies. Through a series of workshops, ACB has comprehensive biodiversity data and information. It is with- been working closely with ASEAN Member States recog- in this context that ASEAN Member States are encouraged nizing the key role of information sharing in meeting each by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to estab- country’s obligations to CBD. lish their respective Clearing-House Mechanisms (CHMs). CHMs play a crucial role in communicating accurate information to national biodiversity stakeholders, most importantly to policy- and decision-makers. CHMs are a perfect tool that ASEAN Member States can use in sharing data. Essentially, CHMs can help ASEAN Member States to comply with existing reporting requirements to the CBD and other multilateral environmental agreements.

A closer look at CHMs According to the Secretariat of the CBD, “clearing- house” used to be a financial term that denotes a financial establishment where bills and checks are exchanged among member banks. In the recent decades, the meaning has evolved and broadened. It may now be used to refer to any agency that brings together both seekers and providers of services, goods or information. In the context of the CBD, CHM serves as a platform where seekers and providers of biodiversity-related information meet. Parties to the CBD understand that knowledge and information sharing is crucial for governments and relevant stakeholders to fulfill their duties in line with biodiversity conservation. “The clearing-house is based on the philosophy that Brunei Darussalam constantly exerts efforts in improv- broad participation and easy access must be a top prior- ing its CHM. In October 2013, the Government of Brunei ity. Its database can therefore be tapped through both tra- Darussalam and ACB conducted the Third Training Pro- ditional and electronic means of communication,” as ex- gramme on CHM Maintenance and Data Management. The plained by the Secretariat of the CBD. course, which was part of ACB’s capacity building support Dr. Sheila G. Vergara, director for biodiversity information to Brunei Darussalam in the area of biodiversity information management of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), management, focused on web administration and manage- said “the urgency of saving biodiversity in the ASEAN region ment and data organization. calls for systematic and comprehensive tools on data shar- Meanwhile, Cambodia is still working on a comprehen- ing, which are crucial in crafting and implementing biodiver- sive CHM, but a website has been set up to facilitate inter- sity conservation plans.” She added that without a platform national access to information relevant to biodiversity in the such as the CHM, it would be hard to spot gaps that need local context. attention and identify actions that should be done. For Indonesia, its biodiversity CHM is managed by the Ministry of Environment that is tasked to ensure complete- Data sharing efforts of ASEAN Member States ness of data sources and information through a designated As Parties to the CBD, the ASEAN Member States are Secretariat. The CHM serves as a platform where scientific encouraged to establish their national CHMs to serve as and research institutes, biodiversity experts, and govern-

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ment agencies and non-government organizations access The Philippine CHM provides information on CBD and a database of biodiversity. figures on local biodiversity. It runs through an information With the primary goal to strengthen capacity in biodiver- technology-based network dubbed as BIOWEB.PH that sity information exchange and transfer, Lao PDR also main- was established through the efforts of the Philippine Gov- tains its national CHM. In its website, it says the CHM will ernment and other biodiversity partners formalized through help facilitate the use of data and information around the a Memorandum of Agreement. world as well as promote scientific cooperation. The Lao For Singapore, the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) PDR CHM also publishes relevant biodiversity news that serves as the CHM focal point. NBC handles all of the stakeholders might find useful. available information data on biodiversity within Singapore. Malaysia’s Biological Diversity Clearing-House Mecha- These information and data are provided and updated by nism (MyCHM) website, an interactive database, can now various organizations and individuals who coordinate with be accessed through www.chm.frim.gov.my. The CHM NBC. On its website, NBC stated, “having such a hub of houses more than 10,000 data with 3,000 photo-illustrated biodiversity information and data at NBC will also allow species. knowledge gaps to be better identified and addressed. “ Myanmar is still working on its CHM and has previously Thailand’s CHM offers an overview of the following: ag- sought assistance from ACB. A website that will house the ricultural biodiversity, dry and sub-humid lands biodiversity, CHM is being improved as of this writing. forest biodiversity, mountain biodiversity, marine and coast-

10 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org SPECIAL REPORTS Learning from the Malaysian Biodiversity Clearing-House Mechanism By Aslina Baharum

n recent years, much in- Problems in system terest and attention has development Ibeen given to the valua- When developing a sys- tion of biological diversity. tem, there are often many The convenience of fi nding issues to be solved, some of information through the In- which might distract focus ternet has largely motivated from the particular problem. many in this subject. Effec- In the national Clearing- tive biodiversity database House Mechanism (CHM), resources allocated to the development of a system conservation of biodiver- that encompasses biological sity profoundly infl uence diversity conservation and the planning methods and sustainable management conservation strategies of goals is important for effec- governmental and non- tive biodiversity and conser- governmental organizations vation management plans. alike. A critical need that is The CHM mission seeks to becoming increasingly vital promote and facilitate tech- is a successful biodiversity nical and scientifi c coop- database management pro- eration in order to integrate gramme. Moreover, there is information on biodiversity, an urgent need for strategic and to develop capacity and proactive approaches building in the technologi- to complement the costly cal network. The national and often reactive measures CHM can play a vital role of certain approaches once in helping to communicate species and systems be- the requirements to national al biodiversity, and island biodiversity. Aside from providing come threatened or endan- stakeholders and decision- statistics on biodiversity, the CHM also presents existing gered. makers. relevant legislative efforts in the country.

Collective steps for biodiversity information management and sharing ACB is continuously working to engage the ten ASEAN Member States in data and information sharing on biodiversity. Through a series of capacity building initiatives on data sharing, ACB is helping each ASEAN Member State realize the importance of CHMs and their role in sustainably managing the region’s rich yet threatened biodiversity. As the landscape of information technology continues to improve, each ASEAN Member State faces the challenge of harmonizing biodiversity-related information to facilitate biodiversity conservation efforts in the regional and national scale. Establishing CHMs and harmonizing biodiversity information management and sharing can help each country to meet various global and regional commitments on various multilateral environmental agreements. In the long run, the joint efforts being conducted in the ASEAN region and other countries would contribute to the sustainable use of biological resources and management of the diverse world we live in.

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Being aware of these biological diversity; the sus- problems is a vital part of the tainable use of its compo- solution process. In order nents; and the fair and equi- to prevent larger problems, table sharing of the benefi ts identifying these common arising out of the utilization problems in system devel- of genetic resources (includ- opment should be carried ing by appropriate access out at the start of the devel- to genetic resources and opment. If these problems by appropriate transfer of are ignored and allowed to relevant technologies) and become chronic, they will taking into account all rights reverberate across all sys- over those resources and tem developments, resulting technologies, as well as by in a sudden and often unex- appropriate funding. pected failure. As signatories to the Realizing the importance CBD, the ten ASEAN Mem- of CHMs in attaining sus- ber States, including Malay- tainable management goals sia, are encouraged to take focused on biodiversity con- steps towards establishing and monitored closely. namic management of data- servation, the Government of strong and sustainable na- As a signatory to the base content and user man- Malaysia has taken steps to tional CHMs as dedicated CBD, Malaysia is obligated agement, as well as tracking make data sharing more ef- platform to share knowledge to make its biological di- with spatial data informa- fi cient in the national scale. and facilitate scientifi c and versity information available tion. The website and inter- technical cooperation on publicly via its Malaysian active database for the bio- Malaysia’s Clearing- biodiversity conservation. Biological Diversity Clear- diversity of Malaysia is now House Mechanism Malaysia is a country with ing-House Mechanism (My- available at www.chm.frim. Under the Convention on a history rich in biological CHM) website. gov.my. Currently, MyCHM Biological Diversity (CBD), diversity research. Research Research is currently houses more than 10,000 CHM was conceived as a that was originally instituted on-going for several of the data, including 3,000 pho- practical tool for translating by the colonial authorities fl ora and many of the fauna to-illustrated species with the principles of Agenda 21 has been continued until groups. In addition, devel- more than 10,000 photos into reality. The CBD recog- today and has generated a opment work is being un- in archived photographs, nizes that biological diversity large amount of data. The dertaken for some families 138 online newsletters, and is about more than merely information and data were where data has been gath- more than 200,000 visitors plants, animals and micro collected individually and ered over a period of many from countries worldwide. organisms and their eco- in detail in various formats decades.The collection and The Forest Research In- systems. It also concerns (including written or printed, curation of biological diversi- stitute Malaysia (FRIM) has people and our need for, hardcopy or digital, drawings ty information is the prerog- been directed by the Minis- specifi cally, food security, and photographs), which ative of institutions, research try of Natural Resources and medicines, fresh air and wa- can also exist in hardcopy or groups or individuals. While Environment (NRE) to de- ter, shelter, and a clean and digital format. Alteration of this method is deemed effi - velop the national CHM for healthy environment where data from multiple sources, cient in the use of resources Malaysia. In doing so, FRIM one could live. formats and media is a com- and skills, this makes the will be working in close col- The objectives of the CBD plex activity and will take a data fragmented and dif- laboration with most of the include the conservation of long time if not maintained fi cult to access. In order to Malaysian governmental overcome this weakness, and non-governmental or- a comprehensive database ganizations, all of which play has been developed to fa- a role in the conservation cilitate the collation, curation and sustainable manage- and accessibility of biodiver- ment of Malaysia’s biological sity data in Malaysia. diversity. The objectives of the MyCHM will facilitate in- project are to develop an information exchange and teractive, web-based data- promote international tech- base application concerning nical and scientifi c coop- the biodiversity of Malaysia eration. It will function as a so as to promote the pro- mechanism for the effi cient tection and conservation, as transfer and sharing of infor- well as sustainable and wise mation on biological diversi- use of indigenous biodiver- ty, both in Malaysia, as well sity in Malaysia. Applications as internationally. Finally, it developed so far feature an will serve as a one-stop por- intelligent search engine, dy- tal for the sharing of relevant

12 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org SPECIAL REPORTS information on the status of versities, government agen- This website can be a use- tion types as provided by conservation and biodiver- cies and relevant NGOs, ful reference not only for the various national and in- sity management using the were held to discuss data researchers, scientists and ternational stakeholders. World Wide Web. collaborations and formats. botanists, but also for stu- A database environment Meetings with the database dents, universities, policy- has been developed that Challenges in MyCHM’s consultants (vendors) on makers, the management now houses checklists of system development database development were and business community, three main databases for In 2001, initial efforts were held including Content Man- and the public. The main Flora (algae and vascular made to establish a national agement System (CMS) and purpose of MyCHM for the plants), Fauna and Fungi. CHM website for Malaysia. spatial data management. CBD is to bring together The Fauna database con- The resulting website was These continued with regu- seekers and providers of sists of Malaysian mammals, limited in scope due to poor lar updating of the contents goods, services or informa- reptiles, amphibians, birds, funding and limited experi- of MyCHM webpage. tion, thus matching demand freshwater crabs, marine ence and expertise of the The technology employed with supply. This successful and freshwater fi sh, beetles, personnel in charge. for the fi rst development, comprehensive biodiversity ants, butterfl ies, bats and By 2005, the site was MySQL Server 2005, had database of MyCHM has FRIM’s entomology type essentially non-functional been used with Dreamweav- been driven by following the collection catalogue. The as changes in government er for website management. correct system development database also houses inter- ministries, agencies and System development was process that was mentioned active Malaysian protected departments had rendered advanced using hardcode before. areas, a list of resource in- many of the links obsolete. from scratch with the ideas dividuals for specifi c fl ora or This effort represented Ma- provided. This hardcode MyCHMi-newsletter fauna groups, biodiversity laysia’s second attempt to system became unstable In December 2012, My- and biodiversity information make the country’s biodi- and required more time for CHM launched the mobile managers, as well as biodiversity information available databasing, which increas- application called MyCHMi- versity collections in Malay- to the public, both on a na- ingly expanded. Then, with Newsletter funded by NRE. sia. An intelligent search en- tional level as well as inter- the extension funding, My- This application is the fi rst gine permits rapid searches nationally. More importantly, CHM used a customized iBook on biodiversity in Ma- and swift acquisition of data a more reasonable level and licensed software pro- laysia. This new innovative reports.The content man- of funding with long-term gramme called the Kentico application will make biodi- agement system allows re- planning and objectives has system, which was based versity more palatable to the source individuals to update helped to ensure that the on the project’s require- public by having a very easy- and edit data regularly. site remains up-to-date and ments. This suits the biodi- to-use interface as well as At present, more than relevant as a resource. versity database because it scientifi c information made 70 web pages of informa- In 2006, under the RMK9 includes such areas as the simple. The electronic news- tion are accessible through (2006-2010) funding, the custom fi elds. letter is expected to create this portal. MyCHM plans to project started again with The website became fully an awareness and apprecia- continually add and refi ne an approved budget for fi ve functional in 2010, and the tion of Malaysia’s rich bio- the information and data- years. Hiring additional staff databases kept on growing. diversity. This application is bases accessible through and purchasing of software With the continuity of fund- available for free download this portal. It also aims to and hardware were done ing from NRE for RMK10, from the Apple iBookStore, improve the functionality and right away to ensure better the project now continues Android application (Google user-friendliness of the por- performance of web servers. with the enhancement of a Play) or through the MyCHM tal through the use of search Scheduled meetings with back-end system display as website at www.chm.frim. tools and a newsletter. stakeholders, such as uni- well as additional features. gov.my. The establishment of MyCHMi-Newsletter is MyCHM will function as a an iBook that includes up- mechanism for the effi cient loads of, namely, interactive exchange and sharing of animations, built-in videos, information on biological di- slide shows, and images il- versity in Malaysia as well as lustrating the plant profi les internationally. It will serve of each of the species. as a one-stop repository for all biodiversity-related Opportunities in MyCHM information in Malaysia. My- As a system of informa- CHM also aims to promote tion exchange, MyCHM its use as a policy planning combines and collates in- and decision-making tool for formation from a variety of biodiversity conservation. In different sources, thereby addition, a build-up of user- providing easy access to friendly content manage- policy position documents, ment system can always en- databases and a wide vari- sure that data are frequently ety of web-based informa- updated and current.

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 13 SPECIAL REPORTS Using maps to communicate biodiversity trends

By Jerome Alano

hen going to un- these analytical processes as Garmin, Magellan, and cies occurrence and points familiar places, will not happen when you Trimble. They often procure of interests. Wwe often ﬁ nd our- don’t have anything to map these to be able to do field selves consulting a tradi- about. Thus, as part of the surveys. And these gadgets Sharing data online tional map or checking out Clearing-House Mecha- are more expensive than In one of the trainings the built-in Global Position- nism (CHM) training, ACB regular mobile phones. conducted by BIM on GPS ing System (GPS) of mobile teaches its participants More often than not, orga- and mapping, many of the phones. Maps bring much how to map, which tackle nizations only keep a few of participants were excitedly help for those who need di- species and wildlife traf- these gadgets. surprised about learning rections. And believe or not, ficking incidents, and other Some are not aware that the extra “high-tech” func- maps also have a great role relevant concerns through even mobile phones, which tion on their phone. But in biodiversity conservation. their mobile phones. The are more affordable and ac- what made them more ex- One of the apparent Centre also shares some cessible, are also equipped cited is that they can ac- challenges in monitoring freely downloadable mobile with GPS receivers and use tually make an online map the status of biodiversity is applications and free on- the same GPS technology similar to those made by keeping updated informa- line mapping platforms that present in expensive dedi- National Geographic, and tion available for evaluation ASEAN Member States can cated GPS hardware. And plot the very points they and analyses. Currently, use in monitoring biodiver- these mobile phones with have collected so that they there are huge data gaps sity data. their “internal GPS” need can show them to anybody that hamper the process of to evolve from their “call, without having to learn GIS conducting regional analy- GPS: a handy biodiversity text, and internet” functions or use complicated map- ses. Many national institu- tracking tool to a more scientifically pro- ping programmes. tions across the ASEAN re- Many biodiversity re- ductive role. All it takes is Many online mapping gion lack the resources and searchers such as forest- a quick download of GPS platforms are available for capacity to do their own ers, botanists, wildlife sci- apps, and a little knowledge free. All you have to do is biodiversity assessment in entists, and others have about GPS and users will sign up for the free online time. This is where maps been used to having hand- be up and running collect- service, upload your GPS have a role to play as they held GPS with brands such ing GPS data such as spe- collection and your mate- can help in doing timely biodiversity inventory and assessment.

Biodiversity maps in the ASEAN region To address the challenge of existing data gaps in the region, the ASEAN Cen- tre for Biodiversity’s (ACB) Biodiversity Information Management (BIM) team conducts capacity-building workshops that aim to expand the existing skill and capacity of ASEAN Member States to do timely biodiversity inventory and assessment. One of these training programme teaches the ASEAN Member States how to map their data. Maps help visualize the available data and identify where the gaps occur. It is also a very flexible tool that can be used in a wide range of analyses across many thematic lay- ers or categorical data. But

14 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org SPECIAL REPORTS Mobile apps as tools for biodiversity information management rials will be automatically plotted on a map which you By Pauline Carmel Joy Eje and Christian Kit Elloran can customize, save and share. You can even put f you happen to have a the very map you created smartphone or a similar in your own organization’s Igadget, you probably website using a simple iF- enjoy the convenience it rame code that is also auto- brings whenever you need matically generated for that to get directions of plac- purpose from the online es, play games, check the mapping website. weather, or get updates on current events. Getting Making data GIS-ready such important and nitty- Using these basic mapping gritty information has be- training is an important step come easier through the to help the ASEAN Member introduction of mobile ap- States produce data that are plications commonly called ready to be analyzed and pro- as “mobile apps”. cessed using more advanced Believe it or not, mo- techniques such as GIS and bile apps can also be used Spatial Analyses. It will ad- in collecting or retrieving dress the data gaps, which is knowledge concerning bio- one of the greatest challenges diversity. in biodiversity conservation. It will enable anybody to do Understanding biodiversity assessment and mobile apps mapping without having to Mobile apps are software wait for or procure dedicated applications developed GPS hardware, and without for portable use on smart having to install and learn phones, tablets, and mobile complicated mapping soft- devices. These are made ware or learn higher technolo- available on different mobile gies like Geographic Informa- operating systems like the tion Systems. Apple App Store, Google During the CHM trainings Play, Windows Phone Store, that ACB has been con- and Blackberry App World. ducting across the ASEAN Most apps are available region, the participants are for free while others need As technology improves includes biodiversity conser- able to get GPS readings, to be bought. Mobile apps along with the increasing vation. One popular mobile record data, and upload are developed mainly to in- availability of developer app by the Convention on and share online maps very crease general productivity tools, as well as the public Biological Diversity (CBD) is quick (in one day) using of the public and to access demand, rapid expansion the Aichi passport, which is mobile phones, simple mo- or retrieve users’ informa- occurred and the uses of the fl agship publication of bile app, and a free online tion; these include emails, the apps widened and now the Biodiversity Indicators mapping account. contacts, stock market and include mobile games, GPS Partnership. This essentially The convenience of us- weather information. and location-based servic- provides updates each year ing maps is an opportunity Some mobile apps avail- es, banking, order tracking, on each biodiversity indica- that should be taken ad- able these days are very factory automation, and tors that help in monitoring vantage of in communicat- innovative and are creating ticket purchases. The fast- progress on Aichi Biodiver- ing biodiversity trends such waves of changes in the paced improvement in tech- sity targets and the Strategic as habitat loss, changes in world. Their purposes have nology use also involves Plan for Biodiversity for 2011- ecosystems, and species surpassed personal conve- quick growth in number and 2020. The Aichi passport distribution—all of which nience and mobility needs variety of these apps. serves as a handy monitor- are crucial information in of the users. Through the Along with the new uses ing tool that decision-makers taking bold steps towards years, mobile apps have of the mobile apps, they are and other stakeholders could the sustainable manage- gone beyond the normal now being used as informa- fi nd useful in assessing their ment of the ASEAN region’s uses that the developers tive tools for public aware- progress in the fi eld of biodi- biodiversity. have foreseen. ness on issues and this versity conservation.

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 15 SPECIAL REPORTS ACB mobile apps

he Biodiversity In- concerns on biodiversity formation Manage- such as invasive alien spe- Tment (BIM) Unit of the cies, climate change, the ASEAN Centre for Biodi- Global Taxonomy Initiative, versity (ACB) has taken ad- access and benefit sharing, vantage of apps technology and payment for ecosystem advancement and has cre- services, among others. Re- ated mobile apps that will searches on species, eco- also relay the Centre’s mis- systems, and assessment sion to promote biodiversity studies are also available. conservation to the general The target users of this App audience. are researchers, students, Two ACB mobile apps policy makers, and other are currently available for relevant stakeholders. This the public’s use: is an app that they can access if they want to know E-Library Mobile App.The more about biodiversity E-library is one of the knowl- policies and knowledge edge management resource management, along with services of ACB’s ASEAN the wide array of topics that Clearing House Mechanism mainly points to biodiversity website. Development start- conservation. ed during the second quarter Users can easily access of 2013. It was developed in the references through the AHP Mobile App. The updated information, but it Android version 4.0.3 (ICE_ downloadable ﬁ le in pdf for- ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) will retain its offline usability CREAM_SANDWICH_MR1) mat or through a link to the app was conceptualized in on basic AHP information. and iOS version, thus, can be main source where they can the ﬁ rst quarter of 2013 as The developer also would used in Android and Apple purchase the reference for one of the knowledge man- like to incorporate tools that gadgets. full access. One advantage agement products that will will enable researchers and This mobile app provides of this app is the accessibility cater to both general public park managers to monitor a compilation of biodiversity- provided to the users, since and park authorities. the AHPs and gather infor- related references in various they can research through it The preliminary use of the mation which includes map thematic areas of the CBD. anytime, with or without the AHP App is as pocket ref- overlays on nearest threats, These include cross-cutting Internet connection. erence version of the AHP key species status, and book that ACB published policy developments. earlier. In addition, the app With the use of this app is capable of displaying live as a readily available AHP and interactive map of the reference, the general pub- ASEAN Heritage Parks. lic and researchers will be The app can also be used more aware of the values as an ecotourism promo- and management status tion tool because it features of these ASEAN Heritage tourism information guide Parks. It will reach out to (how to get there, what to more people as it strongly do, where to stay, etc.), and highlights the importance as the app is integrated into of biodiversity conserva- the mobile phone’s system, tion. It will also encourage it displays the AHP site’s and help park managers to contact information that the improve their management users can just tap to call or policies and strategies. compose and send email Improvements still have immediately. to be done for these mobile The app is in the Android apps to be fully of service to platform and is now avail- the concerned stakeholders able to be used on Android in the ASEAN region. The gadgets. Improvement of development of such, how- this app is in progress. In fu- ever, is already a big leap ture developments, the app that could help accomplish will be able to link to ACB’s efforts on biodiversity con- database to actively pull out servation.

16 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org SPECIAL REPORTS Fourth AHP Conference: promoting efﬁ cient parks management

s a hub of protected areas and the the AHPs and other parks tion of the region’s unique 33 ASEAN Heritage Parks, Southeast in the region. Various rep- resources, and strengthen resentatives of government collaborations with partners AAsia boasts of a long list of natural and non-government orga- such as the Federal Repub- wonders. Beyond the prestige of being in- nizations affirmed to have lic of Germany, which con- a common goal towards tinues to support ASEAN cluded in the ASEAN Heritage Parks Pro- biodiversity conservation, efforts through GIZ. gramme, these natural wonders, however, particularly on better parks Mr. Robert Kressirer, are challenged with a responsibility to imple- management in the region. Country Director of the In the keynote address Deutsche Gesellschaftfuer- ment efficient parks management. In this by DENR Secretary Ramon InternationaleZusammen- context, the Fourth ASEAN Heritage Parks Jesus P. Paje as read by arbeit GmbH (GIZ) for the (AHP) Conference held on October 1-4, Mr. Manuel D. Gerochi, Un- Philippines and the South dersecretary for Policy and Pacific, said “The global 2013 in Tagaytay City, Philippines focused Planning, DENR, Secretary threats to biodiversity could on efficiency in parks management. Paje stressed the importance best be addressed by coun- of discussing the urgency of tries through combined The conference was agers, biodiversity experts, strengthening biodiversity efforts using the entire spearheaded by the ASEAN policy makers and scien- conservation in the ASEAN knowledge from local stake- Centre for Biodiversity tists; and representatives region. He also cited some holders up to the national (ACB), hosted by the Phil- from NGOs, indigenous achievements of the Philip- institutional levels. GIZ, ippines’ Department of and local communities, and pines in the ﬁ eld of protected with its regional structure, Environment and Natural relevant international and area management. implements bilateral and Resources (DENR), and regional organizations. Ms. Alicia dela Rosa- regional projects related to supported by the ACB-GIZ The conference also pro- Bala, Deputy Secretary- biodiversity management, Biodiversity and Climate vided an avenue for the par- General, Socio-Cultural ecosystem services and cli- Change Project; and the ticipants to share good prac- Community Department, mate change in Cambodia, Philippines’ Department of tices on parks management ASEAN, emphasized that Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myan- Tourism, and the Tourism and gather recommendations ASEAN is committed to mar, Philippines, Thailand, Infrastructure and Enter- to boost parks management addressing challenges to and Viet Nam. Connecting prise Zone Authority. in the ASEAN region. sustainable development these efforts to the goals of More than 200 delegates and biodiversity, through its the CBD is one of the main from Brunei Darussalam, Stakeholders with a commitment to the Conven- aims of the global GIZ port- Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao common goal tion on Biological Diversity folio related to biodiversity PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Many partners ex- (CBD), and the implemen- conservation.” Philippines, Singapore, pressed support to ACB tation of the ASEAN Socio- Atty. Roberto V. Oliva, Thailand, and Viet Nam in implementing measures Cultural Community Blue- Executive Director of ACB, participated in the event. that will promote regional print 2009-2015. ASEAN stated that while biodiver- The conference served as collaboration in effectively will also continue to work sity conservation is the fo- a gathering of AHP man- and efficiently managing with ACB for the conserva- cus of the AHPs, conservation managers should also attend to the needs of people who directly depend on the resources of protected areas. These include indigenous peoples, whose traditional knowledge and expertise in biodiversity make them the best partners in conservation. He emphasized that AHPs are prime areas for ecotourism, but require great investments and collaboration to generate incomes and sustain conservation actions. He

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 17 SPECIAL REPORTS

Ramon Jesus P. Paje Alicia dela Rosa-Bala Robert Kressirer Roberto V. Oliva Celso O. de Castro Secretary Deputy Country Director Executive Director Vice-Mayor DENR Secretary-General ASEAN GIZ ACB Tagaytay City also stressed that the AHPs business plans as basis for as basis, among others, to Sanctuary, Khakaborazi Na- have the best potential to government fund alloca- develop new programmes tional Park, Lampi Marine address the Aichi Targets of tions; increasing allocation and projects in support of National Park, Meinmahla the CBD. from national budgets for the AHP programme; and in Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary and Mr. Celso O. de Castro, PA conservation; engag- general, to address the loss Nat Ma Taung National Park Vice-Mayor of Tagaytay ing private sector support of biodiversity through sup- in Myanmar; Mt. Apo Natural City, stated that Tagaytay for conservation activities; port to achieving the Aichi Park, Mts. Iglit-Baco Nation- strongly advocates bio- managing and controlling Biodiversity Targets. al Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range diversity and forest con- invasive alien species in ACB will promote the Natural Park, Mt. Malindang servation. Tree planting, AHPs; implementing sus- conference results and rec- Range Natural Park and Mt. nurturing and conservation tainable financing schemes ommendations in various Makiling Forest Reserve in are integral parts of the life for PAs; involving of indig- international fora (e.g., Asia the Philippines; Sungei Bu- of the residents. The city’s enous and local commu- Parks Congress and World loh Wetland Reserve and Comprehensive Land Use nities in PA management; Parks Congress) to seek Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Plan ensures environmental and balancing conflicting support and partnership Wetland in Singapore; Khao protection particularly in the land use interests. As the with relevant organizations Yai National Park, Tarutao areas of infrastructure; the Secretariat of the AHP pro- and donor partners. National Park, Ao Phang educational system requires gramme, ACB packaged Eventually, the recom- Nga - Mu Koh Surin- Mu students to plant three trees the recommendations into mendations are expected Koh Similan Marine National before graduating from high a conference report that to benefit the entire ASEAN Parks and Kaeng Krachan school; and tree planting will be circulated to the region once these are put in Forest Complex in Thai- is also required before ac- AHP Committee and to the place. The results of such land; and Ba Be National quiring permits to marry, ASEAN Working Group on recommendations do not Park, Chu Mom Ray Na- or set up businesses. For- Nature Conservation and end in having a better pro- tional Park, Hoang Lien Sa est degradation is thus Biodiversity. The report, tected area or AHP, but a Pa National Park. Kon Ka not a major problem in the along with other docu- sustainably managed biodi- Kinh National Park and U city. The vice-mayor reiter- mentations of the 4th AHP versity as well. Minh Thuong National Park ated his city’s commitment Conference, will serve as The recommendations in Viet Nam. to forest and biodiversity basis in preparing the AHP will directly benefit the AHP conferences are conservation and climate Regional Action Plan (AHP- region’s protected areas conducted every three change mitigation, and ex- RAP) 2014-2020 while the and the 33 AHPs: Tasek years. The first conference pressed his optimism that recommendations will serve Merimbun Heritage Park in was held in Khao Yai Na- the participants continue to as basis in elaborating the Brunei Darussalam; Preah tional Park in Thailand in strengthen biodiversity con- AHP-RAP. Monivong (Bokor) National 2004; the second in Kota servation in their respective The AHP-RAP, which will Park and Virachey National Kinabalu in Sabah in 2007; countries and the region. be used to update the man- Park in Cambodia; Leuser and the third in Brunei Da- agement plans of the AHPs, National Park, Kerinchi russalam in 2010. Ways forward will be submitted for consid- Seblat National Park and More than just a plain The highlight of the eration by the ACB Govern- Lorentz National Park in In- gathering of park manag- Fourth AHP Conference ing Board and the ASEAN donesia; Nam Ha National ers, policy makers, conser- was the presentation of the Senior Officials on the En- Protected Area in Lao PDR; vationists, scientists and, recommendations gathered vironment. The conference Kinabalu National Park, Gu- relevant stakeholders, the during the four-day event. recommendations will serve nung Mulu National Park Fourth AHP Conference The recommendations as inputs to the ASEAN and Taman Negara National served as an opportunity include building capaci- statement and ACB posi- Park in Malaysia; Alaung- to identify concrete steps ties of PA management tions at the 12th Meeting of daw Kathapa National Park, in protecting biodiversity, groups to become self- the Conference of Parties Inlay Lake Wildlife Sanctu- which is crucial to every- financing; developing PA to the CBD; and will serve ary, Indawgyi Lake Wildlife one’s survival.

18 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org SPECIAL REPORTS

Key Messages and Recommendations: 4th ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference

Key Messages: Considerations to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in effectively man- from Plenary Presentations aging protected areas. • The wealth of biodiversity in the ASEAN region • There is a need to identify and analyze the chal- is immense. However, the region has been fac- lenges in managing ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) ing severe habitat degradation. For example, the and ﬁ nding means to address them, as well as to pressure on the region’s forests comes from ris- develop sustainable development models and op- ing populations, increasing agricultural production tions for selected ecosystems that incorporate (including traditional shifting cultivation), logging concept and strategy to address climate change and mining. There is a need to discard the con- issues. ventional means of development and growth – a • ASEAN is committed to fully implement various model that is based on excessive exploitation of measures to address sustainable management natural resources and degradation of environmen- of natural resources and biodiversity and climate tal services, a model that is putting pressure on change as outlined in the strategy and actions of the planet’s life support systems, a model that is the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint fast depleting the natural resources that sustains 2009 – 2015. Among these efforts was the estab- economic growth itself. lishment of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity in • Biodiversity loss and climate change are chal- 2005 to assist ASEAN Member States (AMS) to lenges of equal dimension and urgency. Effectively protect and conserve their valuable and unique managed and equitably governed protected areas resources and to function as an effective regional are well positioned to provide solutions to global centre of excellence in promoting biodiversity con- environmental change such as ecosystem-based servation and management. adaptation options. • Ecotourism has proven to be an effective tool in Key Messages: Considerations protecting the environment and culture, and biodi- from AHP Panel Discussions versity and ecological conservation. Various gov- The primary drivers of habitat loss in AHPs include: ernment and private sector initiatives and partner- encroachment, poaching, illegal mining, illegal logging, ships have led to the establishment of successful lack of funds to implement conservation activities, and ecotourism businesses and activities that provide weak or poor public awareness. economic opportunities for the locals, and at the Lessons learned to address and/or mitigate the im- same time, promote environmental and biodiver- pacts of these drivers are: increasing public awareness sity conservation. through community involvement in conservation activi- • Indigenous peoples’ ways of managing and pro- ties in the parks; implementing alternative economic and tecting their territories should inform ways of pro- income generating activities such as eco-tourism and tected areas governance as developed by govern- production of non-timber products; resource mobilizing; ments and the international community. The global and fund sourcing from local governments, national and initiative on “The Economics of Ecosystems and international organizations and private sector (through Biodiversity” (TEEB) provides a framework and a corporate social responsibility programmes). way of thinking to integrate biodiversity values to Key issues and considerations in effectively manag- influence policy and decision makers on the impor- ing AHPs: tance of conserving biodiversity. TEEB has con- • Build capacities of protected area (PA) manage- tributed towards a wider evidence base and ap- ment groups to become self-financing and depreciation of ecosystem values in decision-making velop PA business plans as basis for government and planning. TEEB has also seen an increasing fund allocations. application within the ASEAN region. Biodiversity • Increase allocation from national budget for PA loss will essentially have economic consequences; conservation. therefore there is a need to move towards recog- • Engage the private sector in conservation activi- nizing and demonstrating the value of ecosystems ties. and biodiversity. • Manage and control invasive alien species in AHP • There is a need to enhance networking and com- sites. munication among park managers and consider • Implement sustainable financing schemes for PAs. protected areas as islands of biodiversity, but with • Involve the indigenous and local communities spaces that are well connected to the surrounding (ILCs) in managing AHPs. landscape and seascape to contribute significantly • Balance conflicting land use interest.

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 19 SPECIAL REPORTS

Enhancing ACB’s Secretariat Support ing biodiversity awareness. to the AHP Programme • Engage ILCs while balancing other concerns; the As Secretariat of the AHP, the ASEAN Centre for instruments on free and prior informed consent in- Biodiversity supports the AHP Programme through the cluding the community protocol were seen as use- following: development and implementation of regional ful tools in facilitating this engagement. conservation and management programmes and initia- • Engage private sector and business to finance and tives; support to developing and updating actions plans, support conservation activities through CSR and including capacity building; promotion of education, CER programmes. public awareness and ecotourism; exchange of information; partnership; and development and maintenance of Partnership with International Organizations information database of AHPs. • Continue partnership with the Secretariat of the Recommendations for enhancement of support services: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in provid- • Develop improved reporting and management ing support to ASEAN Member States and AHPs guidelines for AHPs. through facilitating regional activities to enhance • Develop standards and specific guidelines for the PA management capacities and through develop- effective management of terrestrial, marine, wet- ing proposals for consideration by existing funding lands AHPs. facilities for PA management. • Enhance capacities of PA managers and staff • ASEAN countries through AHP managers to de- in AHPs through continued conduct of training velop proposals to LifeWeb to strengthen manage- courses and exchange programme in the various ment effectiveness of AHPs. aspects of Programme of Work for Protected Ar- • ACB to facilitate this process and coordinate with eas including sharing and learning of best prac- CBD LifeWeb and other partners. tices and lessons. • Continue and enhance collaboration with the Ramsar • Enhance species and protected area databases Convention Secretariat in effectively managing wet- for AHPs through supporting science-based list- lands in the ASEAN region through developing stan- ing of species and ecosystems assessment. AHP dard guidelines for site management of AHPs and Managers to develop a science-based species updating the directory of Asian Wetlands. listing of biodiversity in AHPs in collaboration with national universities and research institutions. Ways Forward • Continue production of knowledge products to ACB as Secretariat of the AHP Programme shall fi- share examples of successful implementation. nalize and circulate the Conference Report to the AHP • Strengthen collaboration and information exchange be- Committee and to the ASEAN Working Group on Nature tween and among AHPs and other protected areas. Conservation and Biodiversity. The Conference Report, along with the other docu- Increasing Coverage of AHP Sites mentations of the 4th AHP Conference, shall serve as • Continue to promote the AHP Programme and in- basis in preparing the AHP Regional Action Plan (2014- crease coverage of the number of AHPs consid- 2020). The Conference recommendations, as outlined in ering balance of ecosystems representation, par- Session Reports, shall form as basis in elaborating the ticularly for costal and marine, wetlands including AHP Regional Action Plan (AHP-RAP). The AHP ques- flyway network sites and biodiversity corridors. tionnaire discussed and filled out by the AHP managers and AHP Committee Members shall further be analyzed Mainstreaming PA management by ACB and serve as input into the AHP-RAP. • Set standards for sustainable management of eco- • The AHP-RAP shall be submitted for consider- tourism sites and develop policies to facilitate in- ation by the ACB Governing Board and the ASEAN vestments in AHPs. Senior Officials on the Environment. The Confer- • Facilitate working with organizations focused on climate ence recommendations shall serve as input in the change, agriculture, ecotourism and other biodiversity- ASEAN statement and ACB positions at the 12th related issues, and key stakeholders in biodiversity. Meeting of Conference of the Parties to the CBD. • Develop AHPs into demonstration sites wherein ACB shall likewise actively engage in international activities to address issues on biodiversity and cli- fora (e.g., Asia Parks Congress and World Parks mate change may be piloted. Congress)to seek support and partnerships. • The AHP-RAP shall be used to update the man- Engaging Various Stakeholders in AHP Management agement plans of the AHPs. • Recognize the rights of ILCs to their resources and • The Conference recommendations shall serve as ba- traditional knowledge (TK), including clarifying vari- sis, among others, to develop new programmes and ous ownership schemes. projects in support of the AHP programme and in • Recognize the role of women and youth and en- general, to address the loss of biodiversity through gage them in conservation activities and promot- support to achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

20 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org FEATURE Saving nature’s aesthetic value through art By Philipp Gassner

he world’s true artist one those in the St. Peter’s Ba- representative of South- the intricate and delicate Tcould deem is Nature silica in Rome. east Asia’s biodiversity, web of life which the spec- herself – the primal creator. It is therefore not a sur- just like Cristo’s coastline, tator himself depends on. And “standing at the junc- prise that a scene from the the Narra tree itself trans- Who could articulate our tion of art and nature are Philippines’ treasure trove forms into environmental out-of-tune relationship environmental artists, who of biodiversity was cre- art: a six foot Philippine with, and utter reliance on are often balanced on an in- ated from a storm-struck eagle in a lush and rich for- nature any purer than envi- termediary edge, searching 100 year-old Narra tree by est habitat chases after a ronmental art? and synthesizing creative, environmental artist Yvette snake coiled on a trunk, The artwork entitled unimagined new ways to re- Co and Paete sculptors poised to prey on the ea- Inakay sa Gubat is part of define our relationship with Romeo and Roel Lazaro gle’s treasure, her one off- the Carvings and Paintings nature,” writes art blogger and Cesar Cagayat. As a spring. The scene shows to Save the Forest, an art Kimberley Mok. exhibit by Yvette Co. It is Environmental art is as also presented in collabo- old as nature. Whenever ration with the Municipality artists painted on site, they of Los Baños, headed by developed a deep connec- its Mayor, Cesar Perez; Uni- tion with the surrounding versity of the Philippines at environment and captured Los Baños; UPLB College these close observations of Forestry and Natural Re- into their canvases. Just sources; UPLB Alumni Asso- think Monet’s impressionist ciation and other partners in or Henri Rousseau‘s naive environmental conservation. accounts of the environ- The event is suitably placed ment. In the 1970s, envi- next to Mount Makiling, a vironmental art turned into a tal habitat harboring the rich movement which critiqued a biodiversity depicted in the society out of harmony with artworks. Mt. Makiling was the natural environment. inaugurated as the 33rd This critique opposed out- ASEAN Heritage Park in moded sculpture with new October 2013. site speciﬁ c forms, such Through sculptures and as land art, an avant garde paintings, the exhibit also notion about sculpture, the Inakay sa Gubat by Yvette Co and Paete sculptors Romeo supports the work of the landscape and our relation- Lazaro, Roel Lazaro and Cesar Cagayat. ASEAN Centre for Biodi- ship with it. Land artists versity (ACB), an inter-gov- were not only portraying the ernmental organization and landscape, but engaging it; secretariat to the ASEAN their art was not simply of Heritage Parks Programme, the environment, but in it to ensure the promotion of as well. European sculptor biodiversity conservation Christo gave just one ex- and address the urgent ample, when he famously need for the protection of wrapped the coastline at nature’s plentiful values: its Little Bay, south of Sydney, natural resources we can in 1969. eat, breathe or drink; its economic assets we can Carvings and paintings to sell or trade; and like envi- save the forest ronmental artists, remind us A long history of sculp- of its pure aesthetic value ture can also be found in we can simply enjoy and Paete, province of Laguna marvel! in the Philippines. As the The art exhibit was on Wood Carving Capital of displayed from Novem- the Philippines, it is famous ber 24 to 30, 2013 at the for its pag-ukit or sculp- Nature lets us rest and refresh. Designed by environmental Bagong Los Baños Munici- Artist Yvette Co and executed by sculptors from the tures which are now found Philippine’s Wood Carving Capital Paete – Romeo Lazaro, pal Atrium, at Anos, Los Ba- all over the world including Roel Lazaro and Cesar Cagayat. ños.

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 21 FEATURE Born to be wild in a warming world

By Philipp Gassner

idden a Tamaraw late- 10,000 of these fierce and Rly? Then consider your- solitary individuals, truly self lucky, as there are only born to be wild, grazed the two options for this unique tropical highland forests of experience: either as an old Mindoro. But this forest has timer exploring Asia’s wil- been lost more and more derness in a Tamaraw Asian during the last century to utility vehicle built by Toyota farming and high human in the 1970s; or on the back population growth. Now, of its namesake Tamaraw, there is yet another factor in the Mindoro dwarf buffalo. the equation endangering What both share are the iconic animal: climate their ruggedness and their change, which is ironically minuscule number of last- sped up by the emissions ing examples. The former of the many Tamaraws and lives on in the successor Kijangs on Asia’s roads. car models Revo or In- nova; while the latter, and Escaping the ﬁ nal nail Furry, adorable and within them.’ In her study its 350 remaining peers, in the cofﬁ n locking away carbon in the US Rocky Mountain can only be found on Mts. Climate change adds to In order to avoid this National Park, beavers ac- Iglit-Baco in the outback the global challenge of bio- scenario and the final nail counted for eight percent of the Philippine Island of diversity conservation. It is in the coffin of the Tamaraw of the carbon stored in the Occidental Mindoro, as its threatening individual spe- and its millions of contem- landscape. name Bubalus mindoren- cies - like the Tamaraw - as poraries, let’s drill down on Albeit not living in South- sis already suggests. A bit well as entire ecosystems, what is called mitigation, east Asia’s landscapes, further south, likewise, the with negative consequenc- the reduction of climate beavers remarkably show Indonesian Toyota Kijang es for human well-being. In- change. And a very pecu- how one species can have a shares its design with the creasing temperatures and liar contemporary might be key role in the functioning of Toyota Tamaraw. Yet the altered precipitation regimes able to give an answer how a whole terrestrial ecosys- name lending Barking Deer already result in distribution exactly this mitigation can tem. Combined, these eco- Kijang looks quite different changes of species. When it look like. systems sequester about from the Tamaraw, the larg- is getting warmer - uncom- Slapping the water with three billion tons of atmo- est land mammal endemic fortably warm - animals and their broad furry tail, these spheric carbon annually, to the Philippines. plants have two escape op- adorable semi-aquatic ro- approximately 30 percent dents do not exactly seem The one-meter tall and tions to more pleasant cli- of all anthropogenic CO2 compact Tamaraw is slight- mates: moving polewards, to be the saviors of the emissions. On the flipside, ly hairier and has shorter or moving upwards. Both world but they are very the current loss of such horns than the national options are very limited for busy in trying so. Beavers ecosystems and their spe- animal of the Philippines, the Tamaraw, once they are doing their bit for car- cies, results in 10 percent the water buffalo Carabao. reached the southern end bon capture and storage. of all human greenhouse The Carabao, however, of their habitat or the peak ‘The dams they build, and gas emissions. For these only dwarfs the Tamaraw a of Mt. Iglit-Baco. Also drier the wetlands produced as emissions, primarily, defor- little, both in size and fame. conditions, as predicted for a result, lock away a sur- estation is to blame, but Toyota aside, the Tamaraw the Philippines, can make prising amount of carbon’ also other land use change is also a mascot of many it quite un-intimate for the says Ellen Wohl of Colo- triggering soils and peat- sport teams, a feature story dwarf buffalo, which ap- rado State University in lands to release their stored in the TV show ‘Born to be preciates the proximity of an interview with the New carbon – five billion tons of Wild’, and can be found on waterholes. This is true for Scientist. ‘Beaver dams carbon in Indonesia’s peat- the old Philippine one-peso many other animals and cause water to breach river lands alone. coin. plants. Twenty to 30 percent banks, creating areas of Stumped for an answer Nevertheless, this nation- of species assessed in a wetland known as beaver how to reduce their third al symbol of the Philippines current global review could meadows, which contain highest carbon emissions not only disappeared from be wiped off the face of the large amounts of sediment worldwide, Indonesian de- the coin but also from the planet if climate change and organic material. If the cision makers, among oth- wild. The Tamaraw is now leads to global average dam breaks the meadows ers, should consider the listed as one of the world’s temperature rises greater dry out, exposing the mate- role of their ecosystems most endangered animals. than 1.5 to 2.5 degrees – a rial to the air and releasing and species very carefully In the early 1900s, around very likely scenario. some of the carbon stored in their policies. Accord-

22 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org FEATURE ingly, the most widespread aptation, complementing conditions. However, cli- Just take the habitat of the land-use based mitigation mitigation efforts. mate change is happening painted turtle. In order to policy is the United Nations’ To learn how to live with so rapidly that an evolution- adapt to more floods from Reduced Emissions from climatic change, another ary response, especially in rivers and wetlands in a Deforestation and Deg- wild creature might shed long-lived organisms, is not warmer climate, one could radation (REDD) scheme. some light. The North Amer- likely. build pricey dams possi- This scheme develops ‘win- ican Painted Turtle Chrys- What is true for our bly endangering the turtle win’ mitigation policies that emyspicta can tell a story little turtle also works for and its contemporaries are beneficial for both the about the need for adapta- an entire ecosystem. Eco- even more and taking away climate and biodiversity. tion. Chrysemyspicta is one systems can adapt to a other goods and services Especially important for the of the many reptile species warming world. But only to like fisheries. Particularly biodiverse ASEAN region, whose sex is determined by a slowly and not too much relevant to the poor, such such win-win situation is temperature. Eggs in warm warming world, and only if goods and services can be, high up on the agenda of nests are likely to hatch as such systems are healthy. however, maintained with the Biodiversity and Climate females, while males hatch Like the Tamaraw’s en- an ecosystem based ad- Change Project (BCCP) im- in cooler nests. In a nut- croached highlands, other aptation mechanism, while plemented by the ASEAN shell, males do not stand a weakened habitats are just providing the same flood Centre for Biodiversity chance in a warmer world, if overwhelmed by yet an- protection. Possible pre- (ACB) and GIZ, the German they happen to be painted other pressure. Take the ventive strategies, such as agency for international co- turtles. A temperature rise decades-long overfishing of reduced deforestation, af- operation. ACB is the Phil- of just around 1°C is all it Southeast Asia’s rich coral forestation or soil conserva- ippine-based ASEAN centre would take for the species reefs, for which climate tion are much cheaper than of excellence which coor- to become 100 percent fe- change could be the literal dams and the like. dinates conservation and male and earmarked for ex- final nail in the coffin, too. And cheaper is the buzz sustainable management tinction. On the other hand, most word if we want to stick of Southeast Asia’s vibrant This is very unfortunate healthy ecosystems have a with economic lingo. Now richness in species. for the turtle, as well as rather high natural capacity ‘triple win’ policies are pos- all crocodilians, a bunch to adapt to climate change sible. Let’s bring the stories To learn how to learn to of turtles and lizards, and – a capacity many countries of the conservation of the live with climatic change some fishes, living in a could benefit from, which iconic Tamaraw and Kijang, Having seen that species world about to fail the two are now starting to develop the mitigation efforts of the like the busy beaver make degree target. Not to fail and implement adaptation busy Beaver, and the adap- an important contribution to too, females adapt: they policies to cope with im- tation of the Painted Turtle climate change mitigation, can shift their nesting dates pacts. So far, adaptation together. Unmistakably, this is not enough. Support- by about ten days to en- strategies tend to focus on links between biodiversity ing the beaver and its peers sure their eggs develop at technological, structural, and climate change flow with win-win strategies can temperatures that produce social, and economic de- both ways and are intercon- only slow and halter future an even mix of males and velopments, while the link- nected. Only by aligning the warming. The currently oc- females. If that does not ages between biodiversity conservation of biodiversity curring warming, however, do the trick, they might lay and adaptation are often with climate change mitiga- can already be felt with all their eggs in shadier loca- overlooked. tion and adaptation, can the its consequences, like more tions. In case that even the However, ecosystem- world’s species, born to be frequent storms or droughts. shade gets too hot, reptiles based adaptation can be a wild, stand a chance to stay To learn to live with such need to evolve to have the cost-effective alternative to wild. Including our very own consequences requires ad- ability to cope with warmer very expensive measures. species, Homo sapiens.

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 23 FEATURE

Sungei Buloh: a refuge for migratory birds and Singapore’s native biodiversity

By James Gan, Joey Gan, HadzlindaSamri, Chew Ping Ting and Jeanne Tan

espite having lost much (Egretta garzetta). Other Dof its original mangrove species are present in forest cover, Singapore still smaller numbers, or may retains a high diversity of not necessarily be present mangrove species, which at Sungei Buloh every year, survives in small pockets but their arrival is greeted mostly situated along the with much enthusiasm and northern coastline. One im- excitement from birdwatch- portant area is found in the ers and bird photographers. northwest, at Sungei Buloh Such rarer guests include Wetland Reserve. Gazetted the Asian dowitcher (Lim- as a nature reserve in Janu- nodro mussemipalmatus), ary 2002, and recognized Nordmann’s greenshank as an ASEAN Heritage Park (Tringa guttifer), or Chinese in December 2003, the egret (Egretta eulophotes). park covers 130 hectares These birds rely on mud- of wetland habitats such as flats located both within mangroves, mudflats, and and outside of the nature freshwater marshes. reserve for food, and roost The main attraction of in the mangroves. As many Sungei Buloh is its birds, as sites within the flyway have it serves as a site of interna- been cleared for develop- tional importance for migra- ment or become degraded, tory shorebirds that utilize Sungei Buloh has become the East Asian-Australasian increasingly important as a Flyway. During the northern staging site to rest and re- winter, Sungei Buloh plays fuel, and a wintering site for host to large flocks of wad- spending the winter in. ers and other waterbirds, Sungei Buloh is also such as whimbrel (Numen- home to many species of ius phaeopus), common resident birds that favor redshank (Tringa totanus), mangrove and associated Pacific golden plover (Plu- coastal habitats, such as vialis fulva), and little egret stork-billed kingfisher (Pel-

24 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org FEATURE argopsis capensis), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), cop- per-throated sunbird (Nec- tarinia calcostetha), and ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps). In all, 212 local and migratory bird species have been recorded in Sungei Buloh, a number that represents more than 60 percent of avifauna. However, there is more to the nature reserve than just birds; out of 36 species of true mangroves known to occur in Singapore, 30 of them are present in Sungei Buloh. Epiphytes and climb- ers indicate the maturity of some of these stands of mangrove trees. The Malayan water monitor (Varanus salvator) is the most commonly encoun- tion and conservation, and The expansion of Sungei on this route, with educa- tered representative of the enriching local communi- Buloh and linkage with tional stations and signages area’s reptile species, al- ties, the Sungei Buloh Wet- nearby pockets of habitat located along points of in- though even this largest of land Reserve Master Plan will create a biodiversity terest. These developments lizards has to be wary of was launched in 2008. corridor, improving disper- will provide a new destina- the undisputed lord of the One of the key thrusts of sal and gene flow for native tion for nature recreation us- mangroves, the estuarine the Master Plan is to link up species, which is especially ers, which form the majority crocodile (Crocodylus po- pockets of nature around important for the continued of visitors to SBWR. More rosus). Along with fireflies, Sungei Buloh, such as survival of threatened ani- importantly, the trail will act mudskippers, orchids, and Lim Chu Kang mangroves, mals and plants such as the as a buffer to the wetland countless other species, Kranji Reservoir Park, and lesser adjutant stork (Lepto- reserve. Concentrating the Sungei Buloh stands out as Kranji Marshes. Habitats ptilosjavanicus), smooth ot- bulk of activities at the fringe an important area not just for various species of native ter (Lutrogale perspicillata), means that increased visi- for migratory birds, but also wildlife along this belt will and bakaumatabuaya (Bru- torship will not be at the cost as a refuge for Singapore’s be enhanced, with refores- guiera hainesii), which are of the mangroves elsewhere native biodiversity. tation carried out in suitable considered locally endan- within the reserve, and with Sungei Buloh has proven areas. By forming a corridor gered and have restricted fewer disturbances in the to be a popular destination, of complementary habitats distributions in Singapore. core, the wildlife that relies not just among birdwatchers and biodiversity, this pro- An existing trail that leads on this fragile habitat for sur- and nature photographers, vides the opportunity to out from the reserve will also vival will be given the chance but is also visited by school plan for mangrove and as- be expanded. Called the to continue to ﬂ ourish and and corporate groups and sociated coastal ecosystem Kranji Nature Trail, coastal prosper. With its focus on grassroots organizations. conservation in a more stra- boardwalks, viewing decks nature learning and recre- However, increasing visi- tegic manner. and shelters will be installed ation, this new trail will help torship does present chal- to diversify the visitor experi- lenges and constraints. The ence, and also divert visitor- current infrastructure is not ship from Sungei Buloh. always able to comfortably Work for the Master Plan accommodate large num- has already commenced, bers of people during peak and the Kranji Nature Trail is periods. This not only dimin- expected to be completed ishes the visitor experience, in 2014. Once completed, but can prove to be too dis- Sungei Buloh Wetland Re- turbing for the wildlife. serve will be able to reach To address some of out to more people, inspiring these challenges, such as them to take a more active the need to balance visitor- role in conservation and en- ship and human impact to vironmental stewardship, and the reserve, increasing the safeguarding the future of Sin- area’s potential for educa- gapore’s natural heritage.

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 25 FEATURE Understanding the legal framework of access and beneﬁ t sharing of genetic resources

By Ana Maria Tolentino and Karen Lapitan

outheast Asia, also sure that the process of PIC Sknown as the ASEAN would be practical enough region, is home to a wide for those who need it. Col- range of plant and animal lection activities are also species that people use centralized in Malaysia. as sources of food, shel- In the Philippines, the ter, livelihood, and medi- government enacted an cine, among others. The ABS policy through Execu- natural richness of the tive Order 247, which pre- region explains the seem- scribes guidelines and pro- ingly endless tug-of-war on cedures for bio-prospecting; biological resources among and Republic Act 9174, or technology-rich and in- the Wildlife Resources Pro- dustrialized countries and tection and Conservation countries providing genetic Act that amended EO 247, resources. While accessing the users will gain the ben- be consulted before stan- addressing the feedback of biological resources brings efits. In the long run, the dards are put in place. researchers and researches an impression of develop- sustainability of the ASEAN Lastly, Compliance re- on the tedious process that ment, the benefits arising region’s biological diversity fers to meeting the require- has hampered their work. from such use do not often might also suffer. ments enumerated on do- More ASEAN Member reach the original owners of The key elements in es- mestic laws before one can States are now realizing the resources, limiting prog- tablishing a legal frame- access genetic resources in the importance of an ABS ress to those who reap the work on ABS are Principles an area or country. legal framework given the profits. This situation gave of Prior Informed Consent long-term benefits it can birth to access to and ben- (PIC), Mutually Agreed Initial steps give them. The results now efit sharing (ABS) of genetic Terms (MAT), Traditional Most countries in the depend on the ability to in- resources. Knowledge (TK), and Com- ASEAN region are still in tegrate these elements into The concept of ABS can pliance. the process of introducing the legal framework. be traced from the provi- legal frameworks relevant sions of the UN Conven- A closer look on the to ABS. There are efforts, Way forward tion on Biological Diversity key elements however, that are worth The effectiveness of (CBD, 1992). Aside from ABS policies would only recognizing while national implementing ABS in the the CBD, the importance of serve their cause if the key instruments are still being ASEAN region certainly re- ABS is also reflected in the elements are considered. worked on. lies on a number of factors. Bonn Guidelines on Access PIC, MAT, TK and Compli- At the state level, for Aside from the actual craft- to Genetic Resources and ance are all necessary to instance, Sarawak in Ma- ing of legislations on ABS, the Fair and Equitable Shar- ensure that the goals of laysia is considered one of governments may also con- ing of the Benefits Arising ABS would be attained. the pioneers in the ASEAN tinue holding capacity build- from their Utilization (2004), Governments may decide region to come up with an ing activities that highlight and the Nagoya Protocol if PIC is required for parties institutional framework that the role of various stake- on Access to Genetic Re- to access and use genetic concerns ABS on biological holders in the process. sources and the Fair and resources in a given area. If resources. As early as 1997, Ultimately, heightened Equitable Sharing of Benefit PIC is necessary, domestic Sarawak passed and imple- awareness on ABS is nec- Arising from their Utilization laws must be passed that mented a law that estab- essary to make sure that (2010). will require users to get PIC lished the Sarawak Biodi- the concerned stakehold- While there are existing from relevant stakeholders, versity Centre and Sarawak ers are well-informed on the international instruments, which may include indig- Biodiversity Council, which different aspects of ABS. the need to bring ABS into enous and local commu- was eventually amended in The road towards the ef- the national level remains a nities. MATs, meanwhile, 2003. In 2004, the Sarawak fective implementation of challenge. If the lack of na- should be administered by Biodiversity Regulations ABS may be full of humps, tional legal frameworks on competent national authori- was also introduced. but the sustainable out- ABS will not be addressed, ties (CNAs). At the national level, Ma- come would certainly ben- many countries in the Protection of TK varies laysia’s work on ABS law efit not just the users and ASEAN region might remain from one country to anoth- started as early as 1995. sources, but the environ- economically poor, and only er. Despite this, CNAs must This national law aims to en- ment as well.

26 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org FEATURE On a shopping spree – how much is the value of nature?

By Philipp Gassner

his is where we make least in some parts of the ‘T most of our planets, world, like the European you see’, Arthur Dent, pro- Union. For carbon, this is tagonist of the Sci-Fi clas- fairly easy. One ton costs a sic Hitchhiker’s Guide to few dollars. But how much the Galaxy, is welcomed is the wide array of values to a planet factory, moving of ecosystem services and through massive chunks biodiversity? of whole worlds being built. Fiction aside, what Sufﬁ cient reason to value would it take to build such The answer is more a world? The occasional than 1 trillion – close to the ocean, a couple of cows combined Gross Domestic and fish, many mountains, Product of all ASEAN Mem- a few fluffy clouds on top, a ber States. And this is just bunch of bushes and trees one year’s worth of biodi- with apples and pears, et versity loss, as Dr. Luke voilà. A quick run to the Brander, a lead author of mall should do. the study on ‘The Econom- At the latest in front of ics of Ecosystem Services the checkout, you might and Biodiversity’ (TEEB) wonder how much your explained. You see, exter- shopping spree will be. nalities sum up. Only after Let’s see: five billion liters identifying these, they can of oceans, two million tons be demonstrated and cap- of trees, 500 cows, and 67 tured. On its way to do so, cubic kilometers of clouds? the TEEB initiative is host- Hard to sum up, isn’t it? ed by the United Nations Well, if we want to compare Environment Programme different forms of capital, and supported by the Eu- apples and pears so to say, ropean Commission and we obviously require a com- many countries. Germany’s mon measurement stan- development coopera- dard. That’s why they came Source: ASEAN Biodiversity Outlook 2010, ACB tion arm, GIZ, for instance, up with money, no need to A dollar sign in Brunei’s jungle waters and mangroves? has been a global player reinvent the wheel. So how in TEEB from the start and much would the ocean be, chocolate factory. Every the river. Likewise, most translates it to a regional or the forest? Easy as that, morning you wake up to environmental goods and level now. And what bet- just look up the price for the the divine smell of choco- externalities do not have a ter region than Southeast ocean’s fish or the forest’s late, nonetheless you surely market. Asia, where externalities timber. But timber is not all won’t pay the factory for The creation of an artifi- – not from chocolate facto- a forest embraces. It pro- this joy. On the flipside of cial market is the only so- ries but from deforestation, vides many other benefits this positive externality, the lution to generate a price, overfishing and pollution to society: the mere plea- factory can also produce which can then guide deci- – threaten a third of world- sure of wandering about it, negative ones, for instance sion makers. For decision wide coral reefs and man- the carbon it stores, or the poisoning a river with its makers in climate change, grove forests among other oxygen it produces. Unfor- chocolate sludge. For this, this is already being done. unique ecosystems. These tunately, oxygen does not society will have to pay, not After hearing the simple sustain the livelihoods for have a price or a market – it the factory, since pollution message of the renowned some 600 million people is an externality. is not traded on a market Stern Review ‘damages – sufficient reason for GIZ and therefore doesn’t have from global warming are and the ASEAN Centre for Chocolate externalities a price. No price means no way more expensive than Biodiversity (ACB) to sup- To get a better grasp of cost for the company and its prevention’, formerly port the valuing of the ser- this economic lingo, just no incentive for its manager priceless CO2 is now traded vices of the region’s biodi- imagine living next to a to reduce the pollution of on the stock markets, at verse ecosystems.

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 27 FEATURE

Worth a journey through mangroves create benefits monly used to transport mental damage detracted Southeast Asia of US$ 12,000 per hectare timber from the forest, they three to ten percent from Many of these can be while shrimp farms even are a so-called provisioning the country’s GDP. Identify- found in the 33 ASEAN Her- cost society, US $10,000 service of the ecosystem, ing, demonstrating and cap- itage Parks (AHP), which per hectare. and sure enough economi- turing these externalities, were the focus of the 4th This is no news to Thai- cally valuable. Together with China is now on track for AHP Conference, October land, guided for the past supporting services like its goal of restoring 40 mil- 1-4, 2013 in Tagaytay, Phil- three decades by its King seed dispersal, cultural ser- lion hectares of forest – an ippines. During the confer- Bhumibol Adulyadej’s phi- vices like ecotourism and area bigger than Japan – by ence, Mr. Norman Ramirez losophy of Sufficiency Econ- regulation services like crop 2020, via paying 120 mil- of ACB introduced the omy. This Economy is very pollination, the Mekong’s lion farmers to plant trees. ASEAN TEEB study, show- similar to The Economics biodiversity adds US$ 7.3 The country has clearly un- ing specific case studies in of Ecosystem Services and billion to the region’s econ- derstood the message of Southeast Asia’s key eco- Biodiversity in its attempt omy per year. Emerton’s TEEB: at the dentist or with systems. On a brief journey of happiness development, study impressively shows climate change, prevention along them, and other re- balancing economic activi- that every dollar spent on and conservation pay off. gional studies, the listeners ties with their negative ex- conservation leverages US$ This holds good glob- were taken to learn what ternalities. As Thais would 40 of payback. This is con- ally: a study, recently pub- came to light. say, TEEB is ‘Old whisky in firmed by studies in Indo- lished in the journal Science Departure in Thailand: If a new bottle’, Ms. Piyathip nesia’s AHP Leuser Forest estimates the costs of the you ask Thai shrimp farm- Eawpanich, GIZ Co-Di- or Vietnam’s Hon Mun Ma- maintenance and estab- ers how much they can rector of the ECO-BEST rine Protected Area, which lishment of conservation make of a coastal strip, Project remarked. Still, the make it very clear: short areas to effectively protect they will readily tell you that project, aiming to enhance term gains of unsustain- the world’s biodiversity: nine years’ worth of timber and communicate the able resource exploitation $80 billion a year. Sounds harvest from mangroves TEEB idea in Thailand, has are always dwarfed by long enormous? Only at a first merely generates US$ 500 no easy task in selling to term losses. In 2050, lost glance. It is less than 20 per hectare, while a shrimp the variety of park rangers, mangroves could cost US$ percent of global spending farm in its place will bring in economists and people this 2 billion, loss of reef related on soft drinks, and only a US$ 10,000. A clear busi- ‘new bottle’ of the valuation fisheries even US$ 5.6 bil- tiny fraction of the value of ness case for cutting the of ecosystem services. lion to the region – a year. these ecosystems. mangroves. Wait a minute, Moving on to the Mekong The value of valuation what about externalities? region, such services even It pays becomes clear: non-valu- Factoring in positive exter- include Elephant Draught That conservation pays ation automatically means nalities, like storm protec- Power, narrated Dr. Lucy off, Vietnam indeed real- the attribution of zero value tion from mangroves, and Emerton, Chief Economist ized, where the ASEAN trip to goods – be it chocolate negative ones of the shrimp of the Environment Man- ended. The country suc- sludge, elephant draught farm, like restoration costs, agement Group, Sri Lanka. cessfully internalized exter- power, or oxygen from a it looks quite differently: Since elephants are com- nalities of deforestation by tree. If you don’t value it, introducing PES. Yet a new you won’t save it. acronym? What is behind Or rather, ‘if you don’t it then? ‘Payment for Eco- love it, you won’t save it’ system Services’ essentially as Noralindabinti Haji Ibra- means getting paid to do him, Senior Forestry Officer nothing, said Emerton. Her in Brunei Darussalam, con- colleague Pham Hong Lu- cluded the TEEB session ong of VNFOREST agreed of the AHP conference, and explained how this pointing to the critique of scheme works: every land- the monetization of nature. owner gets paid US$ 20 per Beyond doubt, TEEB is an hectare of forest if they don’t important tool, but biodi- cut clear the trees, hence versity needs clear thresh- avoid externalities. A small, olds, given that it cannot be but fruitful incentive that re- simply substituted. As the sulted in significant national saying goes: ‘When the last forest cover increases. That tree is cut down, the last fish such incentive can work on eaten and the last stream a much bigger scale shows poisoned, you will realize a glance to the North. Since that you cannot eat money.’ 1999, the Chinese govern- Mind you, manufacturing a ment has invested more new planet remains science than $100 billion in PES fiction and nature is clearly after realizing that environ- not a shopping mall.

28 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org FEATURE

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Dumpsites are common sources of marine debris that comes from land. International Coastal Clean Day, September 15 Every litter bit hurts

By Philipp Gassner

hat do space and the A beachcomber’s the floating debris. The Six million tons of trash Wocean have in com- paradise much bigger part ends up to our Web of Life mon? Their vastness, that Just how messy they in the Earth’s five great sub- Our economy is based on we know little about it, and are, an unintentional ex- tropical gyres – enormous, the one-time use of throw- that both resemble the periment showed when the slow-moving whirlpools on away plastics. ‘Instead of mess in a teenager’s room. Japanese tsunami in March the ocean’s surface which hunting and gathering, we Rather than piles of tossed 2011 swept about 4.8 mil- accumulate debris for years now shop. And every time out toys, used underwear lion tons of debris into the from currents and winds. we shop, we accumulate and dirty dishes, in space sea. You don’t often get a Thousands of kilometers plastic: a toothbrush, a vat one will find a junkyard of chance to take an entire across, the biggest of these of butter, a bag of chips,and spent rocket stages and city, put it in the ocean, and gyres is known as The Great a candy bar wrapper, there dead spacecraft. These see what happens to all the Pacific Garbage Patch. Lo- are all made of plastic,’ il- end up in Earth’s or- stuff,’ Marcus Eriksen says. cated between two huge lustrates another sailing en- bit ever since the Soviet The scientist and adventur- population and industrial vironmentalist, Josh Berry. Union launched Sputnik er sailed after the tsunami centers – Asia and North Over six million tons a day 1 in 1957. The number garbage on its 7,000-km America – the patch serves make their way to the sea, of pieces of space debris journey across the Pacific as Earth’s mighty bellybut- 80 percent of it from land. has risen to a burgeoning to find out all about marine ton, covered in thin confetti The rest stems from the blizzard of over 500,000 debris. This debris included of plastic; more than three 10,000 containers lost by fragments in orbit. Even a rusting Japanese Harley- million tons of confetti. In container ships each year though this space garbage Davidson motorcycle, a set the world’s oceans, that or ghost nets, fishing nets is going to have a major of golf clubs, and a 50-me- sums up to hundreds of left in the ocean, and the impact on the future eco- ter fishing boat, found by a million tons. And indeed the like. Once waterborne, de- nomics of space flight, it beachcomber in British Co- marine garbage problem is bris becomes mobile blown is of somewhat less con- lumbia. a problem of plastic, mak- by the wind, or following cerning to humanity than But beachcombers can ing up 85 percent of all de- the flow of ocean currents, the equally messy oceans. only comb five percent of bris in the sea. ending up in gyres and after

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 29 FEATURE decades on the seabed. Ninety-five percent of the Manila amount to global - has a strong emphasis Problem solved? Not sea bird Northern Fulmar, zoos of invasive species, on marine topics. The cen- quite. Unlike in the deep found dead on beaches, which break the earth’s tre, based in the Philippine space, the trash in the has plastic in their stom- natural barriers, muck up university town Los Baños, oceans is of a bigger con- achs. Marine debris harms the area’s marine environ- coordinates networks of cern than the threat to the an estimated 100,000 sea ments, cost billions of dol- marine protected areas and odd satellite orbiting the turtles and marine mam- lars to manage, and endan- takes marine debris seri- blue planet. Its name is mals, and millions of other ger local biodiversity. ously. well deserved, since blue sea creatures each year. Another way, biodiversity From Los Baños comes oceans cover two thirds of For instance, plastic shop- is put at peril with a thin also a clear solution on the the Earth and provide over ping bags can clog diges- layer of industrial chemicals local level as the first Philip- a billion people with food. tive tracts; causing starva- and petroleum, coating the pine town to enforce a ban You wouldn’t want to trash tion tricking the animal into plastic particles, creating on plastic bags in 2008; the place where your food thinking it is full. little poison pills that fish now followed by 60 other comes from, would you? However, much of the eat and absorb. And if fish Philippine municipalities - Beyond global food se- plastic is ending up as mi- are feasting on these toxic but lobbied against by the curity, oceans are essential croplastic – fragments less morsels, then be sure, we plastic industries. Perhaps to the health and survival of than five millimeters across. are too. making the business case all life, power our climate, On the bright side, this mi- is more convincing: increas- and are a critical ecosystem croplastic is hosting life, Clean up the World ing the recycling rate by 14 of the biosphere. The ma- creating a new niche in the To avoid feeding on poi- percent in a few years - thus rine ecosystem makes up vast oceans. The tiny frag- son and to protect the ma- lowering plastic waste. The a large part of biodiversity, ments in the Atlantic Ocean rine web of life, there is a Republic of Korea already the global web of life. Just have been colonized by mi- very easy way: reducing created economic benefits take the ASEAN region, crobes not found in open and preventing trash from of $1.6 billion a year. harboring the mega-diverse water, a community dubbed entering our waterways. It Until this trickles down, coral triangle. It supports as plastisphere. is critical to manage man- join the global anti-litter six of the world’s seven ma- Trashing is a good thing made debris at every point, movement. True to the mot- rine turtle species, 51 of the then? Hardly, since on the from its manufacture to a to Clean Up the World, an 70 mangrove species, and flipside, the plastisphere product’s consumption. astounding 35 million peo- 75 percent of global coral can also work as a mini Slowly this is recognized by ple volunteer in 130 coun- species. The ecosystem raft, transporting danger- the plastic industry, meet- tries each year. Engage services such reefs pro- ous species around the ing on International Marine already, the 15th of Sep- vide globally come to an world, like the Vibrio bac- Debris Conferences to ad- tember is the 27th Interna- estimated annual value of teria causing cholera. And dress the ocean garbage tional Coastal Cleanup. Last $112.5 billion. such rafts can be much issue - with what results year, the global effort on Beyond this money, the bigger, like our Japanese remains to be seen. 28,516 kilometers of global region is also crucial to the Harley-Davidson, on which On a regional level, the waterways and beaches global cycle of plankton, tiny invasive species can be ASEAN Centre for Biodi- netted a staggering five mil- floating marine creatures, hitching rides around the versity - in cooperation lion kg of trash, equivalent which regulate the global globe. Hotspots like the with GIZ, the German de- to the weight of 41 blue climate and feed all other bays of San Francisco or velopment cooperation arm whales. What to do with all marine animals. But now, this garbage showed ac- for every kilo of plankton per tivist David de Rothschild. cubic meter of seawater, He built a raft, the Plastiki, the great garbage patches from old plastic bottles and contain approximately six sailed into, where else but kilos of plastic. That means the Great Pacific Garbage that there is more trash in Patch. the oceans than living be- If that is too adventur- ings and, even worse, it is ous for you, perhaps you passed up the food chain to are lucky and find a friendly reach all marine life. A sad floatee – 350,000 of them fact which endangers the are travelling the world’s vital biodiversity, the very oceans since 1992 when same beings make up. some containers with child’s bath toy were washed over- Hitching a hike on a board a cargo ship. As ﬂ oating motorcycle friendly as the red beavers, Coral is smothered by green frogs, blue turtles plastic, fish get trapped and yellow ducks might in drifting ghost nets, and seem, they still are among birds die from eating plastic. the ocean’s silent killers.

30 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org FEATURE

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conﬂ ict, 6 November Giving nature a voice in times of conﬂ ict

By Sahlee B. Barrer

here are no winners in Twar, only victims. Ev- eryone in the crosshairs of war will have to endure the effects of armed conflict, including death of loved ones; physical disability and trau- ma; exploitation and abuse; loss of property, income and livelihood; and others, for many years. There are many voices that need to be heard in war. Women, children, and indigenous communities need special attention, as their issues are complex and need to be highlighted in normal times, and more so during times of conflict.

However, some sectors Photo courtesy of Wikipedia have no voice at all, and cannot fight for themselves and water sources, erosion UNEP and many other brought to the impacts of when war breaks out. While and poor soil productivity, environmental and peace- war on cultural, historical casualties are often count- among others. building organizations have and geological sites; his- ed in terms of the number In many cases, natural emphasized the impor- torical buildings; museums of dead and injured, de- resources themselves have tance of action on the en- and artwork; the plight of struction of properties and triggered conflicts among vironment as part of conflict zoo animals; and effects of livelihood, and derailed communities and nations. prevention, peacekeeping, conflict on wildlife. These, economies, the impacts of According to the United and peace building strate- however, are simply not conflict on nature, environ- Nations Environment Pro- gies. This is often because enough. Conflicts, unfor- ment, and wildlife are rarely gramme (UNEP), over the durable peace cannot be tunately, will continue to heard. last 60 years, at least 40 attained if the natural re- plague humankind, and The environment has re- percent of all internal con- sources that sustain liveli- policies have to be set in mained a silent victim after flicts have been linked to hoods and ecosystems are place to ensure the protec- centuries of war and armed the exploitation of natural destroyed. Development tion of peoples’ cultural and conflict. In the wake of de- resources, whether high- organizations recognize natural heritage. struction and sometimes as value resources such as peace and security as a crit- Rebuilding and reconstruc- a matter of strategy, water timber, diamonds, gold and ical pillar of sustainable de- tion of lives, communities, in- sources and wells are pol- oil, or scarce resources velopment. Environmental frastructure and industry will luted, crops and forests are such as fertile land and wa- protection and good gover- take the concerted effort and torched, soils are poisoned, ter. nance of natural resources collaboration of a wide array and livestock murdered. Every year on November must be considered part of of stakeholders and relevant Biodiversity is inevitably lost. 6, the International Day for national development strat- organizations, before com- Habitats are destroyed, and Preventing the Exploitation egies to ensure that biodi- munities can move on from wildlife killed. Species lose of the Environment in War versity is maintained, and periods of and hope to lead their homes and sources and Armed Conflict is an that ecosystem services more normal lives. The en- of food, and those that are opportunity to give voice to remain intact so that they vironment has no say in the already rare and endan- the environment, and en- will continue to provide the matter, and need to be pro- gered may be pushed to sure that habitats, ecosys- vital services that ensure vided with a voice so that the brink of extinction. Vi- tems and the protection of the health and well-being of species and ecosystems, tal ecosystem services are increasingly rare flora and peopleand communities. too, can survive and endure compromised, leading to fauna are given attention, In more recent times, beyond war and armed con- poor quality or loss of food particularly in times of war. some attention has been ﬂ ict.

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 31 FEATURE

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 October Poverty and biodiversity

By Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity

large number of people those on poverty eradica- Targets are relevant to A are presently living in tion. Working collaboratively poverty eradication, in poverty, with the majority with a broad range of part- particular: Target 2, which of these being women and ners, the Convention’s Bio- seeks, by 2020, at least, to children. Protecting biodi- diversity for Poverty Eradi- integrate biodiversity val- versity and a healthy planet cation and Development ues into national and local and productive ecosystems Initiative is developing tools development and poverty with the full and effective to increase the capacity of reduction strategies and participation of the poor is governments to develop planning processes as well essential to achieve poverty national accounting sys- as into national accounting eradication and provide jus- tems that take depreciation and reporting systems; and tice and dignity for all. of natural capital into con- Target 14, which aims, by As the Rio+20 outcome sideration. 2020, to restore and safe- document (The Future We Poverty eradication is guard services provided by Want) indicates, global bio- also a cross-cutting issue ecosystems including those diversity loss and ecosys- edge and practices of the of the Strategic Plan for related to water, health, live- tem degradation affect food poor, including practices Biodiversity 2011-2020 and lihoods and well-being, tak- security and nutrition, and of customary sustainable its 20 internationally agreed ing into account the needs the provision of, and access use of biodiversity, particu- time-bound Aichi Biodiver- of women, as well as poor, to, water and the health of larly of indigenous and local sity Targets. Together, these vulnerable and indigenous the rural poor. communities. The Conven- were welcomed by the six- and local communities. The biodiversity and tion on Biological Diversity ty-fifth session of the United In the context of the poverty relationship is com- (CBD) is finalizing a plan of Nations General Assembly post-2015 development plex, multi-dimensional and action on customary sus- as the overarching ten-year agenda, biodiversity is not multi-scale, and requires tainable use that recogniz- global framework to con- simply another problem to the involvement of a broad es these issues, and seeks serve and sustainably use be solved. It is an impor- range of actors at the local, a just implementation of the biodiversity, and its important opportunity to help national, regional and inter- relevant articles of the Con- tance was reaffirmed in the achieve broader social and national levels. vention. Rio+20 outcomes. The Stra- economic goals and to ad- It is now widely recog- The CBD also supports tegic Plan’s mission state- dress many of the current nized that the poor depend and promotes a broad range ment for 2020 foresees that challenges and concerns disproportionately on bio- of initiatives to facilitate the actions have been taken to for the future in proactive, diversity, not only for their integration of biodiversity halt biodiversity loss and to coherent and cost-effective subsistence needs and in- into development planning ensure that ecosystems are ways, including issues such come, but also as insurance and its mainstreaming ap- resilient and contribute to as food security, access to against risks such as the proaches in different envi- poverty eradication and hu- water, sustainable energy, impacts of climate change. ronmental and non-environ- man well-being. health and human well-be- For example, 98 percent mental strategies, including As such, several Aichi ing. of households in South Af- As we do this, it is impor- rica use wild herbs and 72 tant to listen to the voices percent of households in of the poor, who frequently Southeast Asia depend on are indigenous and local forest products. communities, that possess Therefore, safeguarding traditional knowledge re- biological and cultural di- lated to the conservation versity is essential to build and sustainable use of bio- socio-economic and eco- diversity. Their knowledge, logical resilience, eradicate practices and culture is the poverty and meet sustain- basis for protecting biodi- able development objec- versity, and therefore for tives, including the Millen- eradicating poverty. Let us nium Development Goals. work together to bring jus- This safeguarding also tice and dignity to the poor- needs to ensure the inclu- est of the planet. sion of traditional knowl-

32 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org FEATURE

Photo courtesy of ACB Tree replanting is an urgent activity to protect our habitats, be it forests or mountains. Taken by 17 years old Yohana R. Frias in Gumaca, Quezon, Philippines.

International Mountain Day, Dec 11 No place like home: habitats from oceans deep to mountains high By Philipp Gassner

id pleasures and on an expedition across our ally swallow them, but they baby, drill’ in the 1990s. “Mpalaces though we green Earth’s habitats. are also hosting microbes And drilling they did, most may roam, be it ever so not found in open water; recently last year. The pos- humble, there’s no place like Shelter on ﬂ otsam among them also the nasty sible habitat they found was home,” knows already the fragments ones, like Vibrio bacteria ice cold, pitch-black, under famous 19th century song Habitats can be tiny: less that cause cholera. In this extreme pressure from the “Home! Sweet Home!”. Just than five millimeters across fashion, such plastic micro ice above and showed toxi- how sweet and valuable is perhaps the most pecu- rafts impressively show one cally high levels of oxygen. a home is – as with many liar and modern-day habi- feature of habitats: provid- Doesn’t sound much like a things – you might not real- tat. Despite their miniature ing shelter. cozy habitat, does it? In- ize until you lose it. The mil- size, millions of bacteria deed, scientists are still not lions of currently homeless find a home here, and water The oldest habitat? sure whether the genetic typhoon victims in the Phil- striders even lay their eggs Shelter to a diverse com- traces of microorganisms ippines can tell you a thing on it. Curious what that munity of organisms, which and fish they drilled upon or two about it. But not only could be? By accident, hu- could even include fish, are just contaminations. If for us humans a place to mans have created a new might also be provided by the lake was indeed sterile, call home is essential, also home, the ‘Plastisphere’. the Earth’s possibly oldest it would make the only body to every other species on As we dump millions of habitat. If not the oldest of water on Earth empty of God’s green Earth. Animals tons of plastic waste into then it is at least the most life. Life always demands or plants call the area they the ocean every year, much extreme: Lake Vostok was for some basic environmen- populate ‘habitat’. But what of them end up as micro- buried quietly underneath tal factors like soil, mois- makes habitat a home? plastic. Don’t be fooled, it 3,700 meters of Antarc- ture, range of temperature, Nice furniture and a cozy cruelly harms most marine tic ice for 15 million years, and availability of light, as fire place? Let’s see and go animals that unintention- till scientists shouted ‘Drill well as biotic factors such

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 33 FEATURE as the availability of food, warming themselves. Take range of environmental Habitats as key which habitats provide. Hurricane Katrina, tearing conditions into a relatively Doing so and underscor- up around 320 million trees short distance. Often this ing that ‘Mountains are the Habitats driving wind when hitting the US east habitat provide islands, key to a sustainable future’ and weather coast in 2005, thus, releas- suitable to species which the International Mountain Habitats can provide ing over half the amount of only occur here – so called Day is held on December11 much more. Their own carbon absorbed annually endemics – isolated from with the identical motto. ‘To weather, for instance. by forests in the US. A per- surrounding unfavorable create awareness about the Wouldn’t it be odd to need centage likely to be much conditions. importance of mountains to a private weather forecast higher in the tropical Philip- We are of course talking life, to highlight the oppor- for your living room? Well, pines. about mountains. This di- tunities and constraints in the weather forecast for Luckily, there is a cure of- versity in mountain habitats mountain development and the world’s second big- fered – how could it be oth- is also home to very dis- to build partnerships that gest living room is not too erwise – by a habitat. Man- tinctive human communi- will bring positive change exiting: slightly overcast, groves in Southeast Asia ties. Seven hundred twenty to the world’s mountains’ 365 days a year. Weather are cutting greenhouse gas million mountain people are says the UN. A good ex- makes its way into Cloud emissions while protecting directly dependent on the ample how this can be Ladder Hall, a gigantic cave against deadly tsunamis or habitat for their sustenance done is provided by Mount in China and gets trapped typhoons. Shielding man- and well-being, but also Makiling, a dormant volcano inside. Anyway, the clouds grove habitats in Northern billions of lowland people in Laguna province on the don’t matter that much, as Samar, Philippines helped benefit from mountain en- island of Luzon, Philippines. the six million-cubic meter reduce damage from the ergy, timber, biodiversity, The 1,090 m high mountain hall is equally dark as Lake November 8 storm, as they recreation and spiritual is a vital habitat, harboring Vostok. It shows, however, did during the 2004 tsunami values. And water: as the rich biodiversity and provid- that habitat crucially pro- all over the region. Consid- water towers of the world, ing water and geothermal vide a climate for the spe- ering this, it is worthwhile mountains provide fresh- energy to many. Already in cies inhabiting it. And not investing in such habitats, water to more than half of 1933, people realized the only the climate inside but in addition to immediate humanity. importance of their very own also way beyond a habitat, disaster relief, to reverse At the same time, human- habitat and declared Mount as the next stop on the ex- the trend of the Philippines ity must learn not to take Makiling a National Park. pedition will show. losing about one percent their homes for granted. Now, in October 2013 the Like motherhood and of mangroves a year. Mind Mountain habitats expose mountain was inaugurated apple pie, all species need you, these regional habitats why: while they naturally as the 33rd of the ASEAN water. Water from rain that harbor 51 of the global 70 are high-risk environments Heritage Parks, represen- is recycled by one of the mangrove species diver- with avalanches, landslides, tatives of Southeast Asia’s worlds’ biggest habitats: sity. volcanic eruptions or earth- ecosystems and an urgent forests. In forests, water quakes, over generations contribution to the protec- evaporates, rises to the air, Diversity in potential mountain people, as well tion of its plentiful values. rains again, and creates and threats as plants and animals, have The declaration was sup- winds, which bring even Diversity is also the learned how to live with ported by the ASEAN Cen- more water with them. If buzzword of the last habitat such difficulties. After all, it tre for Biodiversity (ACB), forest habitats are lost, the on our journey: from ever- takes time to make a home. suitably based at the foot of rainfall in the continental in- green rain forests to per- But now, their well-adapted Makiling, and through the teriors may decline by up to petual ice and snow, from existence is at peril. Habi- Biodiversity and Climate 90 percent. To remind you, more than 12 m of annual tat degradation caused by Change Project of GIZ, the Sahara, the world’s biggest precipitation to high des- unsustainable clearing of German development co- desert, was a lush wetland erts, and from sea level to land or effects of climate operation. Both stress the habitat just 6000 years almost 9,000 m in altitude. change; for instance, dis- parks as a roadmap for ago. It covers around 27 percent turb the delicate balance all aspects of sustainable Beyond the regional en- of the earth’s land surface, within and beyond the habi- mountain development, be vironment, forest habitats occurs on all continents, in tats. As result, rare species it infrastructure, tourism, support a stable climate all latitude zones. Of the 20 of plants and animals face water or biodiversity. To for the whole wide world plant species that provide extinction, global and re- achieve this, all concerned as storage of incredible 80 percent of the world’s gional climates conditions stakeholders need to be in- amounts of CO2. What food, six originated here: are distorted and mountain volved, knowing about the happens when our climate maize, potatoes, barley, people, already among the fragility of their mountain losses this stability was sorghum, quinoa, tomatoes world’s poorest and most habitat, as well as all the dreadfully witnessed by the and apples. disadvantaged, face further other places people, plants sufferers of Typhoon Hai- You name it, this habi- hardship. As this is symp- and animals call home. As yan. While tropical storms tat has it. But how is this tomatic for many habitats the song aptly ends: are likely to get more pow- even possible? By adding of our green Earth, action ‘Sweet, sweet home! erful in a warming world, another dimension, alti- is urgent to protect our There’s no place like home, they ironically speed up the tude, compressing a wide homes. there’s no place like home!’

34 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org FEATURE

World Food Day, 16 October Building systems that bring food to the table

By Sahlee B. Barrer

o people ever think Addressing the inter- Supporting sustainable Diversifi cation of food, Dabout where their food linked issues of malnutri- food systems use of environment friendly comes from and how they tion, biodiversity and food According to FAO, sus- practices, and support for get to one’s table? When security requires integrated tainable food systems pro- small-scale farmers must be people buy products from action and complementary duce nutritious diets for all encouraged. the market, eat at a restau- interventions in agriculture people while also protecting Integrated farming sys- rant, or have fast food de- and the food system, natu- the capacity of future gen- tems must also be sup- livered, little thought often ral resource management, erations to feed them. ported where all resources, goes to the sources and public health and educa- Sustainable food systems including food scraps and processes that bring food tion, and broader policy do- use resources effi ciently at waste, are used effi ciently. from the point of purchase mains. Various sectors and every stage along the way These changes will also to one’s plate. World Food concerns have to be con- from the source to the plate. be more effective when Day, October 16, aims to sidered in policy and deci- This means getting the most combined with health and bring attention to the impor- sion making to ensure a rich out of every drop of water, environmental education. tance of food systems with biodiversity that will provide plot of land, speck of fer- the theme Sustainable Food the basis for sustainable tilizer, and minute of labor. Start somewhere Systems for Food Security food systems. This saves resources for the With a variety of players and Nutrition. future and makes systems and various complex issues Each year, World Food Impacts of more sustainable. All re- at hand, are sustainable Day focuses on issues that environmental sources should be used effi - food systems actually pos- increase understanding of degradation ciently and nothing is wast- sible? Measures to address problems and solutions in Nature and food-based ed. Waste products such increasingly urgent global the drive to end hunger. Ac- industries such as agricul- as manure and food scraps concerns may push govern- cording to the United Na- ture, aquaculture, fi shing can be turned into fertilizer ments in the right direction. tions Food and Agriculture and others are both drivers or energy to improve sus- There are fewer natu- Organization (FAO), 842 mil- and victims of various en- tainability. Safe and environ- ral resources at hand, and lion people worldwide are vironmental threats. Major ment friendly methods can policy makers are pressed chronically undernourished. land clearing for crop pro- be used to address pests to make sure that these Unsustainable models of duction, mono-cropping, and diseases in food and are used effi ciently, and yet development are degrading use of chemical fertilizers, livestock production. bring benefi ts to the most the natural environment and and other agricultural prac- Consumers can also con- number of people. Both threatening ecosystems and tices have contributed to tribute to sustainable food sys- governments and non-gov- biodiversity needed for the deforestation, erosion and tems by supporting producers ernment organizations are world’s future food supply. siltation, loss of soil produc- that advocate green practices thinking of creative ways One of the measures that tivity, loss of biodiversity, and technology; purchasing to bring the issue of health, may address global malnu- freshwater scarcity, climate natural as opposed to overly biodiversity, and food secu- trition, maintain biodiversity, change impacts, and fl ood- processed foods; choosing rity to the general public to and ensure food security is ing. Pollution, overfi shing, balanced diets; and minimiz- generate support for envi- the development of sustain- and the use of destructive ing food waste. ronmental causes such as able food systems. A food fi shing practices also have biodiversity conservation system is made up of the tremendous impacts on Changing priorities and climate change miti- environment, people, insti- marine resources. in the food industry gation. Greater awareness tutions and processes by The scarcity of water, land, While many governments and better business sense which agricultural products poor soil quality, and poisoned continue to focus on quan- are spurring businesses are produced, processed seas pose serious threats to tity, there is a greater need to be more environment- and brought to consumers. food security and nutrition. to emphasize quality if pre- friendly and generate less Every aspect of the food These threats and the mea- venting hunger, protecting waste. Food producers are system has an effect on the sures needed to counter them the environment, and sus- embracing organic produc- availability and accessibil- underline the importance of taining food sources are to tion and crop and livestock ity of diverse and nutritious maintaining biodiversity to be addressed. For instance, diversifi cation. Restaurants foods. This has tremendous continue to provide food for policies in the food industry are going back to slow impact on consumers’ abil- a steadily growing population, have to prioritize nutrition, food, focusing on fertilizer- ity to choose healthy diets, most of which are poor and and the availability of nutri- free ingredients and foods and provides more choic- need strong food systems to tion-dense foods such as in season. Consumers are es for people with limited ensure their health and well- fruits, vegetables, legumes also becoming more careful means. being. and animal-source foods. of their food choices.

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• Indonesia Lore Lindu National Park

ore Lindu National INDONESIA Park, a huge forested protected L area covering 217,991.18 hectares, is located south of the town of Paluin the districts of Donggala and Poso in Central Sulawesi. Its lush forests and varying altitudes have led to the development of multiple ecosystems and habitats and rich biodiversity.

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Lore Lindu was declared Studies also show that ed bee-eater, cerulean illegal logging and land en- a UNES CO Biosphere Re- the park contains 287 cuckoo-shrike, pygmy croachment for agricultural serve in 1978, and was plants with medicinal value. cuckoo-shrike, chestnut- activities. formed through the uni- backed bush-warbler, blue- fication of three existing Fauna fronted flycatcher, Sulawesi Conservation activities reserves, specifically Lore Lore Lindu National blue-flycatcher, geomalia, One of the organizations Kalamanta Nature Reserve, Park is the largest habi- Sulawesi thrush, great that has contributed to the Lake Lindu Recreation and tat of native mammals in shortwing, olive-flanked conservation of Lore Lindu Protection Forest, and Lore Sulawesi. Hundreds of whistler, maroon-backed National Park is The Nature Lindu Wildlife Reserve. species of mammal, ﬁ sh, whistler, malia, white- Conservancy, which has Aside from its rich bird and amphibian call this backed woodswallow, Su- been helping to preserve wildlife and picturesque park home. These include lawesi myna, fiery-browed the rain forests of this landscapes, the Lore Lindu the hog deer or babirusa myna, and mountain serin. national park in partner- National Park contains over (Babyrousa spp), rare Su- There are at least 55 ship with the Directorate 400 granite megaliths in lawesi monkeys (Macaca- species of bats and five General of Protection and the Bada Valley, varying in ton keana), anoa (Bubalus types of squirrel. Conservation of Nature size from just a few centi- Bubalus depressicomis and There are 64 types of (PKA) since 1992. meters to 4.5 meters tall, quarlessi), gold snakes, snakes including pythons, The Conservancy has the largest found in Indo- three species of tarsier, king cobra, and racer established a compre- nesia. Various archaeologi- and racoons, which are the snake, and 21 species of hensive programme in the cal studies have dated the largest meat-eating animals large lizards in the park. park, where it is work- monuments from between in Sulawesi. The park also has a ing with PKA to involve 3000 BC to 1300 AD. The park is home to variety of beetles, some local communities in park 227 bird species, of which of which are larger than a management. Key aspects Habitats 77 are found nowhere human hand. of the programme include Altitudes in the park else in the world. Key bird developing 5- and 25- range from 200 to 2,300 species include the small Threats year management plans meters above sea-level, sparrow hawk, bare-faced This national park for the park; conducting resulting in a variety of rail, Sulawesi woodcock, contains one of the largest consultations with commu- multiple ecosystems. The metallic pigeon, ornate intact forests in Indonesia, nities, a planning tech- main types of forests in the lorikeet, yellow-and-green but it also faces a variety nique that helps prioritize park are lowland montane lorikeet, ochre-bellied of threats, including a conservation targets and and alpine forest. There hawk-owl, cinnabar hawk- rapidly growing population build community support; are also areas with sec- owl, speckled hawk-owl, in and around the park. carrying out vegetation ondary forests, which had diabolical nightjar, scaly Deforestation remains and biodiversity studies; previously been cleared for kingfisher, purple-beard- a problem as a result of and introducing sustain- shifting cultivation.

Flora Lowland forests are dominated by rattan (Cal- lamus spp.), banyan (Ficus spp.), Leda giant tree (Eu- calyptus deglupta), palm sugar (Arenga pinnata), and kepayang (Pangiu medule). The types of flora found in the montane forests include different epiphytes including 88 species of orchids, and a variety of ferns. Various Nepenthes species can be found in the alpine forest. Second- ary forests, on the other hand, include species such as casuarina (Casuarina sumatrana) and mixed stands of wanga (Figafetta filans) and leda (Eucalyptus deglupta).

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 37 PROFILES able agriculture projects to variety of sizes, with the reduce pressure on park tallest at about 4 meters in boundaries. height while most measure 1.5 to 2.5 meters. Culture and Ecotourism The best time to visit There are many natural would be during the dry attractions within and in season which is between the vicinity of Lore Lindu July and September. The National Park. These in- heaviest rain period oc- clude the following: curs during the monsoon 1. Pakuli – village at the season which lasts from vicinity of Lore Lindu November to April. National Park in the district of Gumbasa, Sigi How to get there Regency, 40 km away The nearest air trans- from Palu. The local port hubs are Makassar in people are well known South Sulawesi and Mana- for their use of herbs do in North Sulawesi, both for traditional medica- of which have domestic tion. Bird species that flights to the towns of Palu, can be found in the vil- Poso and Luwuk in Central lage include maleo, red Sulawesi, from Jakarta and jungle fowl, Sulawesi all the major cities around nightjar, Sulawesi thrill- houses known as Lob- from Palu, Napu Valley Indonesia, and a few er, and white-rumped ocan can still be found is an extensive wet- International flights. There cuckoo-shrike. in Toro, which were lands area, with moun- are international flights to 2. Saluki – located at Tuva formerly used for tradi- tains surrounded by Manado from Singapore, Village approximately tional meetings. forests and good farm- and from Singapore and 50 km away from Palu. 5. Lake Tambing – locat- ing lands. A good bird Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to The park’s largest male ed 55 km away from watching site can be Makassar. nesting ground can be Palu, the lake is 1,700 found at Wuasa, where Both airports have found here. Several en- meters above sea level one can view species flights to Palu, a small demic bird species can and is an amazing bird- such as blue-faced rail, city in Central Sulawesi. also be found, such spotting site. The lake various eagles, white- Mutiara Airport in Palu is a as the green-backed is about 10 meters bellied imperial pigeon, domestic only airport with kingfisher, maroon- deep and contains sev- and rusty-bellied fantail. flights available from Jakar- chinned fruit-dove, eral kinds of endemic ta, Surabaya, Balikpapan, silver-tripped imperial fishes. This beautiful A unique feature of Manado and Makassar. pigeon, red knobbed natural environment the park is the presence From Palu, you can hire hornbill, and Sulawesi can be enjoyed by us- of megalithsor the large a car or jeep for a drive to dwarf kingfisher. ing a traditional canoe stone age prehistoric rel- the park which is about 50 3. Lake Lindu – located at (katinting) to cross the ics. There are about 419 kilometers away. The drive the centre of the park. lake. megalith statues widely will take approximately 2 ½ The lake can be found 6. Nokilalaki-Anaso-Ror- spread in Besoa and Bada hours. 1000 meters above sea ekatimbu – these three Valley-District of South level with surface of 3.2 peaks, Mt. Nokilalaki Lore, Poso Regency. These References: hand surrounded by ex- Anaso and Rorekatim- artifacts are considered tensive swamps. Bola bu are characterized one of the finest stone BurungNusuntara (http:// burung-nusantara.org/birding- island can be found at by montane and alpine monuments of their kind in sites/sulawesi/lore-lindu/) the centre of the lake, forests and are great Indonesia. Marked by good and covers an area of sites for birdwatching craftsmanship and simplic- Indonesia Travel (http:// www.indonesia.travel/en/ about five hectares. A and trekking. A variety ity, these megalithic stone destination/317/lore-lindu- feature of the island is of bird species can be statues are graceful and national-park-wonderful- the Maradindo burial found, as well as pitch- were carved from granite. habitat-of-sulawesi-s- site, which was built in er plants. The formida- Archeological research endemic-birds-and-mammals) the 18th century. ble diabolical nightjar, a dates them back to 3000 Taman Nasional Lore Lindu 4. Toro – located at the rare species first docu- years BC with more recent (http://lorelindu.info/index. vicinity of the park, ap- mented in 1931, and ones from 1300 AD. It is php?pilih=hal&id=2) proximately 115 km never again spotted till also believed that these The Nature Conservancy away from Palu. Local 1993, was recorded on megalithic statues are (http://www.nature. org/ourinitiatives/regions/ people form the Tondo Anaso. worshipped by ancestors asiaandthepacific/indonesia/ Ngata, which guards 7. Napu Valley - located of the local indigenous placesweprotect/lore-lindu- the forest. Traditional about 105 km away peoples. They come in national-park.xml)

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• Viet Nam Xuan Thuy National Park

uan Thuy National Park (XTNP) is 150 km south-west of Hanoi in the coastal zone of the Red River X Delta. Located in the GiaoThuy District, Nam Dinh Province, the park VIET NAM covers 7,100 hectares plus an 8,000- ha buffer zone. Xuan Thuy National Park comprises three islands and mudflats, the most important habitat being the intertidal mudflats and natural mangroves.

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Xuan Thuy National Park to 40,000 birds staying in Book as vulnerable and at National Park as a is an internationally im- Xuan Thuy before they con- risk of extinction. Ramsar site through portant wintering area for tinue their long migratory biodiversity conserva- migratory birds and was journey. XTNP is also noted Threats tion and responsible declared Viet Nam’s first as having the largest win- Xuan Thuy’s biodiversity fisheries. Ramsar site in January tering population of Còthìa is under threat from the 4. Raise public awareness 1989. (black-faced spoonbills) in spread of aquaculture and and also recognize lo- Due to the presence of vi- Viet Nam. unsustainable levels of fish- cal community efforts tal ecosystems and habitats The migratory birds in- ing and shellfish harvesting in the conservation of for many rare and important clude a number of endan- within the park boundaries. Xuan Thuy National species, XTNP plays an im- gered bird species, such Park, the sustainable portant role in preserving as the western curlew, Conservation activities and wise use of the ecological system and de- Saunder’s gull, painted The Government of Viet park’s resources, and veloping eco-tourism of the stork, Asian dowitcher, Nam has worked to pre- responsible fisheries Red River Delta. spoon-billed sandpiper, serve the value of this area and management. Nordmann’s greenshank, through the establishment A major concern for park Flora Chinese egret, black-tailed of new laws, policies and management has been the Xuan Thuy National Park godwit, and spotted red- investments. In 2003, it was conflict between conser- is an area rich in biodiver- shank. Other significant upgraded from its status as vation and resource use, sity. It has 150 species bird species include Baer’s a nature reserve and ap- particularly by poor com- of vascular plants, 120 of pochard, great knot, black- proved as a national park, munities living in the vicin- which thrive particularly tailed gull, Heuglin’s gull, and was also included as ity of the park. Every day, well in the wetland habitat. Saunders’s gull, and light- part of the Red River Delta hundreds of local fisher- The mangrove forest helps vented bulbul. World Biosphere Heritage women enter the mangrove stabilize the alluvium soil XuanThuy is also an im- Site by UNESCO in Octo- forest in Xuan Thuy National as well as provides food portant migratory stop-over ber 2004. Park to collect shells, mol- and shelter for marine life for non-waterbirds, with The objectives and tasks lusks, crabs, and other and other fauna, storm and large numbers of passer- of park management in- aquatic products. Although flood protection, biochemi- ines and cuckoos passing clude the following: the law prohibits any kind cal cycling, and others. through the site during the 1. Preserve the typical of resource extraction in Surveys have recorded spring and autumn migra- submerged land eco- the core zone, the poor around 111 aquatic plant tions. During the summer system of the Red river women who depend on species. Certain species of months, small numbers of delta region and its flo- these natural resources for seaweed in particular are of painted stork and spot- ra and fauna, particu- sustenance and livelihood high economic value. billed pelican occur as non- larly aquatic species, have no other choice. The breeding visitors. water birds and migra- overexploitation of aquatic Fauna More than one quarter tory birds. products has resulted in in- Xuan Thuy National Park of the park is covered with 2. Build material and creased scarcity and grow- provides habitats for many mangroves that support technical bases to sup- ing competition among the rare animal species, includ- many aquatic species - in- port training, scientific fisherwomen. ing otters, porpoises and cluding over 500 species of research, environmen- To resolve this issue, whales. The park is also benthos and zooplankton tal education and eco- park management, with the home to 30 species of rep- (shrimp, fish, crab, oys- tourism development assistance of Mangroves tiles and countless species ters, and others). These and thus contribute to for the Future, piloted a co- of insects. species provide food and socio-economic devel- management initiative to XTNP is best known for livelihoods for local people. opment and creating ensure the more sustainable the diversity of bird spe- The park houses the CáMòi jobs for local popula- use of natural resources. cies in the park. The park Co (Clupanodon thrissa), a tion communities. The project aimed to de- is home to 219 species of fish listed in Viet Nam’s Red 3. Maintain Xuan Thuy velop and integrate a model birds from 41 families and of mangrove co-manage- 13 orders. It is a significant ment into the Xuan Thuy resting and feeding site for National Park management migratory waterbirds as system for the protection of they head from the north to a 1,000-hectare area on Lu the south, especially during islet, as well as develop a November and December. benefit sharing mechanism Without stopping in Xuan with the poor fisherwomen. Thuy, they would not be The park now officially able to complete their flight, accepts the presence of which is often thousands the fisherwomen in the core of kilometers long. At the zone and involves them in peak of the migratory sea- preparing regulations over son, there may be 30,000 what species can be col-

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and/or Buddhist influence. flats and sandy flats areas As such, several pagodas of Giao Xuan Commune, and churches dot the land- which is the best area for scape, adding to the eclec- watching shorebirds. Here, tic beauty of the region. one can find large flocks of Traditional performing waders including the Nord- arts include the art of Cheo mann’s Greenshank, many and Chau Van as well as the species of gulls including dragon dance. Other no- Saunders’s gull, duck spe- table cultural activities are cies, and sometimesthe sculling and cock fighting. black-faced spoonbill and black-headed ibis. Ecotourism In terms of accommoda- As a staging and winter- tions, there are basic lodges ing site on the East Asian- within the park. There are Australian flyway, the Xuan guesthouses in Ngo Dong lected, how (no mechanical cal fishery resources. Thuy National Park attracts town (20 km from Xuan devices), where, and when The pilot co-management birdwatchers from all over Thuy) and a resort area in (no harvesting in reproduc- arrangement in Xuan Thuy the world. The best time to Quat Lam (40 km from Xuan tive season). Cutting man- National Park has already visit is September to April. Thuy), where there are many groves and trapping birds made a real difference in im- In August and September, hotels and restaurants. are forbidden. proving living standards of it is still possible to see the By working with the fish- local women and reducing non-breeding painted stork, How to get there erwomen, the park has been overexploitation of its natu- as well as early migrants Xuan Thuy National Park able to register more than ral resources. Future activi- such as the black-winged is about 150 km by road 500 of them and can now ties may focus on resolving Stilt. From October on- from Hanoi or three and provide some oversight. other issues between con- wards, it is relatively easy half hours by car. From the The women take part in di- servation and resource use to find wintering black- national park headquarters, alogues in decision making among communities in the faced spoonbills, particu- the site can be visited by over resources of the park. park; providing support for larly at their roost sites in boat or by foot. It is impor- The collection of aquatic sustainable livelihood activi- the shrimp ponds. Guides tant to take account of tide products is monitored by ties; and establishing pay- are available and can assist times when planning a trip a committee that includes ments for ecosystem ser- visitors on where to watch to Xuan Thuy, as some of representatives from the vices schemes to help park for particular bird species. the best birdwatching areas park, local authorities, and management and the com- There are a number of can only be reached at high communities. Through munity in conserving the hiking routes in the park. tide. peer monitoring, collecting biodiversity of the park while Visitors can walk through practices have been made contributing to local welfare. habitats along the dike References: less damaging. system in Con Ngan Is- Sustainable use of mangrove On a rotational basis, People and culture land, where the park head- resources to benefit poor fisherwomen can access There are five buffer quarters is located. During women through a co- management pilot in the core small loans from a livelihood communities surrounding high tide, there are numer- zone of XuanThuy National fund set up by the park. XuanThuy, specifically Giao ous birds roosting in the Park, Vietnam in Mangroves These can be used to raise Thien, Giao An, Giao Lac, shrimp ponds, including for the Future (http://www. chicken and pigs. Giao Xuan, and Giao Hai. spoonbills, gulls, ducks mangrovesforthefuture.org/ Discussions were con- Their livelihood is primar- and waders. grants/small-grant-facilities/ viet-nam/sgf-project-in-xuan- ducted to increase aware- ily tied to wet rice cultiva- During high tide, visi- thuy-national-park/) ness of the significance of tion, raising of livestock, tors can also use boats to Vietnam Birding (http://www. mangroves and to encour- and cultivation and harvest reach the offshore mudflats vietnambirding.com/xuan-thuy. age the use of sustainable of aquatic products (fish, and sandy flats, where the aspx) fisheries methods. Fish- crab, shrimp, clam, and spoon-billed sandpiper Vietnam Bird Tours (http:// erwomen have also been others). The livelihoods of can be found among large www.vietnambirdtours. taught to effectively com- the local people are intrin- flocks of waders. An alter- com/en/destination/vietnam- municate conservation mes- sically tied to the health of native boat route involves bird-information/vietnam- sages among their peers to the mangrove forest. Con- visiting Con Xanh island, bird-watching-information/ xuan-thuy-national-park-bird- encourage other members sequently, park manage- which are favored by some watching-tour.html) of the group to comply with ment is working to promote migrating non-waterbirds. new regulations. sustainable livelihood prac- On the island, one can find Vietnam Tourism (http://www. vietnamtourism.com.vn/news/ The project also support- tices from agro-forestry to pittas and other passerines en/detail/252/18766/) ed local institutions by pro- ecologically friendly shrimp during the migratory sea- VonQuocGiaXuânThuy viding a platform for coop- ponds. son. - XuanThuy National Park eration to reduce the over These communities Visitors can also take a (http://vuonquocgiaxuanthuy. exploitation of park and lo- show a strong Catholic boat to the off shore mud- org.vn/?&lang=en)

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pines and ASEAN for ACB to be financially sustainable. He ACB NEWS lauded the ability of ACB to organize events efficiently. “The Philippines is a proud host of the ACB and a proud member of the ASEAN community,” he added. Meanwhile, Dr. Raman Letchumanan, head of environment of the ASEAN Secretariat, recognized the Philippine Government’s role in the sustainability of ACB. He emphasized that “countries have to take charge of their destiny,” adding that “national mechanisms are important to manage foreign or donor funds.” Mr. Robert LeBlanc, GIZ consultant with the ACB-GIZ Biodiversity and Climate Change Project (BCCP), presented the initial assessment on the funding needs of ACB. He underscored the crucial role of ACB in the region, and the challenge to meet the Centre’s financial sustainability. “It is hoped that the forum provided great insights and valuable contribution in enhancing ACB influence and valuable contribution in the region,” said Dr. Berthold Seibert, Project Coordinator of the BCCP, who officially closed the ACB holds biodiversity information forum. Organizations present during the forum were: ASEAN management training for Secretariat, GIZ, KfW, United Nations Development Pro- Brunei Darussalam gramme, Delegation of the European Union to the Philip- pines, Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity, AS part of the continuing collaboration between the ASEAN Partnerships in Environmental Management of the Seas of Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the Government of Bru- East Asia, Myanmar’s Ministry of Environmental Conserva- nei Darussalam, the Third Training Programme on Clear- tion and Forestry, Philippines’ Department of Environment ing-House Mechanism (CHM) Maintenance and Data Man- and Natural Resources, and Department of Foreign Affairs. agement was held on October 28 to November 2, 2013 in Bandar Seri Begawan. The course, which was part of ACB’s capacity building support to Brunei Darussalam in the area of biodiversity information management, focused on web administration and management and data organization. The event served as follow-up to two previously-held biodiversity information management training courses, which resulted in the establishment of the Brunei Darussalam national CHM website: http://www.bruneichm.gov.ph. The third training course strengthened capacities of CHM staff and CHM stakeholders’ network of Brunei Darussalam to maintain and enhance their CHM website, as well as comply with reporting requirements of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Staff of ACB’s Biodiversity and Information Management unit, led by its director, Dr. Sheila Vergara, served as resource persons. ACB holds dialogue with donors and partners

WITH the aim of briefing the donor community on the importance of the ASEAN region’s biodiversity and identifying means towards sustainability, ACB organized a Partners’ Forum on October 4, 2013 in Tagaytay City, Philippines. Atty. Roberto Oliva, ACB Executive Director, appealed to donors and partners to support ACB in its mandate to promote regional cooperation in biodiversity conservation as “all our efforts today will contribute to the survival of future generations”. Undersecretary for Field Operations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines, Mr. Demetrio Ignacio, Jr., said it is in the interest of the Philip-

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ASEAN declares Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve as 33rd ASEAN Heritage Park MINISTERS responsible for the environment from the ten ASEAN Member States have approved the nomination of Mount Makiling For- est Reserve (MMFR) as ASEAN’s 33rd Heritage Park. The nomination was approved at the 14th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment held on September 25, 2013 in Surabaya, Indonesia. The declaration was officially announced by Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje of the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Re- sources in his keynote address during the four-day Fourth ASEAN Heri- tage Parks (AHP) Conference which opened in Tagaytay City, Philippines on October 1, 2013. MMFR in Los Baños, Laguna joins four other AHPs in the Philippines, which include Mt. Apo Natural Park, Los Banos (UPLB), whose campus is at the MMFR, said Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natu- the reserve is home to internationally famous organiza- ral Park, and Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park. tions of various concerns and has become a unique na- In approving the nomination, the ASEAN Environment tional and international center for higher education, sci- Ministers noted that MMFR is a well-known destination ence, arts, natural resources conservation and utilization, for scientists and tourists alike, because of the reserve’s and tourism. prominence as an outdoor laboratory for forestry and its The certiﬁ cation of declaration as an AHP was pre- mountain peaks, and boiling mud and hot springs. The sented during a ceremony held at the Makiling Botanic reserve is also recognized for its high conservation im- Gardens on October 3, 2013. The event was witnessed portance and is one of the Philippines’ 18 centers of plant by the park managers of ASEAN’s 32 ASEAN Heritage diversity and 32 key ecotourism sites. Parks. Dr. Nathaniel Bantayan, Director of the Makiling Cen- ACB serves as secretariat of the AHP Programme. ter for Mountain Ecosystems, said MMFR is known as a ACB Executive Director Roberto V. Oliva said the AHPs legendary mountain and habitat of many important plant serve as a regional network of national protected areas and animal species. The reserve manages to protect and of high conservation importance preserving a complete conserve its diverse species. spectrum of representative ecosystem to generate great- Dr. John Pulhin, Dean of the College of Forestry and er awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment, and con- Natural Resources ofthe University of the Philippines at servation of ASEAN’s rich natural heritage.

ACB launches taxonomy publications, opens AHP exhibit

THE ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), in cooperation with the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs and the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, launched new publications on taxonomy and opened an exhibit on the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) on October 14, 2013 at the UP Diliman Main Library. The events were part of the cel- ebration of the 46th founding anniversary of the ASEAN. The new publications included: Field Guide on Selected Monocot Plants of Northern Thailand and Southeast Asia; Training Manual on Freshwater and Brackish Water Fish Taxonomy; Training Manual on Biodiversity Data Organiza- Japan Integration Fund. The books were published under tion and Mapping of Taxonomic Information; Training Man- the Taxonomic Capacity Building and Governance for Con- ual on Taxonomy of Terrestrial Plants; and Training Manual servation and the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity Project in on Corals Taxonomy in Southeast Asia. partnership with the East and Southeast Asia Biodiversity The publications were products of training workshops on Information Initiative (ESABII) and Japan’s Ministry of En- taxonomy facilitated by ACB and funded by the ASEAN- vironment.

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Atty. Roberto V. Oliva, executive director of ACB, said the new publications hope to contribute to boost the dy- ing profession of taxonomy. He emphasized the importance of taxonomy in conservation efforts in the ASEAN region. “There is a dire need to revive interest in taxonomy. The diminishing status of this science and profession is crippling the ASEAN Member States’ and other Asian countries’ capacity to effectively catalogue their biological resources. We are all aware that without knowledge and understanding of species, it would be difficult to plan and implement biodiversity conservation efforts. What we don’t know, we can’t protect,” Director Oliva explained. Mr. Kentaro Yamane, Second Secretary of the Economic Section, Embassy of Japan to the Philippines, affirmed that Japan will continue to support biodiversity-related initiatives not just in the ASEAN region, but in many parts of the world According to Director Oliva, the Asia-Pacific region hosts as well. 13 biodiversity hotspots and accounts for nearly one third Copies of the new publications were turned over to UP of all threatened species in the world. “It is unfortunate that Diliman and UP Los Baños to make them accessible to tax- the environmental circumstances of the region barely as- onomists, students, teachers, researchers, scientists, and sure the persistence of its rich biodiversity. These circum- experts. stances call for interactions and partnerships on data shar- The exhibit featured the 33 ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs), ing,” Director Oliva said.He added that APBON essentially which are protected areas of high conservation importance, brings synergy in conservation of biological diversity at the preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative local, national, regional, and global levels. ecosystems of the ASEAN region. These areas are regard- Director Lim lauded AP-BON for its role in the fulfillment ed as such to generate awareness, pride, appreciation, and of the Aichi Biodiversity targets.“There is indeed a great conservation of ASEAN’s rich natural heritage through a re- challenge to promote sharing and delivery of biodiversity gional network of representative protected areas. information resources, especially in our region. The outputs UP Los Baños Chancellor Rex Victor Cruz lauded ACB of this meeting will help promote the resilience of ecosys- for its communication efforts focused on the protection of tems in the Asia-Pacific region,” Director Lim said. AHPs. He said the university will continue doing its part Director Nakayama, who initiated a silent prayer for the to protect Mount Makiling and other AHPs. UP Los Banos victims of Typhoon Haiyan, said the urgent issue is to pro- is home to the recently declared AHP, the Mount Makiling vide adequate information on biodiversity to decision-mak- Forest Reserve. ers in order to allow them to make appropriate decisions Director Julius Flores of the Department of Foreign Af- based on such information. fairs reiterated his agency’s support to the programmes Dr. Sheila Vergara, director for biodiversity information and projects of ACB. “We share the hope of the ACB that management at ACB, said the Fifth APBON Meeting en- members of the ASEAN will contribute more to protect bio- abled the members of the network to identify the gaps in diversity,” he said. biodiversity information organization and sharing; agree on Representatives from the Embassies of Cambodia, Indo- measures and partnerships to enhance biodiversity infor- nesia, Lao PDR, and Singapore also graced the event. mation sharing; and draw recommendations for systematic data sharing in the Asia-Pacific region, among others. Dr. Vergara said the APBON was established as a re- Asia-Paciﬁ c countries discuss gional network with a specific interest in supporting the biodiversity information sharing objectives of the Global Earth Observation: Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), covering most countries SHARING of biodiversity information among countries, con- of the Asia-Pacific region and all levels of biodiversity and servation organizations and relevant stakeholders took cen- ecosystems. The network’s approaches for biodiversity ob- tre stage at the Fifth Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Biodiversity servation focus on three levels: remote sensing, ecological Observation Network (AP-BON) held on November 26- 27, process research, and species/genetic research. AP-BON 2013 in Los Baños, Philippines. tries to link the outcomes of each level observation with the Hosted by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) in aim of contributing to policy-making for the conservation of collaboration with the APBON Secretariat-Ministry of En- biodiversity. The geographic coverage of AP-BON encom- vironment of Japan, the meeting discussed ways on how passes over 28 million square kilometers across several to promote sharing of biodiversity information in the Asia- time zones, experiencing the complete range of climatic Pacific region. conditions. The meeting was opened by Atty. Roberto V. Oliva, ex- “The rich natural resources of the Asia-Pacific region ecutive director of ACB; Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, director, face ever increasing pressures and threats. The urgency of Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Philip- protecting its biodiversity calls for interactions and partner- pines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources; ships that will integrate available biodiversity information; and Mr. Ryuji Nakayama, director, Biodiversity Centre, Min- appropriately document new knowledge and discoveries in istry of Environment, Japan. species and ecosystems; and promote the exchange and

44 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org BOOKMARKS use of such information in biodiversity conservation and policy development. AP-BON promotes networking activities directed at biodiversity observation and will bring synergy in conservation of biological diversity at local, national, regional and global levels,” Dr. Vergara explained. Participants in the AP-BON meeting include: Dr. Tet- sukazu Yahara, Center for Asian Conservation Ecology, Kyushu University, Japan; Ms. Armida Andres and Ms. Sarah Jane Tagtag, PAWB, Philippines; Dr. Mariano Duya, Diliman Science Research Foundation; Dr. Tsuyoshi Ho- soya, National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan; Dr. Dedy Darnaedi, Indonesian Institute of Sciences; Dr. Mangal Man Shakya, Wildlife Watch Group, Nepal; Dr. Motomi Ito, University of Tokyo, Japan; Dr. Saw Leng AGREEMENT SIGNING. ACB Executive Director Roberto V. Guan, Forest Research Institute, Malaysia; Dr. Eun-Shik Oliva signed the ACB-KfW Agreement on 2 August 2013 at the Kim, Kookmin University; Republic of Korea; Mr. Suman ACB Headquarters, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. (from left to right: Ana Maria Tolentino, Jaiswal, International Center for Integrated Mountain De- ACB Technical Specialist/Assistant; Dicky Simorangkir, GIZ velopment, Nepal; Dr. K.N. Ganeshaiah, University of Ag- International Advisor; Dr. Sheila Vergara, ACB Biodiversity ricultural Sciences, India; Dr. Ibrahim Djamaluddin and Dr. Information Management Unit Director; Olga Caday-Asana, Yuichi Kano, Kyushu University, Japan; Dr. Keping Ma, KfW Local Expert; Atty. Roberto Oliva, ACB Executive Director; Clarissa Arida, ACB Programme Development and Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, China; Implementation Unit Director; and Dr. FilibertoPollisco Jr, ACB Dr. Edwino Fernando, University of the Philippines Los Programme Development Specialist) Banos; Ms. Emily Capuli, Fishbase Information and Re- search Group, Inc.; Dr. Benito Tan, National University of local communities directly dependent on these areas; and Singapore; Dr. Yusuke Miyazaki, Kanagawa Prefectural strengthen the role of ACB in promoting biodiversity conser- Museum of Natural History, Japan; Dr. Yukiku Hasegawa vation protection among the ASEAN Member States,” said and Dr. Norihiro Matsushima, OMC Inc., Japan; Dr. Hi- ACB Executive Director Roberto V. Oliva. A.M. Tolentino detsugu Miwa, Biodiversity Center of Japan; Dr. Takeshi Osawa, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Scienc- ASEAN launches secondment es, Japan; Ms. So Hee Lee, Kookmin University, Republic of Korea; Dr. Yu Huan Wang, Taiwan Forest Research In- programme on biodiversity stitute; and Dr. Sheila Vergara, ACB. THE ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has launched Germany grants Euro 10M a secondment programme that will enable young environmental workers from the ten ASEAN Member States for biodiversity conservation to participate in the planning and implementation of bio- in ASEAN Heritage Parks diversity conservation projects; and promote collaboration among countries in reducing the rate of biodiversity loss GERMANY, through the German Development Bank KfW, and achieving the Aichi Targets on biodiversity. will provide Euro 10 million as financial support to the The first participating country was Viet Nam which sent ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) for a five-year Small two young environmental workers to the Philippines-based Grants Programme (SGP) for Biodiversity Conservation. ACB. The grant will support biodiversity conservation in selected Norman Ramirez, capacity building specialist with ACB, ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs). said the two Vietnamese civil servants were based in the The ACB acts as Secretariat of the AHP Programme and Philippines for two months where they had an opportunity provides technical support to the ASEAN Heritage Parks. to exchange learning and experiences with biodiversity ex- AHPs are protected areas of high conservation importance, perts from ACB. preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative “The Secondment Programme provides opportunities to ecosystems in the ASEAN region. To date, 33 protected foster shared understanding and appreciation of ACB biodi- areas have been designated as AHPs. versity activities and the capacity building needs of ASEAN There are ten AHPs that will be initially covered by the SGP; three in Indonesia and seven in Myanmar. ACB will be responsible for the implementation of the project and act as the Project Executing Agency, cooperating and co- ordinating with the governments of the participating ASEAN Member States. The core problem to be addressed by the SGP is how globally important biodiversity is being threatened by unsustainable livelihoods and overexploitation of scarce natural resources in protected areas throughout the ASEAN region. “The SGP aims to improve biodiversity protection in line with the interest of local populations directly dependent on selected AHPs and adjacent areas; improve the livelihood of

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Member States; familiarize the participants on the institu- The awarding ceremony was led by Atty. Roberto V. tional setup and work processes of ACB; bolster mutual Oliva, executive director of ACB; and Dr. Berthold Seibert, learning through active exchange of information, expertise, project director of the ACB-GIZ Biodiversity and Climate and lessons learned; and enhance biodiversity coordination Change Project (BCCP). and interaction processes between ACB and the ASEAN The contest, which was conducted from December 2012 Member Stares,” Ramirez explained. to July 2013, drew public attention to the twin issues of The Vietnamese participants were welcomed by ACB biodiversity climate change, and the need for both global Executive Director Roberto V. Oliva. He said that through and local action to address these issues. the secondment programme, ACB can work in a more tar- ACB and GIZ received 798 entries from Cambodia, In- geted, demand-oriented, efficient manner through country- donesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, specific inputs that will be shared by the participants. Thailand, and Viet Nam. The Vietnamese participants were Huyen Anh Phan and The three First Prize winners are: Youth Category – Mr. Le Anh Dung, both officials at the Viet Nam Environment Dimas Dwi Adiansyah (Indonesia) for his photograph “Work- Administration (VEA). Le Anh Dung earned his degree in ing Together for the Future”; Amateur Category – Mr. Jose Bachelor of International Law at the Hanoi University of Melencio “Bimbo” M. Brillo (Philippines) for his photograph Law, and eventually obtained a Master’s degree in Science “No Fly Zone”; and Professional Category – Mr. Kyaw Kyaw in Business with Financial Management from the Northum- Winn (Myanmar) for his photograph “Hope.” bria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom. He works at The other winners include: Student Category, 2nd Prize the Biodiversity Conservation Agency at the VEA, Ministry – Mr. Jan Brendan Singlador (Philippines) for his entry of Natural Resources and Environment. “Mangrove Planting”; Amateur Category, 2nd Prize – Mr. Phan Anh Huyen, who also works at the VEA, finished AldrinCuadra (Philippines) for his entry “Hopeful”; Amateur her degree in Biology at the Hanoi University of Science, Category, 3rd Prize – Mr. Aditya Nugraha (Indonesia) for and Master of Science in Environmental Assessment and his entry “Mudskipper Fight”; Professional Category, 2nd Management at the University of East Anglia, England. Be- Prize – Mr. Nikki Sandino Victoriano (Philippines) for his fore joining the VEA, she worked for the Vietnam Young entry “Man-made Forest”; and 3rd Prize – Fahreza Ahmad Physicians Association in Hanoi. (Indonesia) for the photo entitled “Flood.” Mr. Wilfredo Leonado won the People’s Choice Award Winners of Zooming in on for his entry “Surviving Drought,” which bagged the highest number of likes on Facebook. A total of US$4,000 was Biodiversity and Climate Change received by winners in all categories. photo tilt announced “Biodiversity loss and climate change pose a daunting challenge to the ASEAN region and the rest of the world. To address these issues, we need all hands on deck. This First Prize winners photo contest has given us the opportunity to engage professional, amateur and student photographers in generating awareness for biodiversity and climate change. Their photos will be used as educational tools so that people may learn about these key issues,” Atty. Oliva said.

Other winners Student Category Mr. Dimas Dwi Adiansyah (Indonesia) Working together for the future

Student Category Amateur Category Professional 2nd Prize 2nd Prize Category Mr. Jan Brendan Mr. Aldrin Cuadra 2nd Prize Singlador (Philippines) Mr. Nikki Sandino (Philippines) Hopeful Victoriano Professional Category Mangrove Planting (Philippines) Mr. Kyaw Kyaw Winn Man-made Forest Amateur Category (Myanmar) Mr. Jose Melencio Hope “Bimbo” M. Brillo (Philippines) No Fly Zone

THE ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and GIZ an- Amateur Category Professional People’s Choice nounced the winners of the ASEAN-wide photo contest 3rd Prize Category Award Mr. Aditya Nugraha 3rd Prize Mr. Wilfredo “Zooming in on Biodiversity and Climate Change” at the 4th (Indonesia) Fahreza Ahmad Leonardo ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference on October 1, 2013 in Mudskipper Fight (Indonesia) Surviving Drought Tagaytay City, Philippines. Flood

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According to Dr. Berthold Seibert, BCCP project director, the crucial relationship between biodiversity and climate is INTERNATIONAL NEWS among the least understood, yet one of the most important. “The lack of knowledge often translates to indifference and lack of action. The winning photos have captured the ur- International treaty on gent need to address biodiversity loss and climate change,” biosafety marks 10th year he explained. UNDER the theme, 10 Years of Promoting Safety in the Use Looking for youth volunteers of Biotechnology, the international community marked the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the international for biodiversity agreement governing the movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) across national borders – the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The Protocol entered into force on September 11, 2003, ninety days after 50 countries agreed to be bound by it. As a supplementary treaty to the Convention on Biologi- cal Diversity, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety aims to ensure the safe handling, transfer and use of LMOs resulting from modern biotechnology, commonly known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that may have adverse effects on biological diversity. Modern biotechnology has potentials to improve human well-being, for example, through enhancing agricultural productivity, but there is concern about potential risks that LMOs may pose to biological diversity and human health. The Cartagena Protocol is the global community’s response to this concern. The Cartagena Protocol provides a framework that can enable humans to derive maximum benefit from modern biotechnology without compromising the en- THE ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) encourages youth vironment and human health. organizations and individuals from the ten ASEAN Mem- Over the past 10 years, a lot of progress has been made ber States to join the Global Youth Biodiversity Network’s towards the implementation of the Protocol. Today, over (GYBN). Atty. Roberto V. Oliva, executive director of ACB, 100 countries have developed national legal frameworks said joining GYBN will provide a vehicle for young people and administrative systems tailored to handle applications to voice out their views and opinions and contribute to the and facilitate decision-making regarding the export and im- global efforts to conserve biodiversity. port of LMOs. These systems require risk assessments to The GYBN Steering Committee said that free member- be conducted to inform any decisions on the imports of ship registration is ongoing. GYBN is an international net- LMOs. Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Protocol have work of youth organizations and individuals from all over also developed systems to ensure that LMOs are handled, the world whose common goal is to prevent the loss of packaged and transported across borders under safe biodiversity. As an officially recognized youth constituency, conditions. At the international level, a robust information GYBN is representing the voice of global youth in the ne- exchange mechanism on LMOs, the Biosafety Clearing- gotiations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. House, is fully functional and being used as an authoritative The network raises awareness among young people of the source of information on LMOs. values of biodiversity and connects individuals and youth organizations in order to build a global coalition to halt the loss of biodiversity. Christian Schwarzer, Youth Ambassador for the UN De- cade on Biodiversity, said GYBN is committed to bringing the opinions and positions of young people into the political arena, empowering young people to take action. GYBN seeks to inspire global youth and future leaders to work for sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity for a healthy environment and society. To actively take part in GYBN, you may join its mailing list at https://listi.jpberlin.de/mailman/listinfo/gybn. You can also become a fan of GYBN on Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/thegybn. For more information about GYBN check out www.gybn.net. Further inquiries about GYBN may be sent to: [email protected]. The membership registration forms can be found here: Individu- als: http://bit.ly/gybn-indv and Organizations: http://bit.ly/ gybn-orgs.

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Another notable achievement came in 2010 with the This presents a major opportunity to greatly improve adoption by Parties of the Kuala-Lumpur Supplementary global sustainability by promoting low-carbon, resource-ef- Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Proto- ficient urban development that can reduce adverse effects col on Biosafety. The Supplementary Protocol establishes on biodiversity and improve quality of life, it says. international rules and procedures on liability and redress for potential damage resulting from the export and import From emitters to carbon sinks of LMOs. Production and consumption activities heavily concen- Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the trated in cities have contributed to some 80 percent of Convention on Biological Diversity, said: “We have certainly all greenhouse gas emissions; yet innovative solutions to come a long way. With 166 Parties, the Cartagena Protocol combating climate change will also come from cities. With is clearly one of the fastest growing treaties of the United rich biodiversity, cities have enormous potential to mitigate Nations. However, for the Protocol to be fully effective, we climate change. need to work towards achieving its universal membership Preservation of larger outlying green areas, green cor- and foster a better understanding among all stakeholders ridors that connect larger green patches, green roofs and on how the Protocol contributes to sustainable develop- “brownfields”, or land previously used for industrial purpos- ment. I call upon all countries that have not yet done so to es or certain commercial uses, can also be used as carbon fast track their national processes to ratify or accede to the sinks rather than emission sources. Cartagena Protocol and its Supplementary Protocol on Li- The Japanese district of Yokohama, for instance, which ability and Redress as soon as possible.” emitted almost 20 million tons of CO2 in 2007, has recognized the importance of biodiversity in stabilizing the local climate. Revenues from a new tax system have since been Maintaining rich biodiversity used to conserve green areas, and roof tops and walls were in and around cities is possible fitted with greenery. Yokohama now aims to reduce per and can improve global capita carbon emissions by at least 60 percent by 2050. What is important, according to the assessment, is to sustainable development develop and incorporate already existing green spaces into the functional infrastructure of a city. (MONTREAL/New “The innovation lies not so much in developing new in- York, 4 October frastructural technologies but to work with what we already 2013) – Increasing have. The results are often far cheaper and more sustain- urbanization over the able as well,” said Professor Thomas Elmqvist, scientific next decades pres- editor of the assessment. ents not only unprec- Dr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary edented challenges of the CBD, added that “the sphere of influence of city lead- for humanity, but ers goes well beyond urban habitats. The decisions taken also opportunities to by local authorities affect ecosystems near and elsewhere, curb climate change, with important feedback effects. By taking the steps to reduce water scarci- conserve and sustainably use biodiversity, local authorities ty, and improve food can ensure that biodiversity will continue to provide cities security, according and their inhabitants with much needed services including to the world’s first freshwater, clean air, food security and protection and re- global assessment silience against extreme weather, floods and other environ- on the relationship mental risks.” between urbanization and biodiversity Biodiversity increases food security loss, released today in New York. Among a number of other important points, the assess- The assessment, entitled Cities and Biodiversity Outlook ment also highlights the potential for cities to become more (CBO), argues that cities should facilitate for a rich biodi- self-reliant when it comes to securing sufficient access to versity and take stewardship of crucial ecosystem services water and food. rather than being sources of large ecological footprints. The “Cities need to learn how to better protect and enhance volume of research was produced by Stockholm Resilience biodiversity, because there is a direct relationship between Centre together with the Secretariat of the Convention on biodiversity and food security in cities,” Elmqvist said. Biological Diversity (CBD), in partnership with UN-Habitat The study highlights a wide range of successful initiatives and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability. by cities, local authorities, and sub-national governments in The detailed scientific foundation of the CBO, Urbaniza- both developed and developing countries. tion, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Challenges and For instance, Kampala, the capital and Uganda’s largest Opportunities – A Global Assessment, which was launched city, has found a way to preserve its vast and highly vis- today in New York as part of local celebrations to mark ible agriculture, even in densely populated areas. Similarly, World Habitat Day, has involved more than 200 scientists Cuba has since 1987 focused on urban and suburban ag- worldwide. It states that over 60 percent of the land pro- riculture to counter its crisis of lack of imports as well as jected to become urban by 2030 has yet to be built. It fur- malnutrition and iron deficiency in the population. ther states that if current trends continue, 70 percent of the “This locally based approach looks at ways to build di- global urban population will be urban by 2050. verse supplies of food close to population centers and to

48 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org BOOKMARKS strengthen local decision-making and management of food for over two billion production,” Elmqvist said. people. But every He argues that development of urban food systems year, over 12 million needs to be considered on neighborhood level, city level productive hectares and city-region level – but it needs to come with proper are transformed into legislation, training and financial support or economic in- wasteland through centives. Without this, Elmqvist warns, sustainable food desertification and systems in urban areas remain on paper only. drought alone.” The book is a more detailed scientific background to the She called attention to links between ecosystem col- shorter report Cities and Biodiversity Outlook – Action and lapse and political instability or conflict, and said, “Either we Policy, which was launched at the UN CBD COP11 in Hy- take the measures needed to enhance resilience and en- derabad, October 2012. able land-dependent communities to adapt or we prepare for the political consequences of our inaction. The choice Coral Triangle Atlas presents is ours and 2014 is the year we are calling on every country to do its part.” maps of regional change The theme of ecosystem-based adaptation will include a focus on issues related to land and soil in the context of climate change adaptation and food security. The focus will also seek to mobilize public action for sustainable land management. UNCCD News IFPRI considers socioeconomic impacts of GM crops

THE International Food Policy Re- search Institute (IFPRI) has published a report offering guidance to practitioners, regulators, policymakers and researchers on incor- porating socioeconomic considerations in biosafety regulations and THE Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and approval processes for genetically Food Security (CTI) has released an online GIS database modified (GM) crops. of maps on environmental and economic change in the The report, titled Socioeco- coastal and marine zones of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua nomic Considerations in Biosafety New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. Decision-making: Methods and The Coral Triangle (CT) Atlas (http://ctatlas.reefbase. Implementation, notes the need org/) presents decades worth of fisheries, biodiversity, nat- for new methods to account for ural resources and socio-economic information. The Atlas socioeconomic considerations of GM crops after Indonesia, was developed through collaboration between WorldFish, South Africa and other developing country partners to the The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Con- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety have opted to go beyond servation and the International Union for Conservation of the risk assessment requirements under Article 26.1 of the Nature, and was supported by the US Government’s US Protocol to include socioeconomic considerations in the CTI Support Programme. The future success of the Atlas as development of their national biosafety regulatory systems. a management planning tool will be contingent on the en- Individual chapters in the report explore the socioeco- gagement of the CTI partner countries in contributing and nomic considerations of GM crops in a number of Ugan- validating data. Long-term maintenance will be the respon- dan cases, including potential constraints on technological sibility of WorldFish, which is a member of the Consultative delivery and adoption, economic impacts on farmers, and Group on International Agricultural Research. ISSD News alternatives for the coexistence of GM and organic crops. The cases take into account the national institutional and sectoral contexts of Uganda to underline critical consid- UNCCD sets theme for 2014 World erations for the socioeconomic assessment of GM crops. Day to Combat Desertiﬁ cation These encompass: the stage of the regulatory process at which such assessments should be included; the proper THE Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Deserti- scope of analysis; and relevant procedures for their inclu- fication (UNCCD) has announced that, on June 17, 2014, sion in the decision-making process. the World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) will focus The report highlights the need to address the particular on the theme of ecosystem-based adaptation with the slo- budgetary, human resource, and time constraints develop- gan Land belongs to the future, let’s climate proof it! ing countries face in the implementation of socioeconomic In announcing the selection of the theme, Monique Bar- assessments. The report further recommends tools and but, UNCCD Executive Secretary, highlighted that, “Land methods that can deliver robust results while not adding ad- is the basis of all life on Earth and the source of livelihood ditional costs and delays to the regulatory process. Specific

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 49 BOOKMARKS recommendations include: collection of ex-ante information awareness on the value of biodiversity for human well-be- on the institutional setting relevant to the technology’s de- ing around the world, as well as to communicate efforts ployment; careful selection of sites for ex-post farm-level made in support of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011- analyses; and the use of a range of values when evaluating 2020 and the implementation of the three objectives of the uncertain prices, yields, or other factors. Convention. It also offers an opportunity to highlight other related issues of relevance not only for Island States but IDB 2014 to focus on island biodiversity for Parties to the Convention that have island ecosystems as part of their national biodiversity heritage, including climate change, marine and coastal biodiversity, invasive alien THE Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity species, species threatened with extinction, tourism and (CBD) is pleased to announce that the theme of the Inter- biodiversity including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets on ma- national Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) on 22 May 2014 rine protected areas, as well as cross-cutting issues such will be“Island Biodiversity”. The theme carries special sig- as traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use of nificance, coinciding with the designation by the United Na- biodiversity, community conservation areas and others. tions General Assembly of 2014 as the “International Year of Small Island Developing States”. In addition, the theme was chosen to correspond with Ocean acidity is increasing Decision XI/15, Paragraph 1 in which the Conference of the at an unprecedented rate Parties to the CBD “urges Parties, and invites other Gov- ernments, financial institutions and other relevant organizations to strengthen the implementation of the programme of work on island biodiversity”. Islands and their surrounding near-shore marine areas constitute unique ecosystems often comprising many plant and animal species that are endemic − found nowhere else on Earth. The legacy of a unique evolutionary history, these ecosystems are irreplaceable treasures. They are also key to the livelihood, economy, well-being and cultural identity of 600 million islanders − one-tenth of the world’s population. The theme provides a unique opportunity to strengthen existing initiatives such as the Micronesia Challenge, the Caribbean Challenge Initiative, the Coral Triangle Initiative, THE unprecedented rate of ocean acidification is one of the and the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, and new initiatives most alarming phenomena generated by climate change including the Western Indian Ocean Coastal Challenges, and the only way to mitigate the dangers it represents con- the proposed Maldives UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and sists in reducing CO2 emissions significantly. This is the the development of the Charter on the Conservation and conclusion of the summary of the Third Symposium on the Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity on European Islands Ocean in a High CO2 World (Monterey, USA, September under the Bern Convention on the Conservation of Euro- 2012) which were presented at the Conference on Climate pean Wildlife and Natural Habitats. Change taking place in Warsaw (Poland), November 11-22, It is also important to note that the Third International 2013. Conference on Small Island Developing States will take The document represents the conclusions of 540 ex- place on September 1-4, 2014 in Apia, Samoa, providing perts from 37 countries reflecting the latest research on the an ideal forum to highlight the important work being carried subject. It was prepared by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental out in the context of the programme of work on island bio- Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the Scientific Commit- diversity by Parties and stakeholders. tee on Ocean Research (SCOR), and the International Geo- The International Day for Biological Diversity provides an sphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). opportunity to communicate and involve the public to build It emerges that all the oceans, which together absorb close to one quarter of CO2 emissions generated by human activity, have experienced an overall 26 percent rise in acidity since the dawn of the industrial age. Twenty-four million tons of CO2 are absorbed by the seas daily and, if current emission rates are maintained, the level of the ocean acidity worldwide will rise by 170 percent before 2100, compared to the pre-industrial age. As acidity increases, the ocean’s ability to process at- mospheric CO2 emissions declines, reducing their ability to mitigate climate change. This phenomenon is all the more worrying in view of other threats to marine ecosystems such as rising water temperatures, overfishing, and pollution. While sea grass and some phytoplankton species seem able to cope with higher acidity, other organisms, such as corals and crustaceans are likely to be severely affected.

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Substantial changes in marine ecosystems are expected the regional economy. and they are likely to have a major socioeconomic impact. “Capturing the economic and cultural values of marine Experts expect seashell fisheries to lose some $130 billion natural capital through the valuation of ecosystem services, annually, if current CO2 emissions remain unchanged. and quantifying the cost of lost services due to environ- While expertise regarding the effects of CO2 on the ma- mental degradation, has enormous potential. We can trans- rine environment has grown, it remains difficult to provide form the development and stewardship of coastal areas by reliable projections regarding its impact on whole ecosys- translating ecological value into financial terms for local tems. Questions still to be answered include: Will some of stakeholders and policy makers,” said Marea Hatziolos, the species that will have disappeared be replaced? Will Senior Environmental Specialist and the World Bank’s team some be able to adapt? leader for the project. For this reason, scientists are pleading in favor of initia- “This wealth of natural capital has the potential to be a tives that will enable them to learn more about acidification, major driver of inclusive green growth in the region, if we such as the Ocean Acidification Network co-founded by the overcome some huge challenges. We especially need bet- IOC and the International Ocean Carbon Coordination Proj- ter resource governance regimes, measures to adequately ect (IOCCP) set up by the IOC and SCOR. value the environment for current and future generations They also call for the establishment of international when calculating economic benefits, and good scientific mechanisms capable of handling specific questions regard- information to inform decision making and tradeoffs,” she ing ocean acidification so as to ensure that they receive added. the attention they deserve in climate change negotiations. The world’s biodiversity epicenter lies within the Coral Tri- UNESCO News angle – an area that extends from the northern Philippines to Malaysia in the west, East Timor to the South, Eastern Threatened marine ecosystems Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to the East and trailing off to the Solomon Islands toward the Southeast. Here, cor- get boost from US$4.5 million al reefs are most abundant and diverse and support large grant from GEF populations of people who are highly dependent on coral reef fisheries for the livelihoods and food security. In the THE World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has ap- Western and Central Pacific, healthy coral reefs and man- proved a project to support the Capturing Coral Reef and groves form the first critical line of defense against storm Related Ecosystem Services Project, with US$4.5 million in surge and sea-level rise for low lying islands and atolls. grant funding provided by the Global Environment Facility The GEF grant will be administered by the Global Change (GEF). This regional project will design innovative models Institute of the University of Queensland. for valuing mangrove, sea grass, and coral reef ecosystems The University is contributing US$2 million in additional services to inform policy- and decision-making for improved financing and research partners will provide another $3.9 environmental stewardship of these critical resources. million in contributions. An additional $21.9 million in paral- The project focuses on Indonesia and the Philippines, lel co-financing is provided by World Bank-financed proj- where coral reefs and related ecosystem services are criti- ects: the Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Pro- cal to livelihoods, food security, and climate resilience, and gram-Coral Triangle Initiative (COREMAP-CTI) in Indonesia includes activities to quantify the value and market potential and the Rural Development Project in the Philippines. of coral reef and mangrove ecosystem services; forge com- WB, GEF News Releases munity-led innovation in capturing and sustaining benefits from marine eco-system services and enhancing resilience Biodiversity meeting afﬁ rms key role of in the face of climate change; and promote behavior change through outreach and widely disseminate scientific informa- traditional knowledge in implementing tion to inform policy- and decision-making. the UN biodiversity convention Coastal and marine resources and their associated ecosystem services in the region are linked to globally impor- (MONTREAL, 12 October 2013) – Governments and indig- tant marine biodiversity and underpin an enormous part of enous and local communities at the Eighth Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Re- lated Provisions, held in Montreal, Canada, have reaffirmed the need to recognize and integrate traditional knowledge (TK) systems of indigenous and local communities into the future work of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including its Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Re- sources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Aris- ing from their Utilization. The Eight Meeting of Article 8(j) concluded Friday, 11 Oc- tober 2013, with recommendations for work that will build knowledge networks, support capacity-development, and integrate TK and customary practices of indigenous and local communities into the science base of the work of the CBD. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, CBD Executive Secre- tary, said: “Throughout the years, this Working Group has

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 51 BOOKMARKS raised the profile of indigenous and local community issues in the framework of the Convention and beyond and has REGIONAL NEWS given them an opportunity to contribute actively to the work of the CBD for the benefit of all.” The main outcomes of the meeting include: ASEAN environment ministers support • Governments are encouraged to provide support to 10-year framework on sustainable the recently founded World Indigenous Network, now consumption and production housed with the Equator Initiative of the United Na- tions Development Programme, to permit the devel- AT the 14th Informal ASEAN Ministerial opment of a global network for knowledge and cul- Meeting on the Environment (IAMME) tural exchanges for conservation and sustainable use held in Surabaya, Indonesia on of biological diversity. September 25, 2013, ASEAN envi- • A plan of action on customary sustainable use of biodi- ronment ministers released a joint versity, to provide ways to integrate customary practices statement on the implementation of that support sustainable natural resource management sustainable consumption and pro- into biodiversity management strategies at all levels, duction (SCP) in the ASEAN region. was endorsed. This global plan of action will positively The Ministers affirmed the importance contribute to poverty alleviation, as well as provide a of the implementation of sustainable consumption and pro- substantive contribution to global discussions on the duction as an objective of sustainable development. They post-2015 sustainable development agenda. recognized that the ASEAN is a dynamic community and • Community-based monitoring and information sys- SCP is fundamental to sustaining development and achiev- tems were welcomed as part of the overall indicators ing prosperity in the region. However, they also acknowl- work of the CBD and accompanied by a call for further edged that additional policy support and public and pri- work for capacity development and for efforts to inte- vate sector investments in capacity building on technical grate TK into the systems to monitor progress. skills and institutional competency are needed to address • Results of an in-depth dialogue on “Connecting TK environmental, social, and economic aspects of SCP. The systems and science, such as under the IPBES, in- Ministers thus encouraged relevant stakeholders in ASEAN, cluding gender dimensions” will be taken into account including private sector and civil society, to enhance their in the work of the Convention, and will also be trans- contribution to sustainable development by continuously mitted to the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity building their capacities, implementing best practices for and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The meeting invited sustainable consumption and production, and promoting the IPBES to look at the contributions of community- exemplary regional cooperation of the 10-Year Framework based information and monitoring systems and mul- of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Produc- tiple evidence based approaches to biodiversity data. tion (10YFP) activities. • It was decided to begin the process of developing At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Devel- draft voluntary guidelines for the repatriation of TK opment, Heads of State strengthened their commitment to related to the conservation and sustainable use of accelerate the shift towards SCP patterns with the adoption biodiversity. Guidelines will be developed based on of the 10-YFP. The 10YFP is a global framework of action consultations with indigenous and local communities, to enhance international cooperation to accelerate the shift the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural towards SCP in both developed and developing countries. Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organi- The framework supports capacity building, and provides zation, and other organizations. The information will technical and financial assistance to developing countries be considered at the next meeting of Article 8(j) with for this shift. The 10YFP will develop, replicate and scale a view to assisting indigenous and local communities up SCP and resource efficiency initiatives, at national and with restoration of knowledge systems and culture. regional levels, decoupling environmental degradation and • Participants agreed to advance work on several tasks resource use from economic growth, and thus enhancing that will contribute to work under the Convention and the net contribution of economic activities to poverty eradi- the Nagoya Protocol. These tasks will support the de- cation and social development. velopment of voluntary guidelines for prior informed consent and equitable sharing of the beneﬁ ts arising from the use of TK, with the full and effective participa- Asia Parks Congress concludes tion of indigenous and local communities, that will be with pledge for new era used to assist Parties and Governments in the development of legislation or other mechanisms for the effective in protected area collaboration implementation of Article 8(j) and its related provisions. • The Meeting also urged Parties and other Govern- (19 November 2013) - The first ever pan-Asia gathering on ments to recognize, support and encourage the de- the region’s national parks and protected areas concluded velopment of local sui generis systems by indigenous with a pledge for stronger collaboration that will capture the and local communities, including through the devel- energy of the current Asia boom to ensure that protected opment of community protocols, as part of national areas contribute to human progress while conserving bio- action plans for the protection, preservation and pro- diversity. motion of TK within national biodiversity strategies The Sendai Charter for Asia’s Protected Areas was ad- and action plans. SCBD News opted by more than 800 delegates from 46 countries com-

52 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org BOOKMARKS ing together in Sen- IUCN World Parks Congress. Held only once every ten dai, Japan to help years, the IUCN World Parks Congress is the premier event chart a future for for protected areas, and sets the agenda for their conser- protected areas and vation for the decade to come. Next year’s theme, Parks, their contributions People, Planet – Inspiring Solutions, will build on the Asia to human well-being Parks Congress to further articulate the vital role that pro- in the world’s fastest tected areas play in conserving nature while also delivering growing region. essential ecosystem services and contributing to the goals The Charter supports two other meeting outcomes – a of economic and community well-being in the post-2015 youth declaration on protected areas and a message to development agenda. IUCN News next year’s IUCN World Parks Congress in Sydney, Aus- tralia, calling for action on some of Asia’s and the world’s Workshop highlights initiatives most pressing challenges including disaster risk reduction and recovery, human health, sustainable economic devel- on wetlands and migratory opment, and climate change. birds ﬂ yway sites “Protected areas are much more than just beautiful places,” says Scott Perkin, Head of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conser- vation Programme, Asia. “They conserve biodiversity; store carbon; buffer us from natural hazards; provide food, water and fibers; and stimulate local economies. It is our hope that the Sendai Charter and the other important calls to action resulting from the Congress will help to raise the profile of protected areas in the region and highlight the vital role they play in supporting human well-being.” The Congress, which was hosted by the Ministry of the Environment Japan and organized by IUCN and the Minis- try, focused in part on Sanriku Fukko (fukko is “reconstruction” in Japanese) National Park, a new protected area that has risen from the devastation of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that is seeding hope for local people and communities. The project is Japan’s most ambitious “Green Reconstruction Project” – a philosophy of revitalization for the rugged and scenic north-eastern Japanese coast. San- MANAGERS of wetlands and migratory birds flyway sites in riku Fukko is not only rehabilitating natural areas, but also Asian countries gathered in Manila to share good practices providing opportunities for local culture, lifestyles and busi- in managing and conserving wetlands of international im- nesses to thrive. The park’s rise is emblematic of protected portance, and of migratory waterbirds and their habitats. areas’ potential to support both successful conservation The “Asian Regional Workshop on the Management of and sustainable development. Wetlands and Flyway Sites” was held on September 24- The Congress wrapped up with agreement from del- 27, 2013 at the Asian Institute of Management Conference egates to take the example of Sanriku Fukko, in addition Center in Makati City, Philippines. The four-day event was to the Sendai Pledge and other outcomes, forward to the spearheaded by the Society for the Conservation of Philip- pine Wetlands, Inc., in cooperation with the Protected Ar- eas and Wildlife Bureau of the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Ramsar Conven- tion Bureau, the Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia, and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership. During the workshop, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) presented its initiatives on protected area management, including its support to wetland conservation and sustainable use in the ASEAN region through the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) Programme. The AHP Programme is anchored on the ASEAN Dec- laration on Heritage Parks of 1983 which defined the proposed criteria and guidelines for the selection, establishment and management of protected areas in the region. In 1984, the Declaration on AHPs and Reserves was issued and the ASEAN Member States established the AHPs to generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment and conservation of the ASEAN region’s rich natural heritage. “As part of the AHP Programme, ACB provides support on awareness raising and capacity building of critical wetlands sites such as the Tasek Merimbun National Park

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 53 BOOKMARKS in Brunei Darussalam; Lorentz National Park in Indonesia; much of the work in this area and succeeded in focusing Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, Indawgyi Lake Wildlife international policy attention on the economic contribution Sanctuary and Inle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Myanmar; of ecosystems and biodiversity. Valuation has been wide- Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Singapore; and Ao Phang ly accepted in the environment community, but engaging Nga-Mu Koh Surin-Mu Koh Similan Marine National Parks ministries of finance and economic planning agencies in and Meinmhala Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand, ” Ms. dialogue about growth and ecosystem services remains a Clarissa Arida, Director of the Programme Development challenge. and Implementation Unit of ACB, explained. One part of the solution to this problem lies in policy On-the-ground support to AHPs are piloted through the making that takes into account the full value of ecosys- ACB-GIZ Biodiversity and Climate Change Pilot Project. tem services. Another part lies in the regular production ACB is also implementing an ASEAN Small Grants Pro- and dissemination of macro-economic aggregates which gramme, funded by KfW, in AHPs in Myanmar and Indo- reflect environmental changes. Both these strategies are nesia. vital and complement each other. Valuation is an integral part of accounting; though it also has an independent role Asia-Paciﬁ c policy makers in decision making for individual projects. Robust valuation of ecosystem services, together with an understanding of discuss valuing and the limits of economic valuation, is important for designing accounting for the environment projects. The wealth of a nation is broadly defined to include SOME 80 senior policy makers and analysts from the Asia- produced capital, natural capital, human and institutional Pacific region participated in a workshop on valuing and ac- capital and net foreign financial assets. If wealth is decreas- counting for the environment. Held on October 8-10, 2013 ing, for example from depletion or degradation of natural at the UN Convention Centre in Bangkok, the workshop capital, then a country will not be able to sustain its current brought together senior government policy makers and level of income. This reality is not given attention in policy statisticians, along with representatives of relevant interna- discussions. tional organizations and the academe, and experts on envi- The event was organized by the United Nations Environ- ronmental and national income accounting and ecology, to ment Programme, the South Asian Network for Develop- discuss approaches to augment existing macroeconomic ment and Environment, and the UN Economic and Social aggregates. Commission for Asia and the Pacific; and supported by the The workshop illustrated how inclusive wealth including ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Economy and Environment natural capital should be an integral part of the Systems Programme for Southeast Asia, Wealth Accounting and the of National Accounts (SNA) of countries; elucidated cur- Valuation of Ecosystems Programme, Asian Development rent efforts that integrate environmental considerations into Bank Greater Mekong Subregion Core Environment Pro- national accounts at the international level, both within the gramme, United Nations Statistics Division, United Nations UN system and in specific countries; brainstormed on how Development Programme, GIZ, Indian Society for Ecologi- to implement the System of Environmental-Economic Ac- cal Economics; World Bank, and the Central Statistical Or- counting (SEEA) Central Framework and to take forward ganization of India. the Experimental Ecosystem Accounts of SEEA in individual countries; illustrated how valuation of ecosystem services 14th IAMME and COP9 on transboundary can improve public policy decision making; reviewed methods for valuing ecosystem services and identify policy and haze pollution held in Indonesia capacity needs for valuation; and identified ways to develop valuation skills and macro-economic aggregates, other MINISTERS responsible for the environment from ASEAN than Gross Domestic Product, to measure progress at the Member States held their 14th Informal ASEAN Ministerial country level. Meeting on the Environment (IAMME) and 9th Meeting of The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005, an in- the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on depth assessment of the state of ecosystems of the world, Transboundary Haze Pollution on September 25, 2013 in revealed that approximately 60 percent of the ecosystem Surabaya, Indonesia. The Ministers reviewed regional co- services that support life on Earth – such as fresh water, operation on a number of environmental issues, in particu- capture fisheries, air and water regulation, and the regula- lar the related actions in the environmental sustainability tion of regional climate, natural hazards and pests – are section of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) being degraded or used unsustainably. Scientists warn Blueprint, and discussed new initiatives to further promote that the harmful consequences of this degradation could regional environmental cooperation. grow significantly worse in the next 50 years. “Any progress The Ministers reviewed national, sub-regional and region- achieved in addressing the goals of poverty and hunger al activities to address land and forest fires, including trans- eradication, improved health, and environmental protection boundary haze pollution. They welcomed the significant is unlikely to be sustained if most of the ecosystem services progress in the implementation of the Work Programme of on which humanity relies continue to be degraded,” said the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, the study. including concrete on-the-ground activities; the progress In the years since then, considerable progress in the in the development of the ASEAN-wide Fire Danger Rat- measurement and valuation of ecosystem services has ing System; implementation of the ASEAN Peatland Man- been made. The recently concluded study on ‘The Econom- agement Strategy (2006-2020); and the implementation of ics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity’ (TEEB) pulled together the Strategic Review on Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering

54 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org BOOKMARKS

mongabay.com

Committee (MSC) on Transboundary Haze Pollution pro- the United Nations Treaty Event, bring to 25 the total num- grammes. The Ministers also adopted the updated ASEAN ber of ratifications to the ground-breaking treaty under the Peatland Management Strategy (2006-2020). Because of umbrella of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). an expected increase in hotspot activities leading to the This is half of the 50 ratifications needed for the Protocol to occurrence of transboundary haze, the Ministers agreed to enter into force. recommend the adoption of the ASEAN Sub-Regional Haze Indonesia is the fourth mega-diverse country and the Monitoring System (HMS) as a joint haze monitoring system second ASEAN Member State (AMS) to ratify the Nagoya among countries. Protocol. Executive Director Roberto V. Oliva said the first Other highlights of the 14th IAMME include the adoption AMS to ratify the Protocol was Lao PDR. The commitment of the ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan 2014- to the Protocol by countries that hold vast stores of bio- 2018 as the successor plan to the ASEAN Environmental logical diversity demonstrates the potential for access and Education Action Plan 2008-2012, to serve as a guiding benefit-sharing to contribute to sustainable development document to continue promoting sustainable development and increased knowledge of the value of natural resources through environmental education and public participation. while providing the conditions for continuous research on The Ministers released an ASEAN Joint Statement on Sus- and development of genetic resources. tainable Consumption and Production to express their com- Norway became the first developed country to ratify the mitment to strengthen cooperation within ASEAN and with Nagoya Protocol. The growing community of States that ASEAN Dialogue Partners, relevant UN Agencies, and other has ratified this instrument highlights its importance both international partners on the implementation of the 10-Year for obtaining access to genetic resources and for sharing Framework of Programme on Sustainable Consumption benefits arising from their use. and Production. “The new ratifications have significantly added to the momentum towards entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol in time for the 12th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties Indonesia ratiﬁ es Nagoya Protocol, to the Convention, to be hosted by the Republic of Korea reaches halfway mark to entry into force in October 2014,” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, CBD Executive Secretary, adding, “We now have ratifications WITH five new ratifi- from all regions of the world, attesting to the broad sup- cations, the Nagoya port for this Protocol and its objective of contributing to the Protocol on Access conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity through to Genetic Resourc- access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits es and the Fair and arising from their use.” Equitable Sharing of The Nagoya Protocol will enter into force on the 90th day Benefits Arising from their Utilization has taken a big step after the date of deposit of the 50th instrument of ratifica- towards entry into force. The ratifications by Indonesia, tion, acceptance, approval or accession. Bhutan, Côte D’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau and Norway, during SCBD-ACB News

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 55 BIODIVERSITY NEWS SOUTHEAST ASIA

Brunei Darussalam

ISB students learn wildlife preservation. Children at International School Brunei (ISB) participated in an educational outreach programme to learn about the environment and wildlife in Brunei Darussalam. The event was the fi rst of a series planned for schoolchildren around Brunei which was themed Dare to Reach. to learn about conservation and Darussalam organized by the Care to Save took place on October monitoring tactics of one bat Biodiversity and Natural History 27 at the government complex genus indigenous to Southeast Society (BruWILD). Activities during area at the Old Airport Road, Asia – Lyle’s Flying Fox. The the event included lessons on Berakas. Offi cials state that Brunei workshop focused on calculating collecting insects, which showed Darussalam has the highest water and conserving populations of the participants the variety and diversity consumption in the region at 450 Flying Fox, a genus found only of insect life in Brunei Darussalam; liters per person per day compared in Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet observation of animals found in the to a daily consumption of 250 Nam. The event was led by the wild, such as a collection of endemic liters in neighboring countries. The Southeast Asian Bat Conservation frogs; and discussions on how to event heightened public awareness Research Unit in collaboration protect and conserve the country’s on water conservation which is in with the Centre for Biodiversity natural heritage and biodiversity. line with World Water Day 2013’s Conservation at RUPP. Through The Brunei Times theme of the International Year of pollination and seed distribution, Cooperation. The Brunei Times Flying Foxes are crucial to the survival of hundreds of different Cambodia plant species such as Cambodia’s White-shouldered ibis numbers durians. Though about 15 of the more than expected. BirdLife 31 known species of Flying Foxes International Cambodia counted in Southeast Asia are considered 973 critically endangered white- threatened or endangered, the bats shouldered ibis, the largest are killed by hunters and farmers recorded population of the species using pesticides across the region. since 2009. Some roosts were The workshop was part of a series found to have between 300 and intended to grow the network of Wildlife group spots rare deadly 400 ibis. During the rainy season, scientists and others interested coral snake. The Malayan Blue the white-shouldered ibis, which in Flying Foxes who can measure Coral snake, a deadly and lethal is about 80 cm long and native to populations in areas where data is snake that is rarely found on the Southeast Asia, lives in colonies in lacking. Phnom Penh Post island of Borneo, was spotted and dry forests of palm trees that are documented by the 1stopbrunei common in Cambodia. Almost 80 Killing of endangered gaur Wildlife Club (1SB Wildlife) during an percent of the white-shouldered prompts arrests. Four unidentified excursion into one of the Ulu forests ibis live in roosts outside protected men were arrested for allegedly of Brunei. The snake was over six areas, making them vulnerable killing an endangered and pregnant feet long. The Malayan Blue Coral to habitat loss and deforestation. gaur – a species of wild bovine snake has no anti-venom as other The counts show that the Western – in a protected wildlife reserve coral snakes and is the deadliest Siem Pang Proposed Protected in Mondulkiri province. Provincial snake within its family. Forest is the most important site for authorities and conservationists in The Brunei Times this critically endangered species charge of feeding the animal were globally, with 451 individuals alerted after villagers discovered the JKR, PUJA to run, cycle to save (equal to 41 percent of the global carcass. Diminishing populations water. The Public Works Department population), followed by Lumphat of hoofed animals in Southeast (PWD) under the Ministry Wildlife Sanctuary with 298 Asia have hit epidemic proportions, Development of Brunei Darussalam individuals. However, both sites according to a report published by heeded the call to improve water are threatened by economic land the World Wide Fund for Nature. conservation in the country by concessions, which will destroy key The report stated that Cambodia raising awareness through a charity nesting and forging habitats for the has also been hit hard, with one event known as JKR REACH, which species. The Cambodia Daily of its indigenous hoofed species, stands for ‘Run, Exercise and the banteng, experiencing a 90 Cycle for Health’. The event was Bat watchers wanted. Nearly 50 percent drop in its numbers since jointly organized with the Brunei government offi cials, NGO members the 1960s. Endangered animals are Association of Surveyors, Engineers and students gathered at the Royal frequently found for sale in local and Architects (PUJA). JKR REACH, University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) markets. Phnom Penh Post

56 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org BIODIVERSITY NEWS SOUTHEAST ASIA

Indonesia Society. The discovery highlights the large amount of unknown biodiversity in the region and the importance of its conservation. Little is known about their behavior, but they are thought to be omnivorous, as the scientists found both vegetable and insect remains in their stomachs. BBC News

evidence of a two-horn Sumatran Lao PDR New fi sh discovered in Indonesia’s rhino in Kalimantan through 16 video coral reefs. Conservation traps that collected footage over Green industry development International and the Indonesian a three-month period. The video, discussed. Lao PDR held a National Biodiversity Research Centre recorded on June 23, June 30 and Workshop on Green Industry for Low announced that a new fi sh of the August 3, showed rhinos foraging Carbon Development to discuss the fl asher wrasse species with striking for food and rolling in the mud to development of a green industry orange color and rounded fi ns has lower their body temperatures. WWF by promoting the use of renewable been found in Indonesia’s coral Indonesia called on all parties in energy to reduce production capital reefs. The discovery was made in Indonesia and abroad to immediately and negative impact on environment the East Nusa Tenggara province, take part in the efforts to save rhinos and thus ensuring safety and health and has been published in the in Indonesia, particularly Sumatran protection. The government has latest Aqua, International Journal of rhinos in Kalimantan. UPI laid out a plan to promote the use Ichthyology. The species was named of renewable energy in various Paracheilinus rennyae in recognition forms including animal mass and of the scientifi c contributions of natural gas in industry, agriculture ichthyologist Renny Kurnia Hadiaty and handicraft sectors. The from the Indonesian Institute of workshop was organized by the Sciences. The fi sh is known only Cleaner Production Centre and the from reefs off southwestern Flores Industry and Handicraft Department, Island and the Komodo National and supported by the Japanese Park area. Although it is the 17th government and the United Nations known type of fl asher wrasse, it is New spiny rat discovered in Development Programme. KPL unique in both its coloration and ‘birthplace of evolution’. The Spiny especially the rounded shape of Boki Mekot Rat was found in the its dorsal and anal fi ns and tail, mountain forests of Halmahera in and genetically distinct from all the Moluccas (Maluku) archipelago. other known fl asher wrasses in the It was from these islands that Alfred Coral Triangle. Flasher wrasses Russel Wallace wrote to Charles are favorites among divers and Darwin, outlining his theory of underwater photographers due evolution. The new rat was found in to their electric blue and red color a remote, hilly region of Halmahera patterns, which are only displayed by an expedition team from the Dr. Manohak Rasachack, Head of as part of a daily mating ritual that University of Copenhagen and Industry and Handicraft Department normally occurs about an hour Indonesia’s Museum Zoologicum (center) addressing the opening before sundown. Komodo National Bogoriense. Traps were baited with ceremony for the workshop. Park, encompassing a number roasted coconut and peanut butter of islands and their surrounding and placed on tree trunks and at UN helps southern provinces build waters, is popular with divers, and burrow openings. Among their defenses against climate change. it is hoped that such discoveries will fi ndings was a previously unknown The United Nations Least Developed increase the tourism value of the rodent with coarse, brownish grey Countries Fund and United Nations park. CTV News fur on its back, and a whitish grey Developed Programme in Vientiane belly. By analyzing the rat’s DNA provided USD4.98 million to Xekong Sumatran rhinos found in and physical features such as its and Saravan when studies showed Kalimantan. The World Wide Fund skull and teeth, they determined it that the two provinces were at risk for Nature (WWF) Indonesia and was not only a new species, but an from changes in weather patterns. West Kutai administration found entirely new genus. They named The project will run from 2013 the fi rst evidence of a two-horn it Halmaheramys bokimekot after to 2016 and will build capacity Sumatran rhino in West Kutai, East nearby Boki Mekot, a mountainous among provincial, district and Kalimantan. The fi ndings were area under ecological threat due local authorities in Xekong and announced at the fi rst Asian Rhino to mining and deforestation. Saravan provinces to integrate Range States Meeting in Bandar Their fi ndings are reported in the climate change risks into their Lampung. The team obtained the Zoological Journal of the Linnean existing development planning and

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 57 BIODIVERSITY NEWS SOUTHEAST ASIA budgeting. As part of the main to plan ways and means to curtail hope that allocations to increase project, 48 small-scale infrastructure emissions and set targets for them. economic activities and outputs projects to strengthen community In Malaysia, carbon mapping is still all sectors will be underpinned by resilience to changing weather in its infancy and is mostly done the principles of sustainability and patterns will be set up. by large companies, often with respecting the limits of nature and Vientiane Times overseas owners. In 2014, a local the environment. WWF Malaysia voluntary carbon reporting scheme Guppy fi sh proven to be cheap, called MYCarbon will be launched effective tool against dengue. to encourage companies to audit Larvae-eating guppy fi sh can help their activities for GHG emissions combat the spread of dengue, and plan reduction measures. This a mosquito-borne illness giving provides companies with tools rise to hundreds of thousands of to look at their business from the severe cases including 20,000 carbon perspective so that they can deaths worldwide every year, conduct an in-house analysis of according to a trial study by the their carbon emissions. Data can be Governments of Cambodia and the used to improve effi ciency and as a Lao PDR with the support of the corporate benchmark to compare Saving the clouded leopard. Asian Development Bank (ADB) with other companies. Knowing Wildlife researchers are now and the World Health Organization this will inform and empower in a better position to draw up (WHO). The community-based companies to view their business conservation plans following the project, conducted in two districts from a sustainability standpoint capture of one of Sabah’s most in Cambodia and the Lao PDR from or even consider carbon labelling. elusive wildlife animals, the Sunda 2009 to 2011, resulted in a sharp The government hopes to get 20 clouded leopard. The 25-kg decline in mosquito larvae in water companies to participate in the male animal was trapped in the storage tanks after the tiny fi sh were pilot phase of the carbon reporting lower Kinabatangan region in introduced. Guppies eat larvae that scheme. Aside from the sources of Sabah’s east coast and released grow into mosquitoes, which in turn GHG emissions, the company should after being fi tted with a satellite bite humans and transmit dengue. also identify sinks and reservoirs tracking collar in a collaborative Dengue causes severe joint and (such as tree-planting projects) as project between the Sabah Wildlife muscle pain, headache, high fever, these will help absorb the emissions. Department and research non- and rashes and is fatal in a small The Star Online government organizations Wild proportion of cases. Around 2.5 CRU and the Danau Girang Field billion people worldwide are at risk “Green Initiatives” welcomed Centre. Information collected of contracting dengue, more than in 2014 budget. Conservation from the male leopard, including 70 percent of whom live in Asia and organizations welcomed the its movements over the next six the Pacifi c. Dengue is spread by a government’s Budget 2014 months, would enable researchers specifi c mosquito that breeds readily announcement on several green to come up with effective measures in standing water, such as found in initiatives that will be introduced in protecting the species. Sunda storage containers, fl ower pots, and in the country. These include clouded leopards are among the discarded tires. The trial showed that the setting up of the National most elusive and secretive of the guppies do not harm water quality Conservation Trust Fund; world’s wild cats, and remain one of and can survive on microscopic introduction of the Environmental, the least understood. The research organic material in the absence of Social and Government Index; programme is funded mainly by a mosquito larvae. ADB stated that National Carbon Reporting RM1.46million donation from Sime this method offers a low-cost, year- Programme or MyCarbon; Darby Foundation with additional round, safe way of reducing the investment tax allowance on green funding and support from the Atlanta spread of dengue in which the whole technology products; income tax Zoo, Houston Zoo, Recanati-Kaplan community can participate. It offers a exemption on green technology Foundation, Robertson Foundation, viable alternative to using chemicals services and systems; establishment Point Defi ance Zoo and Rufford and can reduce the scale of costly of the Malaysian Green Foundation; Foundation. The Star emergency response activities to and the government’s leadership contain epidemics. ADB by example in energy effi ciency. Myanmar Budget 2014 also announced Malaysia efforts to market Malaysia as a First electricity from waste due in venue for Social Responsible October 2014. Waste-generated Count your carbon emissions. Investment. Environmentalists electricity is expected to come online It makes business sense for stated that they would work closely by October 2014, with two waste- companies to measure their carbon with the government and related to-energy projects in the Yangon emissions, report it, and then reduce organizations to move Malaysia on Region expected to start in January it. Once a company has mapped the “green journey” and look forward 2014. A South Korean company its carbon footprint (how much is to seeing the implementation of the called Chasson International won the emitted and where), it is better able green initiatives. They also expressed tender for a compressed natural gas

58 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org BIODIVERSITY NEWS SOUTHEAST ASIA

(CNG) plant at the Htein Pin garbage part in building a “green wall” against collection site in Hlaing Tharyar storm surges. The government Township, while a joint venture is also looking at the reversion of between Zeya and Associates and abandoned government-leased Hyundai Rotem won the tender for ponds to mangroves to boost the electricity-generating plant at coastal protection, food resources, Dawei Chaung in North Dagon. The and livelihood opportunities for Htein Pin project will be implemented coastal communities. The DENR will in three years, producing 12 soon conduct ground validation to megawatts an hour in the fi rst year, pinpoint what areas are viable for 10MW in the second year, and 8MW mangrove rehabilitation and those in the third. The Dawei Chaung since Irrawaddy dolphins are for beach forest within the 20-meter project will generate 15.4MW an critically endangered. In an effort to easement zone along the shoreline hour after two years. About 1,400 boost declining dolphin numbers, as provided for in the Philippine tons of organic and inorganic waste the Ministry of Livestock and Forestry Code. DENR from Htein Pin and Dawei Chaung Fisheries created a 74-kilometer long would be used for the electricity protected area on the Ayeyarwady Salceda first Asian elected to projects, which will also promote River between Kyaukmyaung chair UN Green Climate Fund. environmental conservation. and Mingun in Sagaing Region in Joey Salceda, Governor of Albay, Myanmar Times December 2005. The protected Philippines, was elected as area also seeks to maintain the Chairman of the Board of the Green Rare species of turtles to be unique culture of cooperative fi shing Climate Fund (GCF), the fi rst Asian released in Sunderbans. A bale between humans and dolphins. to chair the prestigious body, during of a rare species of Northern River This culture is now under threat its fi fth meeting held in Paris on Terrapin or Sunderbans Batagur because of the growth in illegal October 7-10, 2013.Established turtles, which is considered critically fi shing and, in particular, fi shing by the Conference of the Parties endangered across the globe, will be with batteries. Conservationists and to the United Nations Framework released in the Sunderbans in mid- residents say that because of battery Convention on Climate Change in 2014. This is part of the conservation fi shing, dolphins are now afraid to December 2011, the GCF aims to programme of the Sunderbans Tiger approach vessels, and government help developing countries adapt to Reserve (STR), which has been offi cials have struggled to stop the the impacts of climate change. The successful in its efforts in hatching fi shermen, who are often armed and 24-member GCF board oversees the Batagur Turtles at the Sajnekhali work in groups. Myanmar Times the operation of the Fund, which Mangroves Interpretation Centre in has pledges of USD 100 billion by the Sunderbans. STR hatched 33 Philippines 2020, and approves the funding Batagur turtles in the centre in 2012, of projects in line with the Fund’s and 56 in 2013. These turtles will Coastal forest restoration eyed principles, criteria, modalities, be released in the wild two years for storm-hit areas in Eastern policies and programs. With 2014 as from the day of their hatching. Only Visayas. The Department of the target for the operationalization 15 to 20 turtles will be released to Environment and Natural Resources of the Fund, Salceda aims to make see if the turtles will be able to fi nd a (DENR) is looking at restoring the Fund work for developing suitable habitat. The Batagur turtles, mangrove and beach forests in which are found in Sunderbans some 380 kilometers of coastline forests of India, Bangladesh and in Eastern Visayas, including Leyte parts of Myanmar, have been and all other portions ravaged by declared critically endangered by the Super Typhoon Haiyan, to protect International Union for Conservation these communities against the of Nature. The Batagur turtles in devastating effects of future storms. India have undergone a sharp DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje decline in last few decades due to said the tragedy caused by Haiyan human consumption. EIN underscored the need to revive the region’s degraded coastal forests to Illegal fi shing linked to Irrawaddy make its coastlines less vulnerable dolphin deaths. Offi cials say they to extreme weather events. A believe a number of Irrawaddy massive tree-planting activity under dolphins found dead on the the government’s National Greening Ayeyarwady River this year suffered Programme may take place in injuries related to illegal fi shing. coastal areas in Tacloban City and One cause may be battery fi shing, Dulag town in Leyte; municipalities which is particularly common of Guiuan, Llorente, and Balangiga from October to May when fi shing in Eastern Samar; and the town of conditions are best. The deaths of Basey in Samar to provide livelihood the dolphins have raised concerns to residents and allow them to take

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 z ASEAN BIODIVERSITY 59 BIODIVERSITY NEWS SOUTHEAST ASIA countries, including small islands natural habitats amidst the densely Sustainable Singapore Blueprint developing states, least developed populated and highly urbanized to be reviewed. Prime Minister countries, Africa, and highly capital region can accommodate an Lee Hsien Loong has announced vulnerable communities in countries astonishing assemblage of species. that there will be a review of the like the Philippines, Indonesia, and This will hopefully be an inducement Sustainable Singapore Blueprint. Bangladesh. PNA to protect and extend such islands The blueprint, which was launched of urban biodiversity in the cities. in 2009, outlines strategies to Biodiversity where you least Science Daily achieve the twin objectives of expect it: new beetle species from economic growth and a good living a busy megacity. In an 83-hectare Singapore environment. The aim is to update green island it with new initiatives, which include amidst the Singapore’s solar-powered building more environmentally- unnatural supertrees. Supertree Grove is friendly hawker centres and reducing ocean of part of Singapore’s Gardens by the carbon emissions in 2014. While countless Bay – a massive tract of reclaimed addressing its own environmental human-made land that the government has concerns, the government will also edifi ces, transformed into a giant garden. help address environmental issues of researchers The Supertrees are a stunning its neighbors, such as haze. Should of the Ateneo example of green architecture, and the haze return, the government will de Manila are much more than just gigantic do what it can to minimize its impact University tree-shaped edifi ces. In addition by monitoring and surveillance have to serving as vertical gardens, capabilities as well as putting in discovered they’re also designed to mimic the place contingency plans to ensure a tiny new ecological functions of real trees. that masks and essential supplies species Each structure is outfi tted with an can be distributed to vulnerable of aquatic beetle, aptly named array of photovoltaic cells that collect groups. Channel News Asia Hydraena ateneo. It was named after and store solar energy throughout the university, a 154-year-old Jesuit- the day – power that’s used to New desalination plant opens. run institution that is recognized as illuminate the garden when the sun Tuaspring Desalination Plant, one of the premier universities in the goes down each night. Due to their Singapore’s second and largest Philippines and in the region. The unique shape, the trees also serve desalination plant has begun international open access scientifi c as rainwater collectors, and help operations, more than tripling the journal Zookeys has published the funnel water to fountain displays and nation’s capacity to turn seawater paper about the unusual discovery irrigation systems. The bigger ones into fresh water to meet up to a in its latest issue. During fi eld even have space for people. One quarter of its total demand. In the training in November 2012, Biology can get an aerial view of the gardens past, people queued for water and students and a faculty member of from a skybridge attached to two lacked basic sanitation. But pricing the Department of Biology sampled of the larger trees, and can even water right, working with academia small creeks, ponds, and pools in grab a bite to eat in the big 160-foot and industry to develop water wooded areas within their sprawling supertree. Digital Trends infrastructure, and having national university campus. The group found seven species of water beetles, one of which was a new record for the entire island of Luzon and another was Hydraena ateneo. The Long-palped Water Beetles (genus Hydraena) are one of the most overlooked and diverse genera of aquatic beetles. Only 14 species of this genus – all endemic – are known from the country, but many more wait to be named and described. All of them display extremely enlarged palps of the maxilla. These are real mouthpart appendages and not the antennae. Those species that were found in the Ateneo campus must have re-colonized the area after the tree cover re-established in the last 50 years and the small creeks began to fl ow again. The study has shown that small patches of semi-

60 ASEAN BIODIVERSITY z SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 www.aseanbiodiversity.org BIODIVERSITY NEWS SOUTHEAST ASIA

Buri, and Pathum Thani provinces. The provinces will become models for environmental protection efforts. Ratchaburi will be a model for forest and water resources management, Prachin Buri will showcase industrial pollution management, and Pathum Thani will be a model for urban environmental problems resolution, he said. A total of 46 projects will be implemented, including a water diversion project in Pha Chi River in Ratchaburi, as well as maintenance of reservoirs, sluice gates, water pipelines, groundwater wells, and a 13,000-rai forest plantation also in Ratchaburi province. Bangkok Post

Two held over Rihanna posing with loris photo. A man and a teenage boy have been charged with possessing a protected primate after agency PUB manage the entire water pop star Rihanna posted a picture cycle from supply to recycling, have of herself online cuddling a loris in given Singapore a clean, reliable Phuket. The singer posed with the supply of water. Singapore plans tiny, large-eyed slow loris and posted to extend a deep tunnel sewerage the photo on Twitter and Instagram system to the west to reuse more without realizing that the use of of its wastewater, and to have endangered animals as a prop for Newater and desalination meet up tourist snaps is illegal. The image to 70 percent of demand by 2030. generated outrage from animal Tuaspring is designed, owned, built lovers concerned about rampant and operated by Singapore- listed participants were selected from exploitation of animals on the island. water fi rm Hyfl ux and can supply up around 900 applicants nationwide. Offi cials arrested the suspects with to 70 million gallons of water a day. They worked in teams on various two lorises aged between one to two Singapore uses 400 million gallons activities, including an exhibition at years. Police said they were offering of water a day, but that could nearly which the teams produced displays the animals as photo props for double by 2060. By then, it aims exploring solutions for environmental tourists. Bangkok Post to have Newater and desalination conservation. The displays were also meet up to 80 percent of demand. entered into a contest, which was The USD1.05 billion Tuaspring also won by a bio-diesel-fuelled device has an attached power plant fuelled created to remove hyacinth weed by liquefi ed natural gas to provide a that seasonally blocks Thailand’s secure energy supply for desalination waterways. The participants learned operations. This makes it the fi rst about Thailand’s fl ood crisis and the water project in Singapore to be integration of cross-border water combined with energy generation. management. Their activities focused asiaone on teamwork and active learning, such as calculating the extent of Thailand the nationwide fl ooding. The camp Rare ‘Asian Unicorn’ sighted after participants also got a chance to join 15 years. The elusive saola has Students put environment studies a discussion on cross-border water recently been spotted in the forests of into practice. Mahidol University management where they learned Central Annamite mountains of Viet (MU)’s Faculty of Environment and about real fl ood problems and Nam. The saola, one of the rarest and Resource Studies recently joined solutions. The Nation threatened mammals in the world, forces with Banpu to organize has evaded environmentalists for the “Power Green Camp 8”, a youth Thailand allots THB910 M for last 15 years, and is so rare that there camp aimed at teaching students green projects. Natural Resources may be only a couple dozen to a few how to tackle environmental and Environment Minister Vichet hundred left of the species. Discovered conservation. The seven-day camp Kasemthongsri has earmarked fi rst in 1992 on the Lao PDR-Viet Nam was held at the Learning Centre THB 910 million to improve natural border, the animal is so elusive it is Building in Nakhon Pathom on MU’s resources and environmental called “Asian Unicorn”, though it is Salaya campus. Its 70 high school management in Ratchaburi, Prachin recognized by two parallel horns with

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pilot projects demonstrate that development based on bottom- up planning and soft solutions provided by natural ecosystems are instrumental in bringing about desired solutions for coastal communities in adapting to climate change. IUCN

Co-management plan to protect mangroves. More than 3,000 hectares of the southern Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Soc Trang’s mangrove coastal forest will be co-managed by local authorities and the Vo Thanh Van Hamlet coastal forest co-management group, which includes more than 750 local residents. This means that while the government owns sharp ends. The saola is a cousin of Vietnam Administration for Seas the land, local communities will the cattle but looks like an antelope. and Islands, German Development share decision-making power, The last confi rmed sighting of the Cooperation, the Sustainable management responsibility, and animal was in 1999, from camera- Development Foundation, and accountability. The move aims to trap photos taken in Lao PDR. In Soc Trang Provincial Peoples’ provide local communities with 2010, villagers in the same region Committee. The Forum was an legal access to natural resources in captured a saola but it died before activity of the project “Building protected forests while ensuring that researchers could reach it.There have Resilience to Climate Change the resources are used sustainably. been serious efforts to protect the Impacts in Coastal Southeast Asia”, It is part of a Viet Nam-German saolas’ habitat from illegal hunting funded by the European Union. technical cooperation project that and snares. Researchers feel this is After two years of implementation in started in 2007 with the goal of a sign that these efforts are working eight coastal provinces of Thailand protecting the coastal wetlands of and will help in making an estimate (Chanthaburi and Trat), Cambodia Soc Trang Province for the benefi t of of its population. Since 2011, forest (Koh Kong and Kampot), and Viet the local population. The forest co- guard patrols in the Central Annamite Nam (Soc Trang, Can Gio, Kien management model has played an mountains have removed more than Giang and Ben Tre), more than 30 important role in coastal mangrove 30,000 snares from this critical saola pilot project activities, specifi cally forest protection in recent years. habitat and destroyed more than 600 tailored to the unique characteristics Thanks to policies that limited illegal hunters’ camps. Confi rmation of each site have been designed and access to forests and mandated of the presence of the saola in this are being implemented to enhance sustainable use of resources, the area is a testament to the dedicated the adaptive capacity of people province’s mangrove areas have and tireless efforts of the forest and the ecosystems on which they been protected while residents have guards. UPI depend to cope with the anticipated seen higher incomes from benefi ts impacts of climate change and plan from mangrove resources. Vietnam for disaster risk reduction. These Vietnam News Service

Coastal Forum conﬁ rms nature- based solution a key for climate change adaptation. More than 200 delegates representing local communities, government agencies, academics, NGOs and media from Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam gathered at the Second Annual Coastal Forum on October 15-18, 2013 in Soc Trang Province, Viet Nam, to share experiences, lessons learned, and good practices for climate change adaptation in the coastal zone, highlighting nature- based solutions. The event was organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the

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Dusky fruit bat (Penthetor lucasi)

This uncommon species occurs in lowland and lower Research indicates that breeding in dusky fruit bats is montane forests. By day it roosts in colonies in dark seasonal. One study of pregnancy in P. lucasi revealed rock crevices and quiet caves. The dusky fruit bat is that the highest number of pregnant females was primarily a fruit eater, generally flying away from the recorded in September, very few females were pregnant fruit-bearing tree to consume its meal elsewhere. in June, and there were no recorded pregnancies in January, February, March, and July. There is typically Head and body length of the dusky fruit bat is on only one oﬀ spring in a birth. average 114mm, with a tail 8-10mm long. The fur is The dusky fruit bat ranges from southern Thailand, coarse, short and smoky brown in color, and the chest Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to the Riau and belly are lighter than the back. The fur on the head Archipelago, Borneo and Sumatra. This species is listed is slightly longer and dark brown. The wings are dark as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution. It brown to black. Its head is of typical fruit bat shape, occurs in a number of protected areas and is tolerant of with a dog-like muzzle, and large eyes. The ears are some disturbance of its habitat. dark-edged. References: Animal Diversity Web (http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/ This species appears to be gregarious, roosting in large accounts/Penthetor_lucasi/) groups in caves, rock shelters, and in the nooks and Bates, P., Bumrungsri, S., Suyanto, A., Francis, C., Kingston, T. &Maryanto, I. 2008. Penthetor lucasi. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red crannies between boulders. Roosts can have as many List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. . Downloaded on 02 November 2013. as 100 individuals. It also inhabits secondary and Ecology Asia (http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/bats/dusky-fruit- primary lowland to hill forest. bat.htm)

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Javan tailless fruit bat (Megaerops kusnotoi)

The Javan tailless fruit bat is an elusive species from of Bali and Lombok. Occurring in tropical montane Indonesia. It has greyish-brown fur on its upperparts; evergreen forest, the Javan tailless fruit bat has slightly paler fur on its underparts; elongate, oval, been found up to 700 meters above sea level, but is simple ears; and large, well-developed eyes. The species suspected to also occur at higher elevations. lacks a tail, hence the name Javan tailless fruit bat. Habitat loss due to land clearing for agriculture and Although little is known about the Javan tailless fruit human settlements is believed to be a major threat to bat, like other fruits bats it is likely a nocturnal species the Javan tailless fruit bat. Logging and mining are also with a frugivorous diet. The Javan tailless fruit bat a major cause of habitat destruction in the region. In probably spends the day roosting in trees in small addition, the Javan tailless fruit bat may be impacted groups or individually, where it hangs upside down by volcanic activity, which repeatedly disturbs the by its feet. At dusk, this species will leave the roost vegetation and puts further pressure on the ecosystem. and fly in search of fruit, which it locates using its Gunung Raung, a mountain range in Java, has more sight and sense of smell. It crushes ripe fruit in its active volcanoes than anywhere else in the world. The mouth, swallowing the juice and spitting out most of Javan tailless fruit bat is classified as Vulnerable on the the pulp and seeds. Due to the frugivorous diet of fruit IUCN Red List. bats, they play an important role in pollinating and References: dispersing the seeds of plants. ARKive (http://www.arkive.org/javan-tailless-fruit-bat/megaerops- kusnotoi/image-G73510.html) The Javan tailless fruit bat occurs only on the island Hutson, A.M., Suyanto, A. & Kingston, T. 2008.Megaerops kusnotoi. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. of Java, in Indonesia, and possibly also on the islands . Downloaded on 02 November 2013.

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Large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus)

The large flying fox or Malayan flying fox is one of the from its mother for two to three months. largest bats in the world. It can attain a wing-span of over six feet (1.8 m) and weigh well over two and a Although most common in coastal regions, the large half pounds (1000 g). The large flying fox has long, flying fox has also been found at altitudes as high pointed ears and no clearly visible tail. The head is as 1,370 meters above sea level. It usually inhabits usually reddish black or russet, becoming deep gold primary forests and mangroves, and roosts in tall trees or orange rather suddenly during the breeding season. with leafless upper branches, but can also be found The back is black with scattered white hairs. feeding in coconut groves and fruit orchards. The large flying fox is found throughout Southeast Asia. Its range The large flying fox roosts in colonies that can contain extends from southern Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia anywhere between a few individuals to thousands. and Viet Nam, south through Peninsular Malaysia to Leaving the roost near sunset, the large flying fox flies Singapore and much of Indonesia, and east to Borneo silently to feeding areas, which can be up to 50 km and the Philippines. away. It often circles a fruit tree before landing, and forms noisy feeding groups numbering a few to over There are seven subspecies of large flying fox with the 50 bats. Unlike many other bats, which use echo most threatened being P.v. lanensis (vulnerable) of the location in order to navigate, flying foxes depend Philippines. This species is declining rapidly in the wild on sight in order to find their way at night. While due to unsustainable hunting, persecution as a crop it is known as a ‘fruit bat’, and will eat the fruit of pest, and habitat destruction. This species is listed on rambutan, fig and langsator lanzones trees, the large Appendix II of CITES. flying fox also feeds on the nectar and flowers of coconut and durian trees. It has a long tongue, which enables it to lick the nectar without damaging the References: flower. As it feeds from a flower, pollen may stick to its Animal Diversity Web (http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/ fur; thus the large flying fox is an important pollinator accounts/Pteropus_vampyrus/) of many forest plants. ARKive (http://www.arkive.org/large-flying-fox/pteropus- Female large flying foxes typically give birth to a single vampyrus/) Bates, P., Francis, C., Gumal, M., Bumrungsri, S., Walston, J., Heaney, young each year, the timing of which depends on the L. &Mildenstein, T. 2008.Pteropusvampyrus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN location. In the Philippines, most births take place Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. . Downloaded on 02 November 2013. during March or early April. The young bat is carried Lubee Bat Conservancy (http://www.batconservancy.org/index.php/ by its mother for the first few days, but is then left in discover-the-bat-center/bats-at-the-bat-center/pteropus-vampyrus- the roost while the mother forages. The young suckles malayan-flying-fox-bat)

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Lyle’s Flying Fox (Pteropus lylei)

Lyle’s flying fox is a medium-sized flying fox, which can be free of persecution. At sunset they radiate out forms large colonies high up in trees. Lyle’s flying fox into rural areas to feed on fruits, has a long dark muzzle and large eyes. The wings and back of Lyle’s flying fox are dark brown or black, which Lyle’s flying fox is native to Southeast Asia and is strongly contrast against the bright fur around the head found in Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and neck. Its lower body varies from a deep dark- and Yunnan in China. This species has been mostly brown to a brighter yellow-brown. Its breast and belly documented in Thailand, where at least 11 colonies are black-brown. The species resembles a fox, hence have been identified, the largest containing around the common name ‘flying fox’. 3,000 individuals.

The diet of Lyle’s flying fox consists mainly of ripe fruit. The population of Lyle’s flying fox is believed to be in However, this species will also feed on nectar, pollen decline, a trend which is expected to continue due to and blossoms to ensure it gets enough energy. Fruit is human pressures on its environment. Habitat loss is very low in protein and sodium, so the salivary gland of a major threat, with deforestation and construction Lyle’s flying fox has become specially adapted to ensure projects destroying the forests that Lyle’s flying fox this species can extract the required nutrients. The relies on for roosting and for food. Farmers also pose species’ primary sense when foraging is vision, as it a threat as they consider Lyle’s flying fox to be a crop lacks the echolocation abilities of insectivorous bats. It pest, resulting in persecution of this species. Lyle’s has well developed teeth which are used to chew fruit flying fox is classified as Vulnerable on the International while spitting out most of the seeds and pulp. Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and is listed on Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Although it is a nocturnal species, Lyle’s flying fox is Endangered Species. very sociable and noisy during the day, as this is when females suckle their young. Large noisy colonies are References: very conspicuous, but they have few natural predators ARKive (http://www.arkive.org/lyles-flying-fox/pteropus-lylei/) and so can hang safely up in the trees all day. They Bumrungsri, S., Suyanto, A. & Francis, C. 2008.Pteropuslylei. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. . Downloaded on 02 November 2013. villages, towns and cities, such as the leafy compounds Ecology Asia (http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/bats/lyles-flying- of Buddhist temples and other buildings where they fox.htm)

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