CONTENTS VOL. 13 NO. 1 JANUARY-APRIL 2014 SPECIAL REPORTS Biodiversity CEPA Initiatives of ASEAN Member States Communicating biodiversity loss and 6 Singapore conservation Engaging the public in 22 conserving the Sungei Green Challenge Accepted Buloh Wetland Reserve Communicating 8 Sustainability Celebrating the annual Festival of Biodiversity 25 Reporting on Biodiversity Media practitioners 11 Thailand About the cover share thoughts on Communication 28 The lack of public awareness on the key role reporting biodiversity activities of the Royal of biodiversity in human Forest Department well-being is a serious concern. Steps need to The Power of the be taken to mainstream Moving Image 15 FEATURES biodiversity issues into How a TV show is humans’ daily lives. This issue’s cover illustrates promoting biodiversity World Wetlands Day, the importance of conservation 2 February 32 communicating biodiversity issues. Wetlands and Cover Design by #biodiversity agriculture, partner Eisen Bernardo Communicating 17 for growth biodiversity in the era of social media World Wildlife Day, 3 March Palawan strengthens data World Wildlife Day highlights urgent 33 management in biodiversity 54 need to curb illegal trade conservation International Women’s Day, 8 March ASEAN park managers undergo Celebrating women and biodiversity 35 training on tropical ecosystem resilience 55 International Day of Forests, 21 March ASEAN aims for more heritage parks 55 Promoting the importance of trees 36 and forests ASEAN trains Laotian environmental workers 56 World Water Day, 22 March Global celebration puts spotlight 37 Business students join advocacy on on water and energy biodiversity conservation 57 World Health Day, 7 April Future Asian and African environment Biodiversity: Nature’s Prescription 38 leaders discuss biodiversity 57 Earth Day, 22 April Living in harmony with the Earth 58 Nurturing the Cities of the Future 40 Nurturing young biodiversity advocates 58 Nature’s Invisible Hand – Simply Complex 42 Youth power for biodiversity 59 World Ecotourism Conference discusses emerging issues in marine 59 and coastal ecotourism Biodiversity conservation remains Philippine DENR’s top priority 60 GBIF launches awards on biodiversity research 61 Blueprint for Philippine ecotourism launched 61 Countries report on achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets 62 Ramsar Wetland Conservation Awards is on 62 BIODIVERSITY NEWS PARK PROFILES SOUTHEAST ASIA 63 Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park 44 FOCUS Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary 51 Whale shark 69 Megamouth shark BOOKMARKS 70 Common thresher shark Philippines and Malaysia share 71 good practices in park management 54 Pelagic thresher shark and ecotourism 72 About the Authors Publisher Roberto V. Oliva Ms. Angeli Atienza as Born to be Wild’s Executive Producer in its early years and is currently the show’s Editor-in-Chief is a senior program manager for GMA Public Affairs. She served Rolando A. Inciong service in the broadcast industry, and with an extensive background in investigative program manager. She is a television producer and writer with over ten years of Managing Editor Leslie J. Castillo Ms.reporting, Linda documentaryGoh is currently filmmaking the Deputy and Director environmental for Biodiversity journalism. Information and Designer, Graphic and Layout Artist been involved in nature conservation in Singapore for the past 18 years where she Nanie S. Gonzales advisesPolicy Section and represents in the National the government Biodiversity on Centre, conservation-related National Parks issues, Board. ensures She has availability of biodiversity baseline information for local management and policy Infographic Artist decision-making as well as builds awareness and educates the public on Singapore’s biodiversity Eisen V. Bernardo Circulation Assistant and importanceDr. Surang of its conservation. Thienhirun is Director of Forest Biodiversity Division at Thailand’s Angela Rose Crissie A. Metin Editorial Board Royal Forest Department. She leads the team that constructs the database of preserved forests under the biodiversity conservation and development project. Clarissa C. Arida Thienhirun has conducted extensive studies on the Xylariaceae, common wood decay A graduate of the Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom, Dr. Rolando A. Inciong A Preliminary Account of the Xylariaceae of Thailand and has co-authored a string of publications Roberto V. Oliva includingfungi that Themay Xylariaceae also occur onas Phytopathogens.dung, seeds, leaves, soil or are associated with insects. She authored Sheila G. Vergara Philipp Gassner is a cross-disciplinary environmental scientist with an ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity international track record in project management, research, consultancy, and science Headquarters with technical expertise and strong interest in both the science-policy and the 3/F ERDB Building communication. He has a B.Sc. degree in Geoecology and Ecosystem Management, Forestry Campus Environmental Governance, and works as an external consultant and project correspondent for University of the Philippines development environment interface. Philipp is currently enrolled in an M.Sc. in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines the ACB-GIZRoland Biodiversity A. Inciong and Climate Change Project. Telephone: +6349.536.3989; +632.584.4210 expert with over 30is years Head of for progressive Communication professional and Public experience Affairs in of designing the ASEAN andCentre managing for Biodiversity. communication He is a developmentprogrammes incommunication the areas of environment, and public relations rural Telefax: +6349.536.2865 worked with various international organizations, among them, the United Nations, USAID Environmentaldevelopment, Cooperation-Asia, basic education, Australian peace Agency and for development, International and Development, governance. andRolly E-mail: [email protected] the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Land Areas. He was one of the first graduates of B.S. Development Communication in the Philippines. Website: Sahlee B. Barrer In the past 15 years she has worked with a number of environmental organizations www.aseanbiodiversity.org in developing and isediting the publications contents for consultant publications of the and ASEAN advocacy Centre materials for Biodiversity. on Disclaimer: Views or opinions expressed herein do not necessarily biodiversity conservation, protected areas, ecotourism, climate change and fisheries represent any official views of the resource management. Previous engagements include the National Integrated Association of Southeast Asian Protected Areas Programme and the Fisheries Resource Management Project. Sahlee has a Nations (ASEAN). The authors are degree in Communication Research from the University of the Philippines and has finished responsible for any data or information course workEisen towards Bernard a masters V. Bernardo degree in is Environmental multi-media producer Studies from and writer Miriam at College. the ASEAN presented in their articles. for producing audiovisual presentations and designing publications and other Letters, articles, suggestions and Centre for Biodiversity’s Communication and Public Affairs unit. He is responsible photos are welcome and should be addressed to: communication materials. He also heads the Centre’s social media team. Before for Asia Ricejoining Foundation’s the ACB, children’s he worked book for Thethe UPLB’sAdventures Office of of Gabby Public Ghas, Relations and the as movie-a University Extension Associate. As a freelance graphic designer, some of his works include the illustrations The Editor-in-Chief ASEAN Biodiversity Magazine inspired blogs cineminimized.tumblr.com and pinoycriterion.tumblr.com. Eisen is a BS ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity DevelopmentPamela Communication Quintos-Reblora graduate is of a theBS DevelopmentUniversity of theCommunication Philippines Los graduate Baños of(UPLB). College, Laguna the Communication and Public Awareness Consultant of the ASEAN Centre for E-mails: rainciong@ Biodiversitythe University before of the she Philippines, formally joined Los Banos the Communications (UPLB). She formerly and Public worked Awareness as aseanbiodiversity.org [email protected] in the production of the Centre’s communication materials and audio-visual presentations, [email protected] team of the ACB on January 2013. As a DevCom Associate, she provides assistance in media relations, and in organizing corporate events. She also worked for the Laguna Lake Development Authority as a Public Relations Officer II way back in 2008. JANUARY-APRIL 2014 l ASEAN BIODIVERSITY l 5 SPECIAL REPORTS Infograph by Eisen Bernardo COMMUNICATING BIODIVERSITY LOSS AND CONSERVATION By Rolando A. Inciong* here is a crisis that does not attract media and public attention compared to hot issues such as climate change and natural disas- Tters, heinous crimes, wars, graft and corruption, political or show business controversies, and sports record breakers. This forgotten crisis Biodiversity is a contraction of two words – biological, referring to life, is called biodiversity loss. It encompasses all life, from the smallest microorganism to the biggest and diversity, meaning variety. Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. 6 l ASEAN BIODIVERSITY l JANUARY-APRIL 2014 www.aseanbiodiversity.org SPECIAL REPORTS Apart from providing people with includes the full-range of ecosystems, whale. Biodiversity is the web of life that the species that