GUIDELINES FOR THE NOMINATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ASEAN HERITAGE PARKS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks was signed by the ASEAN Ministers responsible for the environment on 18 of August 2003 in Yangon, Myanmar, in conjunction with the Ninth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment (9th AMME) from 16 – 18 December 2003. A total of 26 sites have been listed as ASEAN Heritage Parks during the signing of the Declaration. 1.2 The ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks (2003) repealed the earlier ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks and Reserves (1984 Declaration) which was signed on 29 November 1984 by the environment ministers of the member countries of ASEAN at that time; Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. 11 sites were listed as ASEAN Heritage Parks and Reserves then. 1.3 In 2003, the ASEAN Member States decided to amend the 1984 Declaration to include the newer members of ASEAN namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam, and to promote further listing and proper management of ASEAN Heritage Parks. 1.4 The ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks calls for a set of criteria to be developed by the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) for listing of ASEAN Heritage Parks. The Declaration also calls for common cooperation to conserve and manage such parks. 1.5 ASOEN therefore adopts these Guidelines for the nomination and management of ASEAN Heritage Parks. These Guidelines may be revised from time to time by ASOEN. 2. DEFINITION AND OBJECTIVES OF ASEAN HERITAGE PARKS 2.1 A national protected area in an ASEAN Member State shall be called an ASEAN Heritage Park if it is listed in Appendix I of the ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks. 2.2 ASEAN Heritage Parks are protected areas of high conservation importance preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the ASEAN Region. 2.3 The establishment of ASEAN Heritage Parks aims to achieve the following objectives: a) To generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment and conservation of ASEAN’s rich natural heritage through creation and support for a regional network of representative protected areas; and b) To generate greater collaboration between ASEAN Member States in preserving their shared natural heritage 3. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF ASEAN HERITAGE PARKS 3.1 ASEAN Heritage Parks, which include both terrestrial and marine parks1, shall be selected based on the following criteria: MAIN CRITERIA a) Ecological Completeness: The site must demonstrate wholesome ecological processes and must have the capability to regenerate with minimal human intervention. b) Representativeness: The site embodies the variety of ecosystems or species representing or typical of the ASEAN region. c) Naturalness: The area must be, for the most part, in a natural condition. It may be a second growth forest or a rescued coral reef formation but the natural processes are still going on. d) High Conservation Importance: The site is recognized as a site of regional significance for the conservation of important or valuable species, ecosystems or genetic resources. It creates or promotes awareness of the importance of nature, biodiversity and the ecological process; it evokes respect for nature whenever people see it. There is a feeling of loss whenever the natural condition is lost. e) Legally Gazetted Areas: The site must be identified, defined and designated by law or any legally accepted instrument of the owning country. Its boundaries defined and its use should be primarily as a protected area. 1 Using the ASEAN Criteria for Marine Heritage Areas endorsed by the environment ministers at the Seventh Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (7th IAMME) on 20 – 21 November 2002 in Vientiane, Lao PDR as common criteria for Marine and Terrestrial Parks. f) Approved management Plan: The site must have a management plan duly approved by authorities of the ASEAN Member State. ADDITIONAL CRITERIA g) Transboundary: The site may play a role in nutrients, materials or support for species (especially migratory ones) to the region as a whole. Both ecological processes and natural resources, which contribute to the maintenance of species or ecosystem, are often beyond natural boundaries. h) Uniqueness: The site may possess special features that could not be seen in any other site. i) High ethno-biological significance: The site may demonstrate harmonious relationships between culture and ecology. j) Importance for endangered or precious biodiversity: The site could be habitat of important or endangered flora or fauna. 4. PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATION AND LISTING OS ASEAN HERITAGE PARKS 4.1 An ASEAN Member State may submit the nomination of a national protected area to be considered as an ASEAN heritage Park at any time to the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). 4.2 The nomination shall contain detailed information on each of the elements of the main criteria, and additional criteria as appropriate, including the following information, among others: Details of legal gazettement Details of size, together with a location map of the site Details of land ownership and use rights within the site Description and map of the natural vegetation of the site, including description of the main features of each vegetation type Description of physical details such as geology, hydrology, soils and climate Description and list of fauna and flora of special interest Description of special cultural sites, customs or prehistoric remains of the site Review of the potential of the site for educational, research and recreational uses Details of human use levels in the site Details of current management facilities and staff Summary of Management Plan for site Independent evidence of high conservation importance of the site (recognition in international reviews (e.g. recognized biodiversity hotspot, center of endemism (EBA) or recognized in PA Systems review of Indo-Malayan Realm, or in IUCN WCPA or equivalent body reviews as a site of international significance). Argument as to why the site should be regarded as the best example of the particular ecosystem/s that it contains Bibliography Photographs, illustrations, maps, etc. as needed to back up the descriptions 4.3 ACB shall compile and undertake an initial review of the information (viz. AHP Criteria) and submit the information for consideration of the ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (AWGNCB) or the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME) for nominations of terrestrial and marine parks respectively (hereinafter referred to as the respective Working Groups). The respective Working groups shall make their recommendations for the consideration of ASOEN. 4.4 ASOEN would consider the recommendations made and seek the approval of the Environment Ministers for listing in Appendix I of the Declaration. 5. MANAGEMENT OF ASEAN HERITAGE PARKS 5.1 The respective Working groups shall be responsible for the management of ASEAN Heritage Parks under their purview. The respective Working Groups may request the assistance or utilize the expertise of relevant ASEAN centers such as the ACB, or other regional and international organizations, in the implementation of the activities, which includes the following: a) Develop and implement regional conservation and management action plans as well as regional mechanisms complementary to and supportive of national efforts to implement conservation efforts in ASEAN Heritage Parks. b) Promote a common identity and collective action in terms of education and public awareness and ecotourism. c) Promote exchange of information, best practice and management experiences. d) Promote training and capacity building. e) Promote partnerships with relevant national, regional and international organizations to enhance the conservation and management of protected areas. f) Develop and maintain an information database on ASEAN Heritage Parks. 5.2 The authority and management of the individual ASEAN Heritage Park shall remain with the respective member states. .