ASEAN Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu formally unveils the marker of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Building during its inauguration at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna on 29 July 2017. [Avito C. Dalan https://www.pna.gov.ph/photos/33255]

ASEAN member states only cover three per cent of the earth's surface, but the region holds 18% of all species assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has the most diverse coral reefs in the world (34%), 35% of the global mangrove forests and is home to the megadiverse countries of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. However, the region is also losing this biodiversity at an alarming rate.

This Agreement establishes the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), a continuation of the ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation project funded by the European Union from 1998 to 2004. The ACB is an intergovernmental regional center of excellence that facilitates regional and global cooperation on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use. It serves the biodiversity management needs of the 10 ASEAN member states through capacity building and trainings, research funding, database development and management. The Centre's governing board is composed of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) and the Secretary General of ASEAN and is headed by the Chairperson of the ASOEN. Technical guidance is provided by the ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (AWGNCB). All 10 ASEAN members have ratified the ACB Agreement with the ratification of Cambodia in 2016 and Indonesia in 2017.

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) is hosted by the Philippines through the Host Country Agreement signed on 8 August 2006 between the Philippine government and the ACB and ratified by the Philippine Senate in 2009. The Agreement is to be reviewed at least every five years by the Member Countries to the Agreement. The ACB also acts as the Secretariat of the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) Programme, a flagship program of the ASEAN. The AHPs are protected areas of high conservation importance, preserving a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the ASEAN region.

Focal Office:: Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB)
Date Signed:: Date ratified 2009 ; Date launched September 27, 2005
Focal Persons:: HON. ROY A. CIMATU
Secretary, DENR
Tel. No. (632) 926 3011, 920 4301, 929 6626 loc 2258

FOR. RICARDO L. CALDERON
OIC-Assistant Secretary for Staff Bureaus and Director, DENR-BMB
Tel. Nos. (632) 924 6031 to 35 local 222, 925 8952 to 53

MS. NANCY R. CORPUZ
OIC-Division Chief, Biodiversity Policy and Knowledge Management Division, DENR-BMB
Tel. No. (632) 924 6031 to 35 local 210, (632) 920 4486

MS. MERIDEN E. MARANAN
Division Chief, National Parks Division, DENR-BMB
Tel. No. (632) 924 6031 to 35 local 232, 925 8947
Commitments:: The Government of the Philippines (GOP), as host country of the ACB, provides at its own cost, the premises, operational facilities and other facilities needed for the operations of the Centre. The GOP also is supposed to grant to the Centre and its staff, the necessary privileges and immunities for the performance of their duties and functions similar to those accorded to the ASEAN Secretariat and its staff and in accordance with the laws and regulations prevailing in the country of the Host Government.
The ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs), ACB's flagship initiative, are protected areas of high conservation importance, preserving a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the ASEAN region. To date, there are more than 37 AHPs, including nine of following Philippine Protected Areas: Mt. Apo Natural Park (Davao), Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park (Mindoro), Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park (Misamis Occidental), Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park (Bukidnon), Mt. Makiling Nature Reserve (Laguna), Tubbataha Reefs National Park (Palawan), Mt. Hamiguitan (Davao Oriental), Mount Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument (Camiguin) and Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (Agusan del Sur).
The ACB also serves as the node for the Regional Implementation Support Network on the Aichi Biodiversity Targets on protected areas and endangered species as tasked by the CBD Secretariat.
Sources / Relevant Links:: http://aseanbiodiversity.org/
Status Updates:: The ASEAN Biodiversity Outlook (ABO) is the flagship publication of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) that showcases the status of biodiversity in the region. The first edition of the ABO (ABO 1) was launched in 2010 and showcased the status of biodiversity in each AMS also. The second edition of the ASEAN Biodiversity Outlook (ABO 2) showcased progress and lessons on biodiversity conservation in the ASEAN region for the period 2010-2015 and was launched in 2017. ABO 2 provides a midpoint assessment of the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in the ASEAN region.
The ACB served as the secretariat in the search for ASEAN's Biodiversity Heroes (ABH) which was launched in 2017. The Philippines' ABH is Dr. Angel Alcala, a marine biologist and national scientist who was instrumental in the establishment of several no-take marine reserves.
ACB's newly constructed headquarters were inaugurated by DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu on 29 July 2017 in Los Banos, Laguna after the ASEAN ASOEN meeting in Manila. Several ASEAN Senior Environmental Officials attended the event.
A Regional Workshop to Address Inter-linkages between Human Health and Biodiversity in the ASEAN Region was held on 5-7 November 2018 at Crimson Hotel, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The workshop aimed to provide a forum to mainstream biodiversity and health linkages in relevant national plans, policies and programmes and give AMS an opportunity to discuss national experiences and best practices on mainstreaming biodiversity and health interlinkages and incorporating biodiversity and human health considerations in national and regional programmes.
Latest Activities:: - 4th Programme Steering Committee Meeting for the ACB German Cooperation Projects; 1st Programme Steering Committee Meeting for the EU ASEAN BCAMP; 20th Governing Board Meeting of the ACB; 29th Meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment; 12th ASEAN Japan Dialogue on Environmental Cooperation; 15th ASEAN plus Three Senior Officials Meeting on Environment; and 2nd EAS Officials Meeting of the 5th EAS Environment Ministers Meeting, 12-18 August 2018; Singapore - Asst. Sec. Marcial C. Amaro Jr. and Ms. Llarina S. Mojica (DENR)
- Preparatory Meeting for the ASEAN Statement for the CBD-COP14 and the 20th ACB-GB Meeting, 12-14 August 2018; Singapore - Ms. Armida P. Andres (BMB)
- 6th Meeting of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Committee (AHPC 6) and 28th Meeting of the Asean Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, 22-24 May 2018; Siem Reap, Cambodia - Ms. Norma Molinyawe (BMB)
- Second ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity (ACB 2016), 15-19 February 2016; Bangkok, Thailand - DENR Asst. Sec. Corazon C. Davis, Dir. Henry A. Adornado (ERDB), and Ms. Josefina L. De Leon (BMB)
- 3rd ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity Partners' Forum on Sustainable Financing for Biodiversity, 15-19 February 2016; Bangkok Thailand - DENR Asst. Secretary Corazon C. Davis
- Regional Workshop for Asia on the Clearing-House Mechanism, 29 January -3 February 2018; Bangkok, Thailand- Mr. Darwin R. Tejerero (BMB)
Related Projects:: Projects being undertaken by the ACB include the Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas in ASEAN (BCAMP) from 2017 to 2022. It aims to improve the management of protected areas, develop and mobilize knowledge and scientific basis for biodiversity conservation, and mainstream biodiversity into the education system and to strengthen ASEAN capacities.
The Institutional Strengthening of the Biodiversity Sector in ASEAN Project (2015 to 2019) supports the ACB in fulfilling its mandate to facilitate cooperation and coordination among the AMS on conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and equitable use of natural treasures.
Next Steps:: - Implementation of various ASEAN-wide biodiversity projects
- Contribute to the third edition of the ASEAN Biodiversity Outlook, which will focus on the status of biodiversity and ecosystems in the ASEAN region and the conservation achievements, actions and NEXT steps for the AMS in ensuring the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Support the development of the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework
- Enhancement of the Clearing House Mechanism website using the Bioland Platform

This Page was updated on 17 December 2019 and will be updated on 10 December 2020