The acceptance of the principles of ASEAN Heritage Parks and
agreement to participate within the programme to establish,
develop and protect them was agreed upon and signed by all ASEAN
Ministers of Environment in Yangon in December 2003. This declaration
constitutes a reiteration of an earlier agreement in 1984, when
the first effort to launch such a programme was initiated by
a smaller ASEAN.
The declaration agrees that common cooperation is necessary
to conserve and manage ASEAN Heritage Parks for the development
and implementation of regional conservation and management action
plans as well as regional mechanisms complementary to and supportive
of national efforts to implement conservation measures. The
declaration clarified the procedures for establishment
of such parks.
Definition of ASEAN Heritage Park:
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ASEAN Heritage Parks are protected areas of high conservation
importance preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative
ecosystems of the ASEAN Region.
Objectives of ASEAN Heritage Parks:
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To generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment
and conservation of ASEAN’s rich Natural Heritage through
the creation of and support for a regional network of representative
protected areas and to generate greater collaboration between
ASEAN countries in preserving their shared natural heritage.
Criteria for ASEAN Heritage Park: top
ASEAN Heritage Parks should meet the following criteria:
- Ecological Completeness
The site must demonstrate wholesome ecological processes
and must have the capability to regenerate with minimal human
intervention.
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Representativeness
The site embodies the variety of ecosystems or species representing
or typical of the ASEAN region.
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Naturalness
The site must be, for the most part, in natural condition.
It may be a second growth forest or a rescued coral reef formation
but the natural processes are still going on.
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High Conservation Importance
The site is rcognized 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.
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Legally Gazetted Conservation 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.
- Approved Management Plan
The site must have a management plan duly approved by authorities
of the ASEAN member country.
Additional criteria are the following:
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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.
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Uniqueness
The site may possess special features that could not be seen
in any other site.
-
High ethno-biological significance
The site may demonstrate harmonious relationships between
culture and ecology.
- Importance for endangered or precious biodiversity
The site could be habitat of important or endangered
flora or fauna.
The establishment and initial operations of ACB is a joint project of
ASEAN & EU hosted by the Philippines. The ACB is a successor organization
of the ASEAN Regional Centre for Conservation (ARCBC) which ended in
December 2004.