Asean Biodiversity: 10 years after rio potx

J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
ABOUT YOU AND US
2
Readers’ Corner
Letters, articles, suggestions and
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addressed to:
The Managing Editor
ASEAN Biodiversity
ARCBC Annex, Ninoy Aquino Parks
and Wildlife Nature Center,
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Philippines
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E-mail:
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Monina T. Uriarte
Managing Editor
Bridget P. Botengan
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Writer
Sahlee Bugna
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Arlene Balauro
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John R. MacKinnon

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ASEAN Regional Centre for
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Headquarters:
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Disclaimer: Views or opinions expressed
herein do not necessarily represent any official
view of the European Union, the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat,
or the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources. The authors are responsible for any
data or information presented in their articles.
Dear Co-Directors,
I am a Forestry student of the Forest
College and Research Institute, India.
I am very much interested in your
newsmagazine ASEAN Biodiversity. It is
very informative and helpful and valuable
for me. Kindly send me future issues of
the magazine.
K. Nesamani
IV BSC Forestry,
Forest College & Research Institute
Tamilnadu, India

Dear Co-Directors,
Thank you for our copy of the ASEAN
Biodiversity magazine (July-September
2001 issue). We find your magazine highly
informative, especially the latest issue we
have received since we are involved in
the protection of Baguio’s watersheds that
have experienced an alarming increase in
forest fires this year.
Thank you again and kudos!

Maria Rosario ‘Marichu’ R. Lopez
Executive Director
Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, Inc.
Baguio City, Philippines
Website:
www.mozcom.com/~jvofi

Dear Co-Directors,
We are newly-organised local NGO
(Vietnam) specializing in the training of
environmental educators and conduct-
ing educational programmess aimed at
raising awareness on the need to pro-
tect nature and wildlife in Vietnam. We
would like to receive copies of the
ASEAN Biodiversity newsmagazine,
which will be very helpful to our
programme. However, we have a lim-
ited budget, so we would appreciate free
copies or an electronic version of the
newsmagazine.
Bac Thai
Communications Coodinator
Education for Nature
Hanoi, Vietnam
Email:


Dear Co-Directors:
Our programme currently offers a

graduate degree in Environmental Man-
agement here in central Philippines. We
are in the process of building our re-
sources (library, multi-media, etc.) to en-
able us to better respond to the needs of
the region.
We would like to request for free
resources (environmental publications,
etc.), which your office can possibly pro-
vide or donate to us. Your assistance and
support will surely go a long way in cre-
ating an impact in our efforts to form and
train future environmental managers in this
part of the world.
Jose P. Sevilla, Jr.
Chairperson, Master of Science in Envi-
ronmental Management Program
Graduate School Department
2nd Floor, Voc-Tech Building
University of Southern Philippines
Salinas Drive, Lahug
Cebu City, PHILIPPINES 6000
Telefax. +63 32 232-1596
Email.

Website.


Dear Co-Directors:
Thanks for your Journal “ASEAN

Biodiversity” Vol. 2, 2002. Should you
agree, I would like to send to you a short
paper concerning one of our activities
“International workshop on networking for
research, conservation, sustainable use
and development of medicinal plants in
Vietnam and Laos”, that was held in Bavi,
Vietnam, on March 27-29, 2002.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Tran Cong Khanh
(CREDEP)
Email:


Dear Co-Directors,
I wish to thank you for sending us
copies of ASEAN Biodiversity (July-Sep-
tember 2001), which have been very use-
ful to our work in biodiversity conserva-
tion. I would appreciate very much if you
could send us copies of your other issues
and include our organisation in your
mailing list.
Dr.Tran Thi Hoa
Head, Section for Genetics
and Plant Conservation
Environmental Science,
Policy and Management
Institute of Agricultural Genetics
Hanoi, Vietnam


Dear Co-Directors,
We’re from Kelola Foundation in North
Sulawesi, Indonesia. Our activities focus on
coastal and marine issues in such areas as
Sangihe Island (near the Phillipine border) and
Bunaken National Marine Park in Gorontalo
Province. We would like to receive copies of
the ASEAN Biodiversity newsmagazine to
support our environment work.
Sugeng
Kelola Foundation
North Sulawesi, Indonesia
A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y
ABOUT YOU AND US
Contents
Vol. 2, No.3

July-September 2002
Readers’ Corner 2
Letter from the NBRU of Brunei
Darussalam 3
Third quarter in a nutshell 4
Editorial
10 Years After Rio 7
About You And Us
Special Reports
3
Twin activities attempt to gather
world’s litter 69

ARCBC Supports Regional Taxonomy
Training Courses 71
ARCBC Research Grant Projects
An Assessment Report from the NBRU
of the Philippines 73
Publications
Training Resources Database Entries
Capsule Reviews 77
New Version of ARCBC Interactive
Databases Uploaded 76
Database
Thailand
Aiming Towards Sustainable
Development 44
Vietnam
On the Path to Sustainable
Development 51
A Profile of the Protected Area
System of Cambodia 54
Islands of Good Practice
Progress and Problems for Human
Resources Development for Protected
Area Management in ASEAN Member
Countries 60
Indonesia 64
Philippines 65
Thailand 66
Vietnam 68
Country Research Profiles
Bookmarks

The ASEAN: Together Towards Sustainable
Development 8
Brunei Darussalam
Enhancing Environmental Protection 15
Cambodia
Strengthening People Participation in
Sustainable Development 17
Indonesia
Strengthening National Agenda 21 19
Lao PDR
Integrating Environmental Efforts into
Socio-Economic Development 26
Malaysia
Achieving Sustainable and Balanced
Development 29
Philippines
Fulfilling the Goals of Agenda 21 36
Singapore
Making the Environment a Priority 42
Letter from the NBRU of Brunei Darussalam
Dear Readers,
My congratulations to the ASEAN Regional Centre
for Biodiversity Conservation for a job well done! Your
proven existence in the ASEAN and ARCBC’s regional
and global profile has increased substantially since
2002. We hope that ARCBC will continue to spear-
head biodiversity conservation activities through net-
working, training, research and database manage-
ment.
This issue of the ASEAN Biodiversity newsmagazine,

which focuses on the progress and initiatives done by
the ASEAN and the member countries in implementing
the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) and
Agenda 21 is very timely and informative. Much has
been done but still more need to be done. ASEAN
further called for the implementation of multi-lateral
environment agreements and concerned efforts to foster
synergy and coordination among these agreements.
More cooperation and commitment is thus needed.
Let us join hands and continue working to make
our environment better!
Haji Saidin bin Salleh
Acting Director Forestry
Forestry Department
Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources
Brunei Darussalam
J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
Third quarter in a nutshell
4
ABOUT YOU AND US
pipeline across some of the
Philippines’ most environ-
mentally-sensitive grounds in
the South China Sea and
coastal areas of Mindoro
island and Batangas
province.
August 21 – Increased
demand for the scaly,
ant-eating pangolin may

lead to its disappearance
from the forests of South
and Southeast Asia. For
centuries, people across the
continent have used
pangolins as medicine and
charms. Thailand has
emerged as a hub for
smugglers bringing
pangolins from Cambodia,
Malaysia, and Indonesia and
sending them to China,
where they end up in
cooking pots and traditional
medicine shops. Pangolins
confiscated by Thai officials
have risen from 1,944 in
2001 to 10,763 in the first
seven months of 2002,
according to the Thai
forestry department. In
China, pangolin meat is
very popular. Its scales and
blood are mixed with herbs
to prolong life, strengthen
the sex drive, cure lymph
node malfunctions, kill pain,
or increase milk in breast-
feeding mothers. In Nepal,
the animal’s meat is a

delicacy and the scales are
used as charms against
rheumatic fever. Experts,
however, contend that the
scales have no medicinal
value, and protein from the
pangolin meat is no
different from pork.
Pangolins are still fairly
abundant but they could
soon disappear if they
continue to be hunted at
present rates.
August 15 – The World
Bank approved the imple-
mentation of the 10-year
Amazon Region Protected
Areas Project, which is
funded by a US$30 million
grant from the Global
Environment Facility (GEF)
and is co-financed by the
Government of Brazil, the
World Wide Fund for
Nature (WWF), and the
development bank KfW of
discovery of a new
species of owl on an
island in Indonesia’s remote
Wallacea region. The Little

Sumba Hawk-Owl could be
endangered but further
studies are needed to
determine its conservation
status. Their findings are
published in the latest
edition of the journal EMU:
Austral Ornithology, a
publication of the govern-
ment-funded Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation
(CSIRO).
September 2 – The
Philippines’ Malampaya
natural gas project is
one of ten winners of
the World Business
Summit Award for
Sustainable Development
Partnerships sponsored by
the United Nations Environ-
ment Program (UNEP) and
the International Chamber
of Commerce (ICC). More
than 120 partnerships from
37 countries submitted
nominations to the World
Summit Business Award and
were judged based on 17

indicators of sustainable
development such as
transparency, resource
management, relations with
customers, and public-private
partnerships. In the case of
Malampaya, the award
recognised the effective
multi-stakeholder partner-
ships between the Philippine
government, Shell Philippine
Exploration B.V., and non-
government organisations in
ensuring that the natural gas
project does not harm the
environment and the local
communities. The
Malampaya project involved
the drawing of natural gas
from one kilometre beneath
sea level and laying a 500-
kilometre underwater
of California, San Diego
have used DNA to show
that the elephants of West
Africa are genetically distinct
from the continent’s two
known elephant types. The
UCSD discovery could, if
confirmed by additional

genetic evidence, split the
African group into three
distinct species or subspe-
cies: the well known
savanna elephant, the
recently recognized forest
elephant of central Africa,
and west African elephants,
which live in both the forest
and savanna.
September 12 – The
globally threatened Derbyan
Parakeets of China may
survive through the efforts
of a grassroots organisation
called the Parrot Conserva-
tion Association. The
Derbyan Parakeet is native
to southwest China and
adjacent Southeast Asia and
is known for the beautiful
shades of violet on its head
and breast and the deep
green to electric cobalt blue
covering the rest of its body.
The bird is considered
sacred and can provide
warning of looming natural
disasters. The Parrot
Conservation Association

has protected a population
of about 100 Derbyan
Parakeets by developing
local regulations to promote
parrot conservation. The
association aims to widen
its efforts to neighbouring
villages with support from
the World Wide Fund for
Nature’s (WWF) Conserva-
tion Small Grants Fund.
September 4 – Australian
researchers Jerry Olsen of
the University of Canberra’s
Applied Ecology Research
Group and co-researcher
Susan Trost announced the
September 20 – The
Philippines and the
United States govern-
ments signed the Debt
Reduction and Tropical
Forest Agreements, which
will allow the Philippines to
conserve its remaining
forests as well as reduce a
portion of its US debt. The
twin agreements would
guarantee the Philippines
some PhP 421.5 million

(US$8.25 million) for forest
conservation activities over
the next 15 years. Monies
otherwise due for debt
payments can also be used
to set up a tropical forest
fund. The Tropical Forest
Agreement establishes the
Tropical Conservation Fund
and the Tropical Forest
Conservation Board. The
Board will be responsible
for the administration and
management of the funds
that will be used to support
and assist the Philippines in
its efforts to conserve,
maintain, or restore its
tropical forests.
September 18 – The
World Bank released the
Vietnam Environment
Monitor 2002, which aims
to bridge the gap in policy
analysis for sustainable
development in the country.
To address the country’s
environmental challenges,
the Environmental Monitor
advocates that the quality of

data and its timely analysis
needs to be ensured so that
policy responses can be
designed cost-effectively with
broad consensus. Improving
data collection and storage
methods, systematizing
analysis and enhancing
accuracy, sharing informa-
tion, and strengthening
capacity would provide
Vietnam with the required
tools to better formulate,
implement, and refine its
environmental policies.
September 13 – Genetic
evidence extracted from
elephant dung has revealed
that a previously unknown
type of elephant is
roaming the African
forests and plains.
Biologists at the University
A savanna elephant in
Samburu National Park, Kenya
Malampaya Natural Gas-to-
Power Project
A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y 5
ABOUT YOU AND US
Germany. The Project aims

to expand and consolidate
the protected areas system
in the Amazon region of
Brazil. It is part of the
World Bank/WWF Forest
Alliance, to which Brazil
adhered in 1998. The
grant will finance the
incremental cost of creating
and consolidating new
protected areas in the
Amazon region. The GEF
grant will also support the
implementation of financial
management and cost
recovery mechanisms
necessary to ensure the long-
term sustainability of both
existing and newly created
Amazon protected areas.
August 15 – World Wide
Fund for Nature (WWF) –
International called for
greater protection of the
already endangered
Asian rhino, which is being
pushed to extinction by a
boom in poaching to feed
the trade in so-called
traditional medicines.

Surveys show that only
2,900 of the species are
left in their one-time
extensive range through
Pakistan, northern India,
Vietnam and Indonesia.
Poachers sell rhino horns,
hooves and other body
parts to syndicates produc-
ing powders and ointments,
which are claimed to cure a
variety of illnesses and
increase sexual potency in
men. Of the three species
surviving in Asia, the one-
horned Javan rhino was the
most threatened - especially
in Vietnam, where at most
eight were left. In Indonesia,
the Javan variety was down
to 60, while the two-horned
Sumatran rhino was down
to 300 in Indonesia and
Malaysia, its main remaining
habitat. Both are on the
United Nations’ Red List of
highly endangered species.
In India and Nepal, the
remaining 2,400 Greater
One-Horned rhinos are

under pressure not just from
poachers but also from land
clearance for farming and
logging which reduces their
habitat to small, isolated
forest areas.
July 31 – Cambodia
established the Central
Cardamoms Protected
Forest in southwestern
Cambodia with financial and
conservation support from
Conservation International,
the United Nations Develop-
ment Programme, the
Global Environment Facility,
and the United Nations
Foundation. Two wildlife
sanctuaries border the newly
designated area, bringing
the total land area under
protection to 990,000
hectares. Rare species such
as the Indochinese tiger, the
Asian elephant and the
Malaysian sun bear survive
there, as do globally
threatened species such as
the pileated gibbon and the
critically endangered

Siamese crocodile, which
has its only known wild
breeding population in the
Cardamoms.
July 31 – Cambodia
passed an anti-logging
legislation, which penalized
violators with up to 10
years in jail and a fine of
up to 100 million riel
(US$25,600). The law
makes it a crime to cut
trees outside concession
areas, in national parks, in
wildlife sanctuaries, or other
designated areas. According
to government statistics,
forest cover in Cambodia
has been reduced from 74%
before 1970 to 58% now.
Much of the deforestation
has been attributed to the
civil war during the last
three decades when warring
factions felled timber to
finance the fighting. In
recent years, corruption and
illegal logging have
emerged as major contribu-
tors.

July 29 – The Chinese
State Forest Administration
and IUCN-The World
Conservation Union agreed
to work together to
improve the manage-
ment of the waters and
wetlands of the upper
Mekong Lancang River
catchment in China’s
Yunnan Province. A new
project in 2003 will develop
an enabling policy frame-
work, strengthen institutional
arrangements, test commu-
nity management approaches
in 10 upper catchment
forests in the Lancang/Jiang
Nature Reserve, and
implement a comprehensive
awareness campaign. The
Upper Mekong River travels
through five downstream
countries after leaving the
Chinese province of Yunnan
- Myanmar (Burma),
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia
and Vietnam. The other two
rivers travel through China.
July 25 – Nepal’s Depart-

ment of National Parks and
Wildlife and the World
Wildlife Fund for Nature
(WWF) has launched a
manual for the enforce-
ment of CITES regula-
tions. This provides the
necessary direction in efforts
to control illegal trade of
endangered animal and
plant species in the country.
Nepal is inhabited by 57
mammals, 40 birds, 13
reptiles, one amphibian, two
butterflies, and 13 plants
species listed for some level
of protection by the CITES
regulations, some of which
are openly traded in local
markets. The manual gives
details of all the species of
plants and animals from
Nepal listed for protection
under the CITES treaty and
spells out the role of
government authorities, non-
government organisations
and the general public in
wildlife protection.
July 24 – The World Bank

has launched a US$108
million credit programme
to encourage tribal
groups, migrant grazers,
and landless communities
to take on primary
responsibility for manag-
ing forests in India. The
project, to be implemented
in 14 of the state’s poorest
districts and overseen by the
local forestry department,
aims to reduce rural poverty
by placing forest areas
under the management of
poor and primarily tribal
forest-dependent communi-
ties. The Bank hopes that
the project will not only
increase the wealth of local
people, but will also help
conserve the rich local plant
and animal.
July 18 – Malaysia
teamed up with Coral
Cay Conservation and
launched a project to
assess the state of the
coral reefs dotting the
peninsula’s east coast.

Malaysia’s coral reefs, which
include the spectacular
Sipadan Island off the coast
of Borneo in east Malaysia,
have suffered from ill-
advised development,
siltation from logging
activities, over-fishing and
marine pollution.
July 12 – The International
Union for the Conservation
of Nature (IUCN), the World
Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF) and the World
Commission on Protected
Areas (WCPA) have devel-
oped the High Seas
Ecosystem Protection
Project, which aims to
protect the fragile ecosystem
of the high seas by evaluat-
ing the potential of estab-
lishing marine protected
areas (MPAs) around
hotspots of high biodiversity
or of rare or endangered
species. An action plan will
be developed to address the
conservation issues in light
of current intergovernmental,

scientific, conservation, and
newly formed industry
interest in the high seas
resources. The project has
published a report entitled
Indochinese tiger in the
Cardoamom Mountains
Photo by Haroldo Castro courtesy
of Conservation International
Commonly seen on sale in
Kathmandu is the black-
shouldered kite, a raptor that
is not endangered.
Photo courtesy of Animal Science
Dept. Cornell University
J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
6
ABOUT YOU AND US
“The Status of Natural
Resources on the High Seas
(2001)”, which examined
living resources on the high
seas beyond national
jurisdiction and can be
downloaded from http://
www.iucn.org/themes/
marine/pubs.html
July 12 – Scientists in
China are preparing to
round up all the Yangtze

River dolphins, one of only
four freshwater dolphin
species in the world, and
release them in a protected
reserve. The dolphins have
the misfortune of living in
the Yangtze River, one of
China’s busiest and most
polluted waterways and the
dolphins’ sole natural
habitat. Less than a 100 are
known to exist, their
numbers dwindling due to
fishing, boat traffic, and
industry along the river.
There were about 6,000 in
the 1950s. Unless some-
thing is done, the blue-gray
dolphins will be extinct in
20 years. The dolphins have
lived in the Yangtze for 25
million years. Called the
“goddesses of the Yangtze,”
they were a traditional
symbol of peace and
prosperity to Chinese living
along the river’s banks. The
50 million yuan (US$6
million) plan would hire 50
professional fishers in boats

to search a 1,700-kilometer
stretch of the Yangtze and
capture the dolphins using
nets. The animals would
then be released in the
newly created Tian’erzhou
nature reserve in Hubei
province. The reserve is
already home to 20 finless
porpoises, another threat-
ened aquatic mammal found
in the Yangtze and else-
where in Asia.
July 11 – The National
Environment Agency of
Vietnam has started the
formulation of a Na-
tional Wetlands Conser-
vation and Management
Programme, with financial
assistance from the Royal
Netherlands Embassy and
technical support from the
International Union for the
Conservation of Nature
(IUCN). The Programme
aims to enhance wetlands
management in Vietnam in
order to increase the
benefits to local people

while maintaining the
ecological and hydrological
functions. The final
programme document will
be launched in December
2002.
July 9 – Chinese scientists
have discovered that the
male Chinese frog
(Amolops tormotus)
warbles melodies just
like a bird to attract
females. This is the first
time a frog has been found
to use diverse rising and
falling modulations. The
sounds are also the first
known terrestrial frog noises
to extend into the ultrasonic
range. Male Chinese frogs
engage in nightly song
battles. They increase the
diversity, complexity and
frequency of their calls to
outdo opponents. So rich is
this diversity that no two
cries were the same in over
12 hours of recordings from
21 individuals. There are
now plans to investigate

whether the frog’s unique
anatomy is responsible for
its bird-like voice. Called
the ‘sunken-ear frog’ in
Chinese, A. tormotus males
have visible ear canals
leading to eardrums within
the skull. Most frogs’
eardrums sit as a membrane
on the edge of their face.
The team also plans to
study whether the frog can
control its two vocal sacs
independently, which could
account for the calls’
complexity.
July 5 – The Philippine
Department of Environ-
ment and Natural
Resources (DENR) is
collaborating with Plan
International to establish
the Northern Sierra
Madre Natural Park
Conservation Project
(NSMNP-CP). The Northern
Sierra Madre mountain
range is home to some of
the last remaining virgin
forests in the country. The

project aims to implement
public awareness campaigns
and conduct studies to
generate management and
conservation strategies for
the Park. The NSMNP is
home to 70 globally
threatened or near-threat-
ened species of wildlife,
including 13 species of
mammals, 46 species of
birds, 7 species of reptiles
and amphibians, and 4
species of shellfish. The
endangered Philippine eagle
is found in the area, along
with 15 other species of
flora and fauna. Its moun-
tain slopes slide down to
the Pacific Ocean where the
endangered sea cow or
dugong can still be found.
July 4 – The Philippine
Protected Areas and Wildlife
Bureau (PAWB) of the
DENR, together with the
Vogelpark Avifauna (VA) of
Netherlands and the North
of England Zoological
Society (NEZS) has estab-

lished the Philippine
Hornbills Conservation
Program to conserve the
endangered birds locally
known as kalaw. The VA
and NEZS promised to
assist the DENR by produc-
ing educational materials on
the protection of Philippine
Hornbills; conducting
surveys on its conservation
status; and developing
facilities for the endemic
hornbills in West Visayas,
Mindoro and Southern
Luzon. The DENR, on the
other hand, will facilitate
technical and administrative
support in the course of the
program, and loan eight
pairs of West Visayan
Walden’s Hornbill (Aceros
waldeni) and Tarictic Hornbill
(Penelopides panini) to the
VA and NEZS for conserva-
tion breeding and research.
July 4 – The Delhi city
government of Qinghai
Province plans to establish a
national natural reserve

to protect China’s
primeval sacsaoul forest,
making the 70,000-hectare
forest the largest and most
intact natural gene bank for
sacsaoul in the country. The
drought-resistant plant grows
well in arid and semi-arid
areas because of its highly
absorbent root structure.
With an average height of
96 centimetres, the sacsaoul
trees in Dulan have been
instrumental in holding back
the sprawling desert and
reducing wind erosion. To
date, a seed cultivation base
covering a land area of
3,614.5 hectares has been
established in the Zongbatan
area of Dulan County.
About 1.64 million saplings
have been planted else-
where. If the reserve is
established, experts can
begin in-depth research of
the plant’s botanical
characteristics so it can play
a bigger role in the
country’s fight against

desertification.
July 3 – An agreement
between the Interna-
tional Fund for Animal
Welfare (IFAW) and the
Convention on Interna-
tional Trade in Endan-
gered Species (CITES)
Management Authority of
China aims to provide
better protection of
endangered species in the
country. IFAW will fund
cooperative projects with
CITES China and provide
technological assistance to
strengthen the government
capacity in enforcing CITES
regulations, including
training law enforcers,
compiling handbooks for
identification of key animal
species and their products,
and producing teaching
materials for wildlife import
and export management.
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Yangtze River dolphins
Males have a visible ear canal
Philippine Hornbill

A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y 7
ABOUT YOU AND US
Editorial
10 years after Rio
 By John R. MacKinnon
T
he United Nations Conference
on Environment and Develop
ment in Rio launched many im-
portant initiatives – Agenda 21, the
Convention on Climate Change, and
the Convention on Biological Diver-
sity (CBD). It identified objectives and
principles, set targets, launched
programmes and also provided a
funding mechanism for many of the
actions – the Global Environmental
Facility (GEF). Not only were envi-
ronmental goals agreed upon but
social principles of equitable shar-
ing of benefits and recognition of
indigenous intellectual property rights
were included in the package. We
were so optimistic that finally nations
were going to take environment
seriously and that things would get
better.
A few things got better but a lot
got worse. The world’s strongest
nation, U.S.A., refused to ratify the

CBD and later refused to sign the
Kyoto Protocol undermining much of
the aspirations of the rest of the
world. The wave of GEF-funded
projects, at least the ones concerned
with biodiversity were only moder-
ately successful, seemed to waste
large sums of money and promoted
new levels of project skimming both
by corrupt officials and greedy
consultants. CBD reporting obliga-
tions have put a strain on the data
management capacity of most coun-
tries in the region.
Human population continued to
rise, global warming got worse,
climate changes brought terrible fires
to destroy forests, invasive alien spe-
cies (IAS) spread with globalisation
of trade, genetically modified or-
ganisms (GMOs) raised their ugly
head, overprotection of genetic
heritage led to suppression of ex-
ploration and failing global econo-
mies and third world debts led to an
endless procession of civil wars,
famines and other crises. Suddenly,
before we realise it, 10 years have
passed and another summit is hosted
in Johannesburg.

New goals are identified and a
new Declaration for Sustainable
Development is issued. We realise
there will be no quick fix solutions to
climate or biodiversity issues. Nations
will continue to be selfish; agreements
will be compromised; agencies will
still squabble over territory and funds,
and billions of dollars will be spent
on destruction and wars rather than
on curing the planet’s environmen-
tal woes.
So what to do now? We have to
knuckle down to the tasks ahead.
We have new targets to achieve.
Reversing the loss of biodiversity by
2010 is the major challenge. The
ASEAN must continue to work on
priority issues and endeavours, which
the ASEAN Regional Centre for
Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC)
is committed to help with.
Harmonised reporting between dif-
ferent multilateral environmental
agreements is one such area. At
present most countries have set up
different reporting offices for each
agreement and this results in a lot
of duplication. In fact it is each
country’s own interests to organise

information on the status, distribu-
tion and real and potential uses of
its biodiversity. ARCBC is trying to
help countries in a way that data
can be shared for domestic and in-
ternational reporting requirements.
The ASEAN is advancing with its
own plans to preserve ASEAN heri-
tage through the establishment of
ASEAN heritage parks and the
ASEAN countries have been led by
CBD in drawing up their own frame-
work for access to genetic resources
– a framework designed to stimu-
late exploration whilst safeguarding
the national sovereignty of resources
and benefits from their use and also
protect indigenous property rights.
The framework supported by ARCBC
is currently being revised for adop-
tion by the ASEAN Senior Officials
on the Environment (ASOEN).
Other concerns that need to be
addressed are the needs to under-
take risk assessment and control
measures in relation to the release
of GMOs as specified under the
Cartagena Protocol. The IAS issue
has emerged as a new and signifi-
cant threat to ASEAN biodiversity re-

quiring a regional strategy and in-
formation system.
But most serious is still the ques-
tion of capacity development for
biodiversity managers. This should
include providing the wherewithal to
manage effectively – equipment,
budget, authority, policy environment
and support. ARCBC continues to
push in this direction and this will
become central to the centre’s role
in the second phase of ARCBC from
2005 onwards.

8
J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
The ASEAN: Together Towards
Sustainable Development
in 1997). The ASEAN cooperates voluntarily and on a
consensus basis for the common good, with peace and
economic, social and cultural development as its pri-
mary purposes. This is reflected in the ASEAN Decla-
ration of 8 August 1967:
“The Association of Southeast Asian Nations rep-
resents the collective will of the nations of Southeast Asia
to bind themselves together in friendship and coopera-
tion and, through joint efforts and sacrifices, secure for
their peoples and for posterity the blessings of peace,
freedom and prosperity.”
Facing the challenges of achieving sustainable de-

velopment in the context of today’s increasing globalised
world, the ASEAN has recognised the need for greater
integration and cooperation among member coun-
tries. ASEAN no longer separates financial from
commercial and investments concerns, nor the
environment and social concerns or science
and technology from the demands of eco-
nomic growth.
In 1997, the Heads of State and Gov-
ernment of ASEAN reaffirmed their commit-
ments to the aims and purposes of the As-
sociation through ASEAN Vision 2020, which
reflects the desire of ASEAN to pursue a more
sustainable path to development as:
“ a clean and green ASEAN with fully established
mechanisms for sustainable development to ensure the
protection of the region’s environment, the sustainability
of its natural resources and the high quality of life of
its people”.
This vision will be achieved through a series of action
plans, which will set strategies and specific activities with
measurable targets, outputs, means of implementation
and mid-term review mechanisms. The first of such action
plans is the Hanoi Plan of Action (HPA) for 1999-2004,
adopted during the ASEAN Summit in 1998.
The Hanoi Plan of Action (1999-2004)


aims to
achieve the following objectives:

1. Strengthen macroeconomic and financial co-
operation
2. Enhance greater economic and integration
3. Promote science and technology development
and develop information technology infrastruc-
ture
4. Promote social development and address the
T
he World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD) was a landmark event held in
Johannesburg, South Africa from 26 August 2002
- 4 September 2002. It brought together the global
community and world leaders to review and invigorate
commitments made 10 years ago at the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
in Rio de Janeiro. The WSSD negotiated and adopted
two main documents: the WSSD Plan of Implementation
and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable De-
velopment.
The Plan of Implementation is designed as a frame-
work for action to implement the commitments originally
agreed upon at UNCED. It also sets targets and time-
tables to address issues relating to poverty eradica-
tion, consumption and production, the natural
resource base, health, small island develop-
ing states, Africa, other regional initiatives,
globalisation, trade, finance, governance,
means of implementation and institutional
framework. The Johannesburg Declaration
outlines the path taken from UNCED to the

WSSD, highlights present challenges, ex-
presses a commitment to sustainable develop-
ment, underscores the importance of multilateralism
and emphasises the need for implementation.
The challenge now is for the global community that
includes the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) to
implement the WSSD Plan of Implementation. ASEAN actively
participated in the preparations for the WSSD, including
issuing an ASEAN Report to WSSD
1
and a Ministerial State-
ment. This article provides a brief overview of ASEAN’s
sustainable development framework, its contributions and
recommendations to the WSSD and the initial follow-up
actions taken to implement the WSSD Plan.
ASEAN’s Sustainable Development Framework
The ASEAN was established in 1967 by Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and
by 1999 has grown to be an association of 10 countries
with the admission of Cambodia (Brunei Darussalam
joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar
SPECIAL REPORTS:


WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
1
The ASEAN Report to the World Summit on Sustainable
Development, 2002 was prepared by the ASEAN Secretariat.
The full report is avalable on the website of the ASEAN
Secretariat at

/>9A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y
social impact of the financial and economic
crisis
5. Promote human resource development
6. Protect the environment and promote sustain-
able development
7. Strengthen regional peace and security
8. Enhance ASEAN’s role as an effective force for
peace, justice and moderation in Asia-Pacific
and in the World
9. Promote ASEAN awareness and its standing in
the international community
10. Improve ASEAN’s structures and mechanisms.
ASEAN Initiatives in Sustainable Development
Economic Development
Sustained economic growth is key to sustainable
development. It provides the means for nations and
people to uplift their living standards and have a decent
and healthy lifestyle, with adequate housing end edu-
cation. More importantly, it allows measures to be taken
to promote the conservation of natural resources and
protection of the environment, which in turn fuels eco-
nomic growth and sustains life.
Since Rio 1992, ASEAN experienced rapid economic
growth through industrialization and export-led growth.
This enabled ASEAN to move away from resource-based
industries to manufacturing and service industries. Since
rural communities were able to find jobs in these sectors,
this eased the pressure on natural resources and member
countries were able to devote more resources to environ-

mental protection. The financial crisis of 1997-1998 set
back all that. Poverty and social unrest increased. Mem-
ber countries inevitably increased the exploitation of their
natural resources to sustain their level of income.
Despite the setbacks and turmoil brought about by
the financial crisis, the ASEAN is committed more than
ever to pursue economic liberalization, promote trade
and investment regimes that are increasingly integrated
in ASEAN, and open to the rest of the world. Measures
undertaken by ASEAN in this direction include the ASEAN
Free Trade Area (AFTA), the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA)
and the ASEAN Industrial Cooperation (AICO) Scheme.
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
The 1992 AFTA agreement required the elimination
of tariff barriers among the ASEAN member countries
with a view to integrating the ASEAN economy into a
single production base and creating a regional market
of 500 million people. By lowering tariff rates, ASEAN
hopes to enhance economic competitiveness and pro-
mote cross-border trade and investment in the region.
Partly as a result of the implementation of the Agree-
ment on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT)
Scheme for the AFTA, trade among ASEAN countries
has grown from $44.2 billion in 1993 to $95.2 billion
in 2000, representing an average annual increase of
11.6%.
One of the desired outcomes of AFTA is the ratio-
nalization of industrial production in the region, which
is expected to allow for product specialization and thus
avoid duplication of expensive production facilities. AFTA

was substantially realised in January 2002 with six original
member countries cutting their tariff barrier on almost all
manufactured and agricultural products between zero
and five per cent.
ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS)
This agreement, which was signed on 15 December
1995, provides the framework to liberalize trade in ser-
vices and aims to:
• enhance cooperation in services among member
countries in order to improve efficiency and com-
petitiveness, diversify production capacity and sup-
ply, and distribution of services of their service
suppliers within and outside ASEAN;
• eliminate substantially restrictions to trade in ser-
vices among member countries; and
• liberalize trade in services by expanding the depth
and scope of liberalization beyond those under-
taken by member countries under the General
Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) with the
aim of realising a free trade area in services.
The benefits of liberalization of trade in services in-
clude the following: enhanced competitiveness of pro-
viders of services in the region supports freer flow of
goods; increased foreign direct investment in the service
sectors; improved transfer of technology; freer flow of
services of professionals that would eventually catalyse
economic development and the integration process
throughout the ASEAN region.
ASEAN Investment Area (AIA)
Under this agreement, ASEAN countries are to open

their industrial sectors to ASEAN investors to the extent
of giving national treatment to such investments.
ASEAN Industrial Cooperation (AICO)
This scheme provides for companies operating in
two or more ASEAN countries to receive full AFTA treat-
ment immediately. Since the AICO scheme was intro-
duced in 1996, a total of 146 applications have been
received, of which 90 were approved. More than 90%
of the participating companies are from the automotive
related sector, with a handful from the electronics sector.
The AICO scheme has been well received by the private
sector and in response to their request, ASEAN has agreed
to extend the automatic waiver on the 30% national
equity requirement until 31 December 2002.
10
J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
Tourism
ASEAN recognises the strategic role of tourism and
economic growth in sustaining the rich and diverse social,
cultural and historical heritage of ASEAN. The ASEAN
Tourism Agreement that was adopted at the ASEAN
Summit last year would facilitate quality tourism and
strengthen the capacity of ASEAN to attract tourists within
and from outside the region.
ASEAN’s Integrated Infrastructure Network
Economic integration requires good infrastructure
facilities in the region such as regional networks of
highways, railways, telecommunications, power grids and
water and gas pipelines. ASEAN Vision 2020 calls for
the establishment of interconnecting arrangements in the

field of energy and utilities for electricity, natural gas and
water within ASEAN through the ASEAN Power Grid and
a Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline and Water Pipeline and
the promotion of cooperation in energy efficiency and
conservation, as well as the development of new and
renewable energy resources.
e-ASEAN
Today, regionalism takes on a larger meaning and
scope than market integration alone. The ASEAN mem-
ber countries are working closely in other emerging areas
to strengthen their national and regional competitive-
ness. In no other area is this more vital than in acquiring
technological prowess, thus the endorsement in 1999 of
the e-ASEAN initiative. This aims to develop a broad-
based and comprehensive framework, including physi-
cal, legal, logistical, social and economic infrastructure,
to promote an ASEAN e-space, as part of the ASEAN
positioning and branding strategy.
ASEAN leaders at the 2000 ASEAN Summit signed
the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement, which provides the
mechanism for operation in six main areas: connectivity
and inter-operability, local content, a seamless environ-
ment for electronic commerce, a common marketplace
for goods and services relating to information and
communications technology, development of human
resources, and e-governance
One of the projects being implemented is the e-
Farmers project, which seeks to address the challenges
of improving the economic welfare of ASEAN’s farming
community. This project aims to allow farmers and

producers direct access to critical market information
and the market itself through the internet or electronic
marketplace.
Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI)
The IAI, which was launched at the 2000 ASEAN Sum-
mit, aimed at narrowing the development gap within ASEAN
member countries by assisting the newer members namely,
Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam (the CLMV
countries). A six-year IAI Work Plan (2002-2007) has been
developed to expedite greater regional integration, pro-
mote equitable economic development and help alleviate
poverty in CLMV. The IAI Work Plan focuses on four priority
areas, namely:
• infrastructure development, covering transport and
energy;
• human resource development;
• information and communication technology (ICT);
and
• promoting regional economic integration in CLMV
countries, covering trade and services, investment
promotion, customs and standards.
Social Development
ASEAN recognises that sustainable development is
not only about generating wealth but also ensuring its
equitable distribution. A decent quality of life for its people
requires a high quality environment. The activities of the
poor are not the main causes of environmental degra-
dation and yet they are the most affected by it in terms
of quality of life and health. A number of factors, in-
cluding declining productivity, pollution, erosion, natural

calamities (such as floods and droughts), depressed
commodity prices and the influx of cheap imports, impose
formidable challenges to their livelihood. These chal-
lenges lead them to exploit natural resources
unsustainably. As a result, it has been necessary for the
ASEAN to address two key social development issues,
poverty and health and their interrelationships with the
environment.
Poverty
Although poverty levels in the ASEAN have been
declining, poverty levels in some of the newer member
countries are still considerably high. To address poverty
issues, ASEAN Vision 2020 hopes for an ASEAN where
hunger, malnutrition, deprivation and poverty are no
longer basic problems. A number of measures under the
Hanoi Plan of Action are meant to see this vision through,
including the Plan of Action on ASEAN Rural Develop-
ment and Poverty and the ASEAN Plan of Action on
Social Safety Nets.
The Framework Plan of Action on Rural Development
and Poverty Eradication was adopted in 1997 and
defined the following key actions:
• building and/or enhancing capacities for research,
assessment and monitoring of poverty in ASEAN
countries;
• training of facilitators on rural development and
poverty eradication; and
• developing a campaign for enhancing national
and regional public awareness on rural develop-
11A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y

ment and poverty eradication.
The social impacts of the financial crisis were then
addressed by the 1998 ASEAN Action Plan on Social
Safety Nets. Priorities in the action plan include:
• targeting and rapid impact assessment method-
ologies for social programs;
• service delivery and related operational issues;
• role of central and local governments in social
safety nets; and
• partnerships in social policy.
Health
In April 2000, the ASEAN Health Ministers adopted
the Healthy ASEAN 2020 Declaration, which envisioned
that by 2020 “health shall be at the centre of devel-
opment and ASEAN cooperation on health shall be
strengthened to ensure that our peoples are healthy in
mind and body and living in harmony in environments.”
The declaration seeks to:
• strengthen and further intensify ASEAN coopera-
tion in health to ensure that health concerns are
mainstreamed in government efforts;
• ensure that health development concerns are ef-
fectively integrated into the larger scheme of
regional cooperation;
• promote advocacy and enhance the state of public
awareness of health-related issues;
• ensure availability and accessibility of safe, af-
fordable, efficacious and quality health-related
products and services to meet the needs of the
ASEAN;

• strengthen the national and collective ASEAN ca-
pacity on the issues of health implications from
globalization and trade liberalization; and
• enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN and health-
related industries taking into account the strengths
and diversity of ASEAN member countries.
In March 2002, the ASEAN Ministers also adopted
a declaration to improve the lifestyles of ASEAN peoples
so by 2020 all ASEAN citizens will lead healthy lifestyles
consistent with the values, beliefs and culture in support-
ive environments.
One of the major issues in health is the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or the acquired immune
deficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic. The ASEAN Heads
of State and Government recognises that at least 1.6
million people in the region are living with HIV/AIDS,
and if left unchecked will undermine social and eco-
nomic development of ASEAN. As such, at the 2001
ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leaders adopted the ASEAN
Summit Declaration on HIV/AIDS, acknowledging that
prevention is the only effective way to combat the spread
of HIV/AIDS.
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection
ASEAN’s environment and natural resource endow-
ments are unique and diverse. Forest cover in ASEAN
is over 48%, compared to the world average of below
30%. Three of the 17 mega biodiversity countries are
in ASEAN. Terrestrial protected areas in the region num-
ber 1, 014 sites, protecting 418, 000 km

2
. The region’s
aquatic and marine ecosystems are highly productive
and species rich. Half a billion people in ASEAN de-
pend on these resources for their livelihood, causing
increasing stress on the natural environment. A number
of factors have led to natural resource degradation,
such as rapid population rise, conversion of forested
and ecologically-sensitive areas for agricultural purposes,
poverty and damage caused by forest fires and natural
disasters.
ASEAN member countries are actively engaged in
addressing global environmental issues. Almost all
member countries are parties to the relevant major
multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). Burdened
with the onerous obligations of these MEAs without the
promised substantial financial and technical support to
implement them, ASEAN is taking a lead in promoting
synergy and coordination among these MEAs to over-
come institutional and human resources constraints, and
at the same time to ensure a holistic and synergistic
approach to the issues.
Forest Ecosystems and Biological Diversity
The ASEAN region has a total land area of 4.4 million
sq km, most of which were once covered with forests.
In the mid-1990s, regional land use patterns were
detailed as:
Forest cover and deforestation vary widely across the
region. From 1970 to 1990, ASEAN lost 31.4 million
hectares of forest, a rate of about 15,700 km

2
per year.
Deforestation increased by 1990 to 2000, with annual
loss estimated at 23,260 km
2
a year.
Forest certification has been employed to encourage
sustainable forest management by promoting trade in
forest products from sustainably managed forests. The
ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF)
endorsed the Framework for ASEAN Regional Criteria
and Indicators (C&I) for Sustainable Management of
Natural Tropical Forests in October 2000. The regional
C&I is a guide to developing nation-specific criteria,
Land Use % of Total Land Area
Forest and Woodland 53%
Agriculture 21%
Pasture 4 %
Other uses, including urban areas 22%
12
J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
indicators and standards, which could be used to assess
sustainable forest management practices or for timber
certification.
Regional efforts to address deforestation are also
underway, specifically with the US$2.5 million five-year
ASEAN-Korea Environmental Cooperation Project on the
Restoration of Degraded Forest Ecosystems in the South-
east Asian Tropical Regions (2000-2005). The project
aims to contribute to sustainable and equitable forest

management and rehabilitation of deforested areas in
the tropical forest ecosystems of ASEAN member coun-
tries through partnership in research, capacity-building
and sharing of scientific and technical information.
In recognition of the region’s tremendous biodiversity
values, the three key strategies outlined in the HPA are to:
• strengthen the ASEAN Regional Centre for
Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC) by establish-
ing networks of relevant institutions and implement
collaborative training and research activities;
• promote regional coordination for the protection
of the ASEAN Heritage Parks and Reserves; and
• formulate and adopt an ASEAN Protocol on ac-
cess to genetic resources.
Initiatives are currently being undertaken to recognize
other unique ecosystems in the region, particularly in
newer member countries. The guidelines and criteria for
selecting ASEAN Parks and Reserves are currently under
review.
Freshwater Ecosystems
Population and economic growth in the ASEAN re-
gion have exerted pressure on water resources both in
terms of the quantity used and quality, often with adverse
impacts on freshwater ecosystems. In 2000, ASEAN
renewable water resources were estimated at 15% of the
world total. ASEAN wetlands of global importance
number 19 sites covering over 620,000 hectares.
Issues that most concern the ASEAN in terms of water
resources management include:
• capacity-building

• development of national water policy, legal tools
and institutional frameworks for water sector
management;
• identification and study of key transboundary is-
sues;
• identification and study of resource management
issues;
• catchment management and flood control;
• improved water quality and environmental pro-
tection;
• clear policies on private sector participation;
• autonomous and accountable water service pro-
viders;
• information for better resource management of
shared resources;
• increased effective stakeholder consultation and
participation; and
• water sector financing, water pricing, cost recov-
ery and incentive issues
The Hanoi Plan of Action calls for the implementa-
tion of an ASEAN regional water conservation
programme and the establishment of a framework to
achieve long-term environmental goals for ambient air
and river qualities for ASEAN countries.
Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
ASEAN coastal and marine ecosystems perform a
number of ecological, economic and social functions
in the region. They serve as sinks for wastes from land-
based resources, provide livelihood directly and directly
to millions in the region, provide food, maintain water

cycles, regulate climatic conditions, and maintain the
complex ecological balance of coastal and marine
ecosystems.
The Hanoi Plan of Action calls for the development
of a framework and the improvement of regional co-
ordination for the integrated protection and manage-
ment of coastal zones.
Fisheries
The ASEAN seas are rich in marine life and accounts
for around 2,500 species of fish and as many types of
invertebrates. It is also a significant producer of fish,
accounting in 1998 for over 7% of the world’s inland
aquaculture production, nearly 7% of marine aquacul-
Country Heritage Park and Reserve
Brunei Darussalam Tasek Merimbun
Indonesia Leuser National Park
Kerinci Seblat National Park
Lorentz Nature Reserve
Malaysia Kinabalu National Park
Mulu National Park
Taman Negara National Park
Philippines Mount Apo National Park
Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park
Thailand Khao Yai National Park
Koh Tarutao National Park
ASEAN Heritage Parks and Reserves
ASEAN Coastline 173,000 km
2
ASEAN Mangrove Forests 35% of the world total (1998)
ASEAN Coral Reefs

25-30% of world total (1998)
(most diverse in the world)
Global Coral Reefs at Risk 58% (27% at high/very high risk)
ASEAN Coral Reefs at Risk 80% (55% at high/very high risk)
ASEAN Marine Fish Production 14% of the world total (1998)
ASEAN Overall Fish Exports 15% of the world total (1998)
ASEAN Coastal Facts and Figures
13A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y
ture production, nearly 14% of fisheries production, 12%
of combined fisheries and aquaculture production, and
15% of global fisheries trade. People in ASEAN con-
sume about 20 kg of fish per capita per year, which
provides nearly half of their animal protein. Pressures
on fishery resources are caused by increasing demand,
deteriorating marine water quality and degradation of
coastal zones.
A Resolution on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security
in the ASEAN Region has been adopted and focuses on
regional guidelines on a code of conduct for fisheries,
collaboration among countries, capacity building, effec-
tive management and access to fishery resources, post
harvest technologies and joint ASEAN positions on inter-
national trade in fish and fishery resources.
The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
(SEAFDEC) has also undertaken a number of measures
to protect fishery resources, including the upgrading of
the traditional fish processing industry; promotion of
mangrove-friendly aquaculture; conservation and man-
agement of sea turtles; improvement of fishery statistics;
and development of common guidelines for the rational-

ization of the code of conduct for responsible fisheries.
Atmosphere and Climate
Although fossil fuel combustion remains a major source
of pollution in ASEAN, transboundary haze pollution from
land and forest fires has become more serious in recent
years. As a result, the Hanoi Plan of Action calls for the:
• full implementation of the Regional Haze Action
Plan;
• strengthening of the ASEAN Specialized Meteoro-
logical Center to monitor forest and land fires;
and
• establishment of the ASEAN Regional Research
and Training Center for Land and Forest Fire Man-
agement.
Transboundary Haze Pollution
The land and forest fires that hit the ASEAN region
in 1997-1998 have been considered among the most
damaging in history, causing massive environmental,
economic and social impacts. As a result, the Regional
Haze Action Plan (RHAP) was adopted in 1997 and
outlines the overall framework for strengthening the
region’s capacity to address transboundary haze pol-
lution through three major components: prevention,
mitigation and monitoring. The ASEAN member coun-
tries have shown their commitments to address this
problem with the signing of the ASEAN Agreement on
Transboundary Haze Pollution in June 2001.
Public Awareness and Environmental Education
ASEAN promotes public awareness of environmental
issues through annual national environmental campaigns

and the ASEAN Environment Year, which is observed
once every three years. The ASEAN Environmental
Education Action Plan (2000-2005) is currently being
implemented.
Promotion of Environmentally
Sound Technologies
The ASEAN is currently exploring the establishment
of a centre for the promotion of environmentally sound
technologies. This center/network is expected to enhance
national efforts in the development and use of environ-
mentally sound technologies, while making possible the
sharing of expertise, resources and promotion of har-
monization and certification at the regional level.
Environmental Reporting
and Data Harmonization
Two State of the Environment Reports (1997 and 2001)
have been produced, which provide the status of envi-
ronmental conditions, their impact and interrelationships
with various sectors in the ASEAN. The ASEAN also hopes
to harmonise national and regional databases to support
environmental analysis, modelling, and forecasting for
environmental assessment and monitoring.
ASEAN’s Governance and Cooperative Mechanism
ASEAN’s governance mechanism, which has evolved
gradually over the years, is now very much institutionalised
and cover major sectors such as political, security, eco-
nomic, social, environment and other functional areas.
The highest decision-making body of ASEAN is the
Meeting of the Heads of State and Government or ASEAN
Summit held every year.

The Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers, better known
as the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) is responsible
for the formulation of policy guidelines. The AMM is
supported by the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC) and
the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), while the ASEAN
Economic Ministers (AEM) is supported by the Senior
Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) and several work-
ing groups. Overall coordination at the national level
in each of the ASEAN member countries is undertaken
by a dedicated ASEAN department in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.
ASEAN Environmental Management Framework
ASEAN cooperation on the environment started in
1978 with the establishment of an ASEAN Experts Group
on the Environment (AEGE), which has since been el-
evated as the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environ-
ment (ASOEN). The ASOEN is composed of the heads
of environmental ministries/departments/agencies that
are responsible for environmental matters in their re-
14
J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
spective countries (Figure 1).
The cooperative programmes and projects of
ASOEN are guided by the ASEAN Strategic Plan of Ac-
tion on the Environment (SPAE)1999-2004. The ASOEN
reports to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Envi-
ronment (AMME), which is primarily responsible for policy
matters related to the environment. At the national level
on the other hand, ASEAN member countries have
designated specific institutions to implement Agenda 21.

Recommendations to the World Summit
on Sustainable Development
The ASEAN ministers responsible for the environment
met at a Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the
Environment for the WSSD in June 2002 to review the
progress, constraints and challenges on the implemen-
tation of Agenda 21 in the region and to consider key
issues to be discussed at the WSSD. The outcome of the
Meeting was a Joint Statement of the Ministers Respon-
sible for Environment of the Member States of ASEAN
to the World Summit on Sustainable Development is-
sued on 4 June 2002, which encapsulated the main
recommendations of ASEAN to the WSSD. The key rec-
ommendations are summarised as follows:
• ASEAN has a well-established governance struc-
ture for the Southeast Asian region to effectively
develop, coordinate and implement regional
programmes. ASEAN also provides the forum to
facilitate the development and implementation of
integrated regional sustainable development
policies, strategies and action plans consistent with
the global framework and the needs of member
countries. Therefore, in calling for the strengthen-
ing of the sustainable development governance
and institutional frameworks,
ASEAN emphasised that exist-
ing frameworks for regional
inter-governmental gover-
nance such as ASEAN should
be fully utilised as part of the

international governance struc-
ture to promote coordinated
sustainable development ini-
tiatives for that region. ASEAN
also called upon the Global
Environment Facility to en-
hance its effectiveness by im-
proving its operational proce-
dures and be more respon-
sive to the identified needs of
developing countries; and ac-
cord priority to regional poli-
cies developed within the
ASEAN institutional framework.
• ASEAN called for declarations and commitments
such as those contained in the Rio Declaration,
Agenda 21, Millenium Declaration and the
Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Develop-
ment to be implemented expeditiously. Addition-
ally, ASEAN called for developed countries to fulfill
their commitments in financial assistance, technol-
ogy transfer and capacity building in line with the
principle of common but differentiated responsi-
bilities.
• ASEAN called for the further enhancement of the
international economic and trading systems to
complement the ASEAN’s efforts to open trade
and investment in the region, in particular, to
improve market access for developing countries’
exports, eliminate trade-distorting subsidies and

barriers to trade for agricultural products, and
provides special and differential treatment to de-
veloping countries. ASEAN expressed its opposi-
tion to the use of environmental measures for
protectionist purposes.
• ASEAN also called for the strengthening of the
international financial architecture, which includes
a review of the roles of the international financial
institutions as well as international regulatory bodies
in order to enhance their capacity to contain and
resolve financial crises. Priority should be accorded
to measures to protect the poor and most vulner-
able segments of society. ASEAN also welcomed
efforts to deal comprehensively and effectively with
the debt problems of developing countries and
to make the management of debt sustainable in
the long term.
Turn to page 18
Figure 1. ASEAN Institutional Framework for Environmental Cooperation
Working Group on
Coastal and Marine
Environment
(AWGCME)
Working Group on
Multilateral Environmental
Agreements
(AWGMEA)
Working Group on
Nature Conservation
and Biodiversity

(AWGNCB)
Working Group on
Water Resources
Management
(AWGWRM)
Other Environmental
Activities
(ASEAN Secretariat)
Haze Technical
Task Force
(HTTF)
ASEAN Secretariat
(Bureau of Functional
Cooperation)
ASEAN Senior
Officials on the
Environment
(ASOEN)
ASEAN Standing
Committee
(ASC)
ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting on the
Environment
(AMME)
Secretary General
of ASEAN
ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting (AMM)
(ASEAN Foreign

Ministers)
ASEAN Summit
(ASEAN Heads of
State/Government)
15A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y
SPECIAL REPORTS:


WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Enhancing Environmental Protection
Background Information
Brunei Darussalam is situated in the northwestern coast
of the island of Borneo and covers a land area of 5,765
km. Its only direct neighbour is the eastern Malaysian
state of Sarawak, which also divides the country into two
parts. Hilly lowlands, swampy plains and alluvial valleys
dominate the districts of Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait,
which form the larger western portion. Mountainous terrain
abound in the eastern district of Temburong, which has
a land area of 1,288 km
2
.
Nearly 4000 species of flowering plants have been
identified in Brunei. There is also a wide variety of faunal
species in the country. Some of the fauna found are the
shrimp, crab, otter, flying fox, rare proboscis monkey,
silver-leaf monkey, several bird species
specially of the kingfisher family and
many migratory birds, crocodile, green

turtle, a variety of fish, lizard, bat, snails,
moths and other insects.
Four main river systems irrigate the
four districts, namely: Temburong, Belait,
Tutong and Brunei. Temburong, the
smallest of the main rivers, drains nearly
of the Temburong district. The Belait basin is the largest
with an area of 2,700 km
2
. The lower Belait catchment
comprises an extensive area of peat swamp forest. The
river narrows at the town of Kuala Belait and a sand
bar restricts the discharge of water to the South China
Sea. While some areas in the upper catchments have
been cleared for agriculture, this area is mostly jungle
and sparsely populated. The Tutong basin has an area
of 1,300 km
2
. Its lower catchments are broadly flood
plain while the upper catchment is jungle and patches
of agriculture.
With a coastline of 130 kms, Brunei’s coastal zone
harbours productive ecosystems and valuable onshore
and offshore hydrocarbon deposits. Brunei, Tutong and
Belait form the three major estuaries. Five hundred species
of fish and insects as well as 12 shrimp species have
been reported in Brunei waters.
Mangroves cover 3.2% of the total land area
(18,418 hectares) and are relatively under exploited
and among the best preserved in Southeast Asia. They

provide a habitat for many unique and endangered
species of plants and animals, including the Chinese
egret, which migrates every winter from Siberia to
Southeast Asia.
Brunei Darussalam has 33 offshore islands, which
together occupy a small area of 7,939 hectares or 1.4%
of the total land area. Most of the islands have a
substantial population of long-nosed monkeys, probos-
cis Monkeys, and a variety of birds. The long-nosed
monkey, considered a vulnerable and endangered breed,
is found only on the Borneo Island. These islands also
nurture a large population of flying foxes.
Protection of the Atmosphere
Though environmental pollution is currently not a major
problem, the diversification of the economy, increasing
population and industrial growth may cause problems
in the future. Current atmospheric pollution largely comes
from vehicular emissions, industrial
activities, forest fires and open burning.
Air pollution due to industrial activities
is minimal and levels of air pollutants
are relatively low. Current efforts to
control pollution mostly concern
strengthening institutional, technical and
legal capacity to prevent and combat
forest fires. These include physical
measures such as putting up fire breaks in forest reserves
as well as constructing fire observation towers, and barriers
and fences to prevent people from entering fire-sensitive
areas.

Brunei Darussalam may lack comprehensive legis-
lation to regulate or provide air quality standards, but
it is a signatory to two international agreements regard-
ing the protection of the atmosphere:
• Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone
Layer – 16 July 1990
• Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer – 27 May 1993
Integrated Approach to the Planning
and Management of Land Resources
Land resources are considerably affected by conver-
sion for agricultural and construction purposes, such as
through open burning, which is still a common occur-
rence in the country. Open burning is legally prohibited
at government rubbish dumpsites and forest reserves. It
is also prohibited during dry seasons and prolonged
drought as stated in Section 277A of the Emergency
Order (Penal Code Amendment, 1998). Offences re-
lated to open burning face a B$100,000 fine.
16
J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
Combating Deforestation and Addressing
the Convention on Biological Diversity
It is estimated that forests still cover roughly 469,046
ha or 80% of the total land area of Brunei. More than
55% of the land area is occupied by virgin tropical
rainforests. Log production has dropped by 50% since
1990 from 200,000 cubic metres due to increased efforts
to protect forest resources. Degraded lands have also
been identified and funds have been allocated for their

rehabilitation to control soil erosion and enhance the
natural beauty of the environment.
There are a number of laws, which aim to protect
forest resources and prevent desertification. These in-
clude the Forest Act, which prohibits persons from keep-
ing, carrying or leaving any fire burning that may
endanger reserved forests. The Forest Law and Regu-
lations also details efforts to curb illegal logging and
control other forest offences.
Implementation plans significant to forest protection
include the National Forestry Policy of 1989. This intro-
duced forest conservation and protection policy that cat-
egorized resources into Conservation, Protection and
Production forests. The plan stresses the protection of
forest biodiversity and water catchment areas, and
promotes the replanting of wastelands.
The Seventh National Plan (1996 – 2000), on the
other hand includes the implementation of projects sig-
nificant to forest and biodiversity, including the Wildlife
Resource Inventory of Brunei Darussalam Forest and the
Tropical Forest Biodiversity Project.
In addition to the Convention on Biological Diversity,
Brunei Darussalam is also a signatory to the Convention
on International Trade of Endangered Species and the
ASEAN Agreement on the Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources.
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
and Rural Development
There is increased use of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides in the agricultural sector and, to a lesser extent,

in the forestry sector (silviculture), which may cause harm
to rural ecology and health. One of the measures in-
stituted to control pesticide and fertilizer use was the
establishment of the Pesticide Assessment Committee in
1989. The Committee is tasked with screening appli-
cations for licenses to import agro-chemicals and as-
sessing the competence of sellers.
Protection of the Oceans and Protection
and Rational Use of their Living Resources
Human pressures on marine resources are intense
since about 85% of the population lives in coastal areas
where almost all the social, cultural and economic ac-
tivities are concentrated. Measures to protect the oceans
and its resources include the National
Environment Strategy of Brunei
Darussalam, which includes the Strat-
egy on the Protection of Coastal and
Marine Resources. This strategy focuses
on the following areas: water quality
management; contingency plans for oil
spills; ratification of IMO conventions;
mangrove, coral and artificial reef man-
agement; marine wildlife sanctuaries;
coastal erosion; and others. The imple-
mentation of a Coastal Zone Manage-
ment Plan prepared under the ASEAN
– US Coastal Resources Management
Project is under review.
Brunei is also a signatory to inter-
national agreements that ensure the

protection of the world’s marine re-
sources, specifically the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention
on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
Protection of the Quality
and Supply of Freshwater Resources
Ensuring access to safe drinking water is the respon-
sibility of the Water Services Department, Ministry of
Development. A Water Resources Management Work-
ing Group established by the National Committee on
Environment in 1994 is tasked with the establishment of
environmental quality objectives, corresponding stan-
dards and monitoring requirements for water resources;
a plan of action to mitigate adverse effects on water
resources; and a harmonised legal framework for water
resource management.

Sources: www.johannesburgsummit.org
NBRU-Brunei Darussalam
Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park
17A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y
CAMBODIA
Strengthening Peoples’ Participation
in Sustainable Development
SPECIAL REPORTS:


WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Integrated Approach to Planning
and Management of Land Resources

Equitable access to land continues to be a major
issue in the country and is a critical factor in poverty
reduction. A World Bank survey in 2000 revealed that
the richest 10% of Cambodian households owned 40%
of the land, while the poorest 40% owned only 12%.
About 14.4% of rural households are landless. Forcible
displacement of millions from their homes and abolition
of private ownership of land by the Khmer Rouge have
introduced large-scale confusion and land disputes.
Serious measures are currently being undertaken to
prevent land grabbing.
Combating Deforestation
Conflicts from the 1970s-80s caused
immense deforestation, decimating
forest cover from 73% in 1960 to 58%
in 2000. After the decline of the Khmer
Rouge, there was an increase in uncon-
trolled access to formerly secured for-
ested areas, which encouraged illegal logging. The
government began addressing these issues by cancel-
ling forest concessions, curbing illegal logging, seizing
equipment and illegally harvested logs and closing il-
legal sawmills.
The implementation of forest management policies
to prevent desertification and protect forest resources is
a top priority of the Royal Government of Cambodia
(RGC). Reforms in the forestry sector are currently un-
derway to eliminate illegal logging, enhance capacity
building, strengthen forest rehabilitation and enlarge
forest conservation activities. Forest concessions are also

managed through the formulation of a code of conduct
for forest concessionaires, suspension of forest conces-
sions that lack management plans and the development
of programmes on forest community management.
Actions by the RGC to create conditions conducive
to sustainable development of forest resources include
the strengthening of the Forest Crime Monitoring Unit
(FCMU) and legislative and policy framework for sus-
tainable resource management, as well as the devel-
opment on a Sub-Decree on Community Forestry to
enhance community participation in forest management
decision making processes. Another programme is the
Cambodia Forest Crime Monitoring Project, which has
improved government capacity to detect and track il-
legal logging. International organizations such as Glo-
bal Witness act as independent monitors in assessing the
country’s efforts to protect forest resources.
Conservation of Biological Diversity
One of the efforts that address biodiversity conser-
vation issues in the country is the creation of the Inter-
governmental National Biodiversity Steering Committee.
Mandated to formulate the biodiversity conservation plan,
the Committee is composed of representatives from the
Ministries of Environment; Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries; Land Manage-
ment, Urban Planning and Construc-
tion; Rural Development; and Water
Resources and Meteorology. The
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
was drafted to provide the basis for all

future activities in biodiversity conserva-
tion. It interrelates biodiversity with is-
sues such as security, institutional development, commu-
nity participation and development, quality of life, poverty
reduction, industry, technology and services. Prioritisation
of the components of the Action Plan was decided on
during a National Workshop on Biodiversity Issues held
in October 2000.
Biodiversity-related programmes include a pilot
project at Virachey National Park. Funded by the Global
Environment Facility (GEF) and the Learning and Inno-
vation Loan, the project aims to develop and demon-
strate an approach to manage Cambodia’s National
Protected Areas System. The project also aims to de-
velop and test specific measures to minimise biodiversity
degradation in the area.
Protection and Rational Use of Water Resources
One of the major water sources in Cambodia is the
Tonle Sap (Great Lake), which is simultaneously the largest
freshwater lake in SEA, a UNESCO biosphere reserve,
a livelihood base for nearly 30% of all Cambodians
and a national symbol of Khmer identity. It provides
60% of the total protein intake of the Cambodian
population. Threats to the Tonle Sap and other fresh-
water resources include over-fishing, denudation of
18
J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
Kirirom National Park
watersheds, contamination from harmful farm chemicals
as well as periods of flooding and drought.

The establishment of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Re-
serve in March 2001 underscored the lake’s importance
to the people of Cambodia. A Tonle Sap Inter-Minis-
terial Task Force was also created to formulate and
coordinate the sustainable development plan for the
lake and its resources.
In terms of the fishery sector, a comprehensive reform
of the traditional fishing lot system has been com-
pleted. As a result, the size of official fishing lots has
been reduced by 495,000 has (53% of all fishing
lots). The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fish-
eries (MAFF) has drafted a new Fisheries Law and
prepared a Fisheries Master Plan to protect fishery
resources. A Decree on Community Fisheries and a
Fishing Lot Auction has also been issued following
extensive consultations with stakeholders.
Strengthening the Role of Major Groups
Sectors that are only now being given due atten-
tion by the government include women and NGOs.
The involvement of women is currently being encour-
aged since the government has begun to appreciate
that community participation, particularly of key play-
ers such as women and religious groups, is crucial
to successful development activities. New Cambo-
dian NGOs, together with current international NGOs,
are also regular participants in the annual Consultative
Group Meetings on Cambodia. Hundreds of NGOs
work on various issues, including health, agriculture, en-
vironment, education, human rights and gender. Two
collations of NGOs currently exist in the country, namely

the NGOs Forum on Cambodia and the Cooperation
Committee for Cambodia.

Source: www.johannesburgsummit.org
• ASEAN called for sustained international support
to deal with transboundary haze from land and
forest fires, which has global impacts in terms of
biodiversity loss and the emission of carbon di-
oxide.
• ASEAN further called for the implementation of
multilateral environmental agreements such as the
Convention on Biological Diversity, and concerted
efforts to foster synergy and coordination among
these agreements. ASEAN emphasised their sup-
port to the early entry into force of the Kyoto
Protocol.
• ASEAN also supported the initiatives on partner-
ships (Type II Outcomes) and urged interested
parties to explore such partnerships in the key
programme areas that have been outlined in the
ASEAN Report to the WSSD.
Follow up to the World Summit
on Sustainable Development
The ASEAN Ministers of Environment had an Informal
meeting in November 2002, after the WSSD. They
agreed to intensify cooperation to implement the WSSD
outcomes and further agreed to prioritise ASEAN activi-
ties in the following 10 areas:
• Global environmental issues
• Land and forest fires and transboundary haze

pollution
• Coastal and marine environment
• Sustainable forest management
• Sustainable Maaanagement of natural parks and
protected areas
• Freshwater resources
• Public awareness and environmental education
• Promotion of environmentally-sound technologies
and cleaner production
• Urban environmental management and gover-
nance, and
• Sustainable development monitoring and report-
ing, and database harmonisation.
Programmes of action will be developed and part-
nerships sought for the implementation of the above
areas with each member country taking the lead on
a specific issue. The Environmental Ministers at the
Meeting also adopted the theme “Together Towards
Sustainable Development” for the ASEAN Environ-
ment Year 2003, which reiterates ASEAN’s commit-
ment to achieving the goals of sustainable
development.

From page 14
The ASEAN
Source: ASEAN Secretariat
19A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y
INDONESIA
Strengthening National Agenda 21
SPECIAL REPORTS:

WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The following are efforts undertaken by Indonesia to
address environmental issues in the country in line with
agreements made during the last Earth Summit.
Protection of the Atmosphere
According to government data, ambient air quality
in a number of major cities in Indonesia in 2001 went
from “good” to “unhealthy”. Air quality in Jakarta and
Bandung ranged from “moderate” to “unhealthy”. In
other cities that had low levels of pollution from industrial
and transportation sources, forest fires from Kalimantan
unfortunately exacerbated air quality conditions. Car-
bon dioxide accounted for 7% of total emissions, largely
caused by changes in land use, primarily deforestation,
as well as industrial and transportation
sources.
Regulations that govern the quality
of the atmosphere in Indonesia include
Government Regulation no. 41/1999
on air pollution, which serves as the basis
for air quality management. A number
of Ministerial Decrees also provide
instructions on the air pollution standard
index (for ambient air quality) and emission standards
for mobile and static sources. In terms of ozone-deplet-
ing substances (ODS), Ministerial Decree Nos. 110/MPP/
1998 and 410/MPP/1998 prohibit the production and
trade of ODS and new appliances using ODS.

Indonesia has also ratified the United Nations Frame-
work Convention on Climate Change through Law No.
6/1994. The National Action Plan has been formulated
with assistance from NGOs.
Programmes and Projects
The government planned to phase out all ozone-
depleting substances (ODS) by 1997, through an ODS
phase out project (1994-2007) supported by the mul-
tilateral fund of the Montreal Protocol through the World
Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, and
UNIDO. The project combines the efforts of the gov-
ernment, industry and NGOs and focuses on the fol-
lowing: institutional measures; regulatory measures;
incentives/disincentives; information awareness; invest-
ment and technical assistance; and monitoring.
In response to its commitments to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC),
Indonesia has conducted an inventory of greenhouse
gases (GHG), an assessment of potential impacts of
climate change, as well as analysis of potential mea-
sures to adapt to the increase in GHG emissions and
climate change. Other efforts aim to enhance the gen-
eral awareness and knowledge on climate change and
related issues and to strengthen the dialogue, informa-
tion exchange and cooperation among all the relevant
stakeholders.
In terms of capacity building, local operators have
been trained to operate air quality monitoring systems
in their own regions. A public campaign, interactive
dialogues and seminars have also been conducted to

warn the public of the danger of leaded emission from
vehicles. Other information on Indonesia’s compliance
with the Montreal Protocol can be
obtained from a database and its
website.
Ongoing Research
Studies have been undertaken to
determine the effects of air pollution
caused by leaded gasoline, including
a survey on the lead content in primary
students’ blood in Jakarta. The results proved that
immediate action needs to be undertaken. Other studies
done in the area of climate change range from the
socio-economic impacts of climate change, and the
possibility for Indonesia to participate in the clean
development mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol.
Partners in the phase out of leaded gasoline include
Pertamina and producers of gasoline. Several NGOs
have allied to form the Leaded Gasoline Phase-out Com-
mittee and helped to accelerate the leaded gasoline
phase out schedule. Most projects are supported by the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), In-
ternational Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD) and United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO).
Integrated Approach to the Planning
and Management of Land Resources
Current issues in land resources management include
the conversion of agricultural to non-agricultural land,
the expansion of urban socio-economic activities and

rapid population growth. Conditions caused by these
factors are worsened by the lack of coordination be-
tween government agencies and sectors of develop-
20
J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
ment, complex regulations and mechanisms related to
land resources and weak law enforcement. Conversion
of agricultural lands to other uses in particular amounted
to 106,424 ha in 1993-1995. Existence of 1.2 M ha
of idle land in urban areas is a testament to inefficient
land resource use.
To support sound land resources management and
planning, a baseline mapping programme was initi-
ated. The result was a 79% achievement by 1998, with
the lowest achievement in the province of West Sumatra.
Activities related to integrated planning and manage-
ment of land resources are largely coordinated by the
National Spatial Coordination Agency (Badan
Koordinasi Pengelolaan Tata Ruang Nasional or
BKTRN), which was established in 1993 under the
National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS).
One of the laws concerning land use management is
Spatial Planning Law No. 24/1992, which aims to
achieve an integrated and environmentally sound
spatial use of land resources in Indonesia and is
complemented by Government Regulation No. 47/
1997 on the National Regional Spatial Plan. Law No.
69/1996 concerns public participation in spatial plan-
ning.
Programmes and Projects

Based on the country’s National Agenda 21, land
resources management should focus on improving ef-
ficiency in spatial and land resources planning, devel-
oping and strengthening related regulations and law,
streamlining institutional arrangements, and develop-
ing sound data and information systems. One
programme that has been developed is a Land Ad-
ministration Project undertaken in 1993 in collabora-
tion with the World Bank. Its objective was titling and
registration, improvement of institutional frameworks for
land administration and development of land man-
agement policies. The government has also embarked
on a Land Office Computerization programme to
enhance public services on land related matters.
Government institutions and universities have also
begun to use current technologies such as aerial pho-
tography, digital mapping, remote sensing and satel-
lite imaging such as SPOT and LandSat.
Combating Deforestation
The government classified forests according to func-
tion, namely as protected, production forest and na-
ture reserve. In 1999, total forest area has been es-
timated at 120.3 million ha, consisting of 33.5 million
ha of protected forest, 66.3 million ha of production
forest and 20.5 million ha of nature reserves. Defor-
estation is estimated at 1.6 million ha annually, caused
largely by concessionaires focused on forest exploita-
tion, as well as forest fires, illegal logging, lack of law
enforcement, mining and the gap between supply and
demand for timber. Transmigration has also contrib-

uted to forest depletion. In 1999, a total forest area
of 1,298,990 ha had been converted from production
to protection and reserve forest areas.
Current legislation related to forest protection, which
include Law No. 41/1999 on forestry, has given a new
paradigm to forest development planning. Forest plan-
ning must be transparent, integrated, and participa-
tory. The law accommodates the role and right of people
living in and around conservation areas in forest man-
agement. President’s Instruction No. 5/2001, on the
other hand, details the abatement of illegal logging
and distribution of illegal forest products.
Various government agencies that have jurisdiction
over forest matters include the:
1. Directorate General of Production Forests –
authorises the release of logging concession
rights. The Directorate works under the Ministry
of Forestry and Crop Estates, the primary gov-
ernment agency in terms of forest management).
2. Department of Trade and Industry - issues per-
mits for the establishment of timber and forestry
enterprises.
3. Department of Agriculture – has important role
in conversion of forests to agricultural land.
4. Department of Mines and Energy – grants min-
ing rights in areas that frequently include forest
areas.
Other organisations involved in forest protection
issues include the Consultative Group on Indonesian
Forestry (CGIF), which was established in 1994 as a

coalition of institutions from various donor countries.
In 1999, CGIF supported the formation of a team
consisting of representatives from government, aca-
deme and NGOs. The team was organised to prepare
the national forest programme (NFP), which was un-
fortunately not finalised. In 2000, the Inter-Departmen-
tal Committee on Forestry (IDCF) was organised to
formulate the NFP. In the same year, the Ministry of
Forestry and Crop Estates compiled its strategic plan
for 2001-2005 and assisted in the formulation of the
NFP. The process is still ongoing.
Programmes and Projects
Ongoing activities include the development of forest
production centres in villages to support community-
based forest management in recognition of the impor-
tant role played by communities living near and within
forested areas. Illegal logging and illegal distribution
of forest products are checked by routine patrols and
intelligence operations. Forest fire prevention is also a
major concern, hence the establishment of Forest and
21A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y
Ground Fire Control Centres as well as the develop-
ment of a National Coordinating Team for the Control
of Forest and Ground Fires. International donors such
as the Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit
(GTZ), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
and the European Union (EU) have set up programmes
in forest fire prone locations. Activities include setting
up an early warning system, monitoring, socialising hot
spot data and public awareness campaigns.

The government has also initiated a number of forest
rehabilitation programmes with the participation of local
communities. In 1999/2000, the government targeted
155,688 ha for reforestation and afforestation.
Capacity building activities include the provision of
several training centres and a diploma programme,
designed mainly for human resource development
among government staff working in forest manage-
ment. International organizations also provide capac-
ity building programmes, such as a GTZ programme
called “Strengthening Management Capacities of the
Indonesian Ministry of Forestry.” Forestry faculties exist
in many public universities and school curricula are
being reformed to include courses on forest manage-
ment.
To manage forest resources data, the Ministry of
Forestry and Crop Estates runs a Documentation and
Information Centre on forestry, some of which are also
available on the internet. To enhance the accuracy of
the data, the Ministry has planned new programs on
mapping and natural resource assessment.
Research activities are also undertaken by the Min-
istry. Other research organizations include the Centre
for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the In-
ternational Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF).
University based research centres have also been es-
tablished in collaboration with national and interna-
tional institutions. Important areas of research include
the development of more environment friendly logging
practices and timber-processing technologies with re-

duced wastes. Forest commodity technologies are also
being developed but are not sufficiently socialised to
people who need them.
Funding for forest management projects comes from
the national budget, with support from the World Bank,
Asian Development Bank, GTZ, JICA, the Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA) and other
organisations.
Combating Drought
According to statistical data in 2000, the extent of
critical land amounted to 8.1 million ha inside and
15.1 million ha outside forest
areas. Land degradation is largely
due to forest clearing and the extent
of critical land expands 400,000
ha annually. The Ministry of For-
estry and Crop Estates has been
chosen as the focal point in the
implementation of the Convention
to Combat Desertification.
Programmes and Projects
Indonesia will soon implement
a National Action program to
mitigate land degradation and will
embark on attempts to rehabilitate
critical land, soil and water con-
servation activities. From 1999 to
2003, the government has tar-
geted 1.2 million ha inside forest
and 2.6 million outside areas to

be rehabilitated. However, many programs have failed
since droughts and floods continue to occur in certain
areas. One major cause is the lack of coordination
among institutions involved in the program.
In terms of data management, the Meteorology and
Geophysics Agency provides weather information and
forecasts future prolonged drought in certain areas while
the Ministry of Forestry and Crop Estates provides data
on the extent of critical land. Research organizations
include the Institute for Land Research in Bogor, which
initiated research on soil and water conservation tech-
nologies in the 1970s, as well as the Research Centre
for Soil and Agroclimate.
Funding is scarce, and hopefully international in-
stitutions will provide additional funds within the frame-
work of the CCD. The Government provides credit for
agriculture and conservation in water catchment areas
Kerinci-Seblat National Park
Photo by Jeremy Holden, FFI
22
J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
to encourage farmers to expand their agricultural
activities in arid areas.
Sustainable Mountain Development
There are 129 volcanoes in Indonesia, 15 of which
are categorized as critical, meaning likely to explode.
There are three to five eruptions annually. To address
sustainable mountain development concerns, the Na-
tional Forum for Coordinating Natural Disaster Alle-
viation continuously monitors volcanic activities through

several monitoring points. In 1997/1998, 64 out of
79 volcanoes were monitored from 70 posts. Moni-
toring satellites were also used to watch remote vol-
canoes. Volcano mapping has also been conducted
focusing on geology, topography, risk zones and lava
flows. Mapping activities has not been done on all
volcanoes due to funding constraints, and work has
concentrated on 16 disaster sensitive areas.
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
and Rural Development
As previously mentioned, conversion of agricultural
to non-agricultural land is a major issue in land re-
source management. From 1980 to 1995, urban areas
increased by an estimated 367,500 ha, an average
of 25,100 ha per year. From 1981-2000, as much as
246,700 ha of wet riceland annually was converted
to other types of land use. The World Bank estimates
that by 2010, roughly 13% of Java’s 3.4 million ha
of ricefields may be converted to non-agricultural land.
Agricultural-employee households have the lowest in-
come compared to other groups. Even agricultural
households owning more than 1 ha of land make less
money annually than non-agricultural lower-level ur-
ban households.
Some of the regulations that promote sustainable
agriculture are the:
• Pesticide and Seed Control (under Law No. 12/
1992)
• Prohibition on the Conversion of Wet Riceland
for Non-Agricultural Purposes (Presidential Instruc-

tion No. 3/1990)
• Restrictions on the Pesticides permitted for Rice
Crops (Presidential Instruction No. 3/1996)
The regulations, however, need further law enforce-
ment measures.
Programmes and Projects
To address land conversion issues, the country’s
Agenda 21 recommends the inclusion of both long-
term planning and environmental concerns, including
soil nutrition and water use, as criteria in all major
policies and programmes. It also proposed measures
such as strict monitoring and control of pesticide use,
legal restrictions on land conversion and agricultural
extension programmes focused on issues such as soil
fertility and use of crop wastes.
One particular programme that promotes sustain-
able agriculture is the Integrated Pest Management
Program (IPM), which began in 1986 after the imple-
mentation of the Presidential Instruction that banned
the use of 57 pesticides on rice and cut off pesticide
subsidies. Nearly one million farmers have been trained
in IPM and nearly every village in the major-rice grow-
ing areas has had at least one Farmers’ Field School.
Some 2700 full-time government IPM trainers operate
in the country, along with over 1200 part-time trainers.
Information management of issues concerning the
agricultural sector is largely the concern of the Ministry
of Agriculture, the Central Statistics Bureau and the
Ministry of Forestry and Plantation. Research, however,
is conducted by the Agency for Agricultural Research

Development of the Ministry of Agriculture, Bogor
Agricultural University and Centre for Agricultural Policy
Studies.
In terms of funding, the agriculture sector (including
forestry and irrigation) was allocated 9.8% of the na-
tional expenditure in 1999/2000, down from 10.5%
from the previous year. From 1969-2004, the budget
was as much as 22.6%. Domestic investments in ag-
riculture during 1967-2000 amounted to 81,412 bil-
lion rupiah with 74,105 billion rupiah of foreign in-
vestments. Financial support is also provided by orga-
nizations from sustainable agricultural networks from
Australia, France, Thailand, Japan, the EU and Mo-
rocco.
Conservation of Biological Diversity
Status
Indonesia is widely known as a mega-diverse coun-
try, home to approximately 17% of all world species
– 11% of known flowering species, 12% of mammals,
15% of amphibians and reptiles, 17% of birds, and
at least 37% of the world’s fishes. Ecosystems in Indo-
nesia range from icy land in Irian Jaya to lowland
forest, from deep lake to shallow swamp, and from
coral reefs to seagrass. Some of its islands, such as
Sulawesi, Irian and Metawi, have been found to have
very high levels of endemism.
Indonesia is the center of genetic diversity for banana
(Musa spp), nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), cloves (Syzgium
aromaticum), durian (Durio spp) and rambutan (Nephelium
spp). More than 6000 plant and animal species are

utilized daily by Indonesians, making them experts in the
use and management of biodiversity resources.
Indonesia is also facing tremendous biodiversity loss.
Around 20 to 70% of habitats is considered lost; species
extinction is estimated at one a day while genetic erosion
23A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y
is unrecorded. Endangered species include 126 birds,
63 mammals and 21 reptiles. Factors that cause
biodiversity loss include inappropriate economic poli-
cies and strategies, weak law enforcement, over-ex-
ploitation of natural resources, introduction of exotic
species and inappropriate agricultural policies.
By 2000, 356 terrestrial conservation areas have
been designated with a total area of 17.8 million ha.
These include:
• 166 nature reserves (2,464,722.34 ha)
• 47 game reserves (3,550,085.12 ha)
• 79 recreation parks (293,681.73 ha)
• 15 hunting parks (247,392.70 ha)
• 34 national parks (11,050,743.23 ha) and;
• 15 grand forest parks (247,876.50).
Thirty marine conservation areas constitute 4.6 mil-
lion ha.
To protect the country’s tremendous biodiversity, the
government instituted Law No. 5/1990 on conserva-
tion of living resources and their ecosystem, as well as
Law No. 5/1994 which ratifies the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD). The Directorate General of
Forest Protection and Nature Conservation under the
Ministry of Forest and Crop Estates manages biodiversity

conservation activities. The State Ministry for the Envi-
ronment, on the other hand, coordinates all govern-
ment activities that have an impact on the environment.
It also developed a National Biodiversity Strategy in
the early 1990s. Indonesia has revised the BAPI
(Biodiversity Action Plan for Indonesia) and has named
it as IBSAP (Indonesian Biodiversity Strategy and Action
Plan).
Programmes and Projects
In 2001, the Indonesia Biodiversity Forum formed
a strategic biodiversity agenda with three main
programmes: strategic alliance in education and em-
powerment; policies and laws; and data and informa-
tion. Biodiversity issues have also been integrated in
school curricula, especially in natural sciences or bi-
ology. Information management is conducted by the
Biodiversity Management Unit set up by BAPPENAS
and the State Ministry for the Environment. The Indo-
nesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has also developed
a National Database on Biodiversity. Various
organisations that include the Indonesia Biodiversity
Forum, the State Ministry of Environment, LIPI and other
NGOs also plan to set up a Biodiversity Clearing House
Mechanism.
Organisations with ongoing research programmes
on biodiversity include LIPI, the research and develop-
ment unit of the Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry
of Agriculture. Research concerns include:
• Management of natural conservation areas
• Conservation of wildlife habitat

• In-situ conservation of wildlife
• Ex-situ conservation of wildlife
• Breeding of bayan bird
• Ex-situ conservation of potentially and/or rare
tree species
• Regeneration of Shorea sp.
Protection of the Oceans and The Rational Use
and Development of their Living Resources
Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, with
more than 17,000 islands and 81,000 km of coast-
line. Sea area of Indonesia is 3.1 million km2 with an
EEZ of 2.7 million km
2
. By 2000, the government
designated 4,636,337.45 ha for marine conservation
in the form of 7 game preserves (208,780.45 ha), 3
wildlife preserves (65,220.00 ha), 14 recreation parks
(679,382.00 ha) and 6 national parks (3,682,955.00
ha).
Factors that cause marine degradation include over-
fishing, physical habitat degradation and spatial use
conflict. High intensity of development and the over-
exploitation of resources have caused pollution and
environmental degradation in certain regions. Lack of
monitoring, due to insufficient funding and equipment,
has caused many illegal fishing trips to operate in the
country. Foreign fishers also often use unsustainable
fishing practices (chemicals or bombs).
To protect marine resources, the government has
implemented Law No. 6/1996 on Indonesian waters

and Law No. 9 on Fisheries. It has also signed in-
ternational agreements such as the United Nations Con-
vention on the Law of the Sea, which was ratified in
1982 through Law No. 17/1985, as well as the In-
ternational Convention on the Protection of Pollution
from Ships (through Presidential Decree No. 46/1986).
The Ministry of Marine and Fishery, formerly the
Ministry of Sea Exploration and Fishery, coordinates
the management of coastal and marine resources in
Indonesia. The government is currently formulating a
bill on coastal zone management through a process
that accommodates various public interests by devel-
oping national as well as local public consultation fora.
Programmes and Projects
Sea and coastal zone management currently fo-
cuses on four main programmes: sustainable utiliza-
tion, conservation, promoting public participation and
spatial planning. Ongoing activities include an Inte-
grated Sustainable Coastal and Marine Program by
the Directorate for Controlling Coastal and Marine
Ecosystem Degradation, which aims to conserve the
ecological functions of the coastal environment to
support sustainable development. Other projects on
24
J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
marine conservation are being conducted by the Marine
Resources Evaluation and Planning (MREP) project,
Marine Resources Evaluation Management and Plan-
ning (MAREMAP) project, Coral Reef Rehabilitation and
Management, Marine and Coastal Resources Man-

agement Project, and the Development of Sustainable
Mangrove Management Project.
Information management and training of human
resources are undertaken by the Coral Reef Rehabili-
tation and Management Project, which set up a Coral
Reef Information and Training Centre in Jakarta, as
well as by the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries. The
Ministry manages marine training centres for instruc-
tors/trainers who are responsible for raising awareness
among fishermen.
Protection of Freshwater Resources
Freshwater consumption in Indonesia is dominated
by the agricultural sector, which uses 98% of Indonesia’s
water resources. Clean water supplied by the regional
Drinking Water Company provides water to merely 20%
of 200 million Indonesians. By 2015, water use will
grow by as much as 6.67% for irrigation, 6.7% for
domestic needs and 12.5% for industry. Increased water
consumption coupled with the decreasing quantity and
quality of water resources has already created water
scarcity issues. The government aims to mitigate these
problems by reducing pollution from industries, con-
serving water resources and rehabilitating the physical
conditions of rivers. Laws on government freshwater
use includes Ministerial Decree No. 20/2001 (on the
rehabilitation of forest and land as issued by the Ministry
of Forestry) and Government Regulation No. 82/2001
(Water Quality Management and Water Pollution Con-
trol). The government has also ratified the RAMSAR
Convention through Regulation No. 27/1991.

Programmes and Projects
Attempts to achieve better water resources manage-
ment focus on enhancing the efficiency of water use,
improving the quality of water resources, balancing
water source availability, and developing a integrated
water resource management program. Research on
these and other issues related to water conservation is
conducted by the Agency for Assessment and Appli-
cation of Technology, the Agency for Irrigation Research
and Development and the Ministry of Settlement and
Regional Infrastructure.
Government partner institutions include the Ministry
of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. International organizations collaborat-
ing with the government include the World Bank, ADB
and GTZ.
Strengthening the Role of Major Groups
To improve stakeholder participation in environmen-
tal activities, efforts have been undertaken to strengthen
the role of major groups.
Women
Female representation in government is estimated
at 9% at the national and 5% at the local level. There
is low female participation in the public sector and
education (particularly in higher education). To address
this issue, Presidential Instruction No. 9/2000 instructs
all ministries to implement gender mainstreaming in
development policies and plans. One of the
organisations that specifically tackle women’s concerns
include the National Commission on Violence Against

Women, which was set up in July 1988 to promote
protection of women’s rights. The Commission was
established based on Presidential Decree No. 181/
1988 that refers to the Convention on the Elimination
of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women/
VCEDAW as well as the Declaration of Violence Against
Women.
The 1998-2003 National Action Plan for human
rights stresses government commitment to enhance the
protection of women’s rights. Government programmes
have also focused on family planning, reproductive
health among women and the youth, empowerment
and gender mainstreaming institutional programs. The
United Nations Development Fund for Women
(UNIFEM), the National Planning Board and the
University of Indonesia have also held a number of
training, seminars and workshops on the role of women
in development, gender theories, and gender research
management.
Indigenous Peoples
A number of government policies concerning forest
management have been responsible for the eradica-
tion of sustainable natural resource management sys-
tems as well as the destruction of the economic systems
of indigenous peoples. Other factors that have ad-
versely affected indigenous groups are the high rate
of deforestation, biodiversity loss and degradation of
the ecological and hydrological function of forests.
Fortunately, emerging political will among indigenous
groups has prompted new policies, including

• Ministerial Decree No. 677/98 on the granting
of 35 year leases of forestland to local commu-
nities, and No. 47/98 on the commercial har-
vesting of forest products by local communities,
both issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry
and Estate Crops
• Ministerial Decree No. 5/99 issued by the Min-
istry of Agrarian Affairs, providing for the delin-
eation and registration of community-based
25A S E A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y
customary/adat rights in some forested areas
• A forestry regulation that would authorise the
demarcation of indigenous territories within ar-
eas designated as state forestland is currently
under review within the Ministry of Forestry.
A number of projects also address concerns of in-
digenous groups and actively encourage their partici-
pation in environmental concerns. One project is a
collaboration between the British and Indonesian gov-
ernments called the Multi-Stakeholders Forestry
Programme (MFP). The programme focuses on em-
powering indigenous people as forest resource man-
agers, developing management capacity in indigenous
people, strengthening indigenous people in their com-
munities, etc. The Natural Resources Management
Programme also promotes an improved and decen-
tralized management of forest resources and encour-
ages multi-stakeholder dialogue. The project is sup-
ported by USAID, the International Resources Group,
the Biodiversity Support Programme, the World Wild-

life Fund Indonesia and the Nature Conservancy.
The Biodiversity Support Programme, in coopera-
tion with KEMALA (an association of Indonesian NGOs),
helps develop the institutional skills of Indonesian NGOs
working on natural resource issues. The programme
supports dialogue between indigenous peoples and
government officials on issues such as the commercial
use of public lands, the use of community mapping
to show the intersections of the groups’ traditional
territories and public lands.
Some organizations are also dedicated to main-
taining the wisdom of indigenous natural resource
management and raising awareness of local indig-
enous laws. These include the Lembaga Bela Banua
Talino and the Institute for Dayakology Research and
Development in Kalimantan and the Yayasan Bantuan
Hukum Bantaya in Sulawesi. On the other hand,
Telapak, an NGO that supports and conducts research
for local communities, specialises in facilitating infor-
mation and data exchange as well as enhancing the
information database and access to information. This
is important for communities working on indigenous
rights to natural resources to enable them to work
effectively towards sustainable and equitable forest
management systems. There was also an initiative to
inventory indigenous laws and wisdom on natural
resource management.
Financing for projects in this sector often come from
international organizations, such as the Danish Inter-
national Development Agency (DANIDA) and the World

Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Non-Government Organisations
Currently, there is no standard mechanism for NGO
involvement in the decision-making process. However, a
coalition of NGOs in Jakarta has been conducting
advocacy campaigns to involve civil society in the legal
drafting process, and is having some success in this area.
A number of NGOs are advocates of environ-
mental concerns, and have programmes specifically
in the areas of forest management, fishery, organic
agriculture, environmental education and ecotourism.
Activities range from grassroots community action to
promoting policy at the national and international
levels.
In terms of training, workshops have been conducted
to improve the role of NGOs in sustainable develop-
ment policies. These include preparation for participa-
tory mapping, training for community organizers, stra-
tegic planning for community based natural resource
management programmes, workshop on law and the
environment and conflict resolution relating to natural
resources. Some NGOs also manage a database re-
lated to their specific environmental programmes. Fund-
ing for NGO activities come from a number of sources,
including the Ford Foundation as well as the UNDP-
Small Grants Programme.
Farmers
Despite efforts to strengthen the role of farmers, the
number of agricultural-employee households (those who
do not own land) has increased to almost 20 million

in 2001. Average wages are below the regional mini-
mum wage, making these households the lowest in-
come group in Indonesian society. This reflects the
structurally inappropriate management of agriculture
in the country. Small farmers are trapped in a vicious
cycle: with such a low income, they cannot afford good
education, and therefore lack access to the possibility
of improving their livelihood.
Law No. 5/1960 states that the national agrarian
law should be considered a tool to bring prosperity,
well-being and justice for the country and its people
especially farmers. Studies, however, reveal that many
laws and regulations issued afterwards have actually
worsened the socio-economic conditions of Indone-
sian farmers. To increase the income of small-income
farmers and fisherfolk, the Ministry of Agriculture
launched the P4K programme. The programme aims
to increase the number of Small Farmer Groups and
raise the standard of living of farmers above the poverty
line. The Agricultural Training Centre also aims to
empower farmers by setting up more units nationally.
The Training Centres are expected to enhance the
quality of human resources and agricultural schools
around the country.
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Sources: www.johannesburgsummit.org
NBRU- Indonesia