Asean Biodiversity: Forests for People potx

T
he ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) is an
intergovernmental regional centre of excellence that
facilitates cooperation and coordination among the
ten ASEAN Member States and with relevant national
governments, regional and international organizations
on the conservation and sustainable use of biological
diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefi ts
arising from the use of such natural treasures.
ACB’s goals are:
• To serve as an effective coordinative body to
facilitate discussion and resolution of cross-country
biodiversity conservation issues;
• To provide a framework and mechanism for sharing
information, experiences, best practices and lessons
learned for effi cient access of ASEAN Member
States;
• To implement a pro-active approach in monitoring
and assessing biodiversity conservation status as a
strategic approach towards identifying critical issues
and future trends;
• To deliver/facilitate conduct of capacity-building
services and technology transfer through engaging
relevant and appropriate expertise;
• To enhance common understanding of biodiversity
conservation issues, strengthening ASEAN regional
positions in negotiations and in compliance with
relevant multilateral environmental agreements;
• To promote public awareness to develop champions
and enhance support at different stakeholder levels

on biodiversity concerns; and
• To undertake innovative resource generation
and mobilization measures to pursue high-
impact activities that will enhance biodiversity
conservation in the region.
ACB supports ASEAN Member States in the
following thematic concerns that are of global and
regional importance: Agriculture and food security,
including food certifi cation and biodiversity; Access
to, and fair and equitable sharing of benefi ts from
biological and genetic resources; Climate change
and biodiversity conservation; Ecotourism and
biodiversity conservation; Payment for ecosystems
services and valuation of biodiversity; Wildlife
enforcement; Managing invasive alien species;
Peatland management and biodiversity; Support to the
Global Taxonomy Initiative; Support to the Convention
on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) Programme of Work
on Protected Areas; Managing biodiversity information
and knowledge; and Business and biodiversity.
For more information, log on to
www.aseanbiodiversity.org.
ACB Headquarters
3/F ERDB Building, Forestry Campus
College, Laguna 4031, Philippines
Telephone/Fax: +6349 536-3989 / +6349 536-2865
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
Conserving Southeast Asia’s Biodiversity
for Human Development and Survival
VOL. 10  NO. 2  MAY - AUGUST 2011

CONTENTS
MAY - AUGUST 2011
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ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
3
7
SPECIAL REPORTS
6 Messages for the International
Year of Forests
7 World focuses attention on
forests
9 Forests: how valuable are
they?
11 Southeast Asia’s forest
ecosystems: a rich natural
heritage
16 The status of ASEAN’s forest
biodiversity and solutions to
forest biodiversity loss
20 Forestry cooperation in the
ASEAN region
24 Reducing Emissions
from Deforestation and Forest
Degradation
27 Watershed and biodiversity
29 New global study shows high
reliance on forests among rural
poor
30 New publication outlines
biodiversity elements for

design and implementation of
REDD-Plus

SPECIAL SECTIONS
32 ASEAN Champions of
Biodiversity announced
33 HSBC Brunei: Investing
in biodiversity conservation
makes sound business sense
36 Green Community: Initiating
little activities with
extraordinary impacts
39 Born to be Wild: Championing
biodiversity through television
42 Taking care of Indonesia’s
wildlife
43 Arresting illegal wildlife
traffi cking
44 ARREST Program launched
in Bangkok
45 Laos launches new law
enforcement task force to
combat wildlife crime
FEATURES
46 The President of the
Philippines launches
the United Nations Decade on
Biodiversity for Southeast Asia
7 16
24 29

Forests for people
Photo by Angie Metin
The ASEAN region is losing its
forests at alarming levels. Key
measures must be taken to save
forests now. Otherwise, nothing
will be left for future generations.
www.aseanbiodiversity.org
ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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47 Message from H.E.
President Benigno S.
Aquino III on the occasion
of the launch of the
UN Decade on Biodiversity
and International Year of
Forests in Southeast
Asia
50 World Migratory Bird Day,
May 14
51 World Environment Day,
June 5
52 World Oceans Day,
June 11
53 World Population Day,
July 11
54 Indigenous peoples:
stewards of biodiversity

PROFILES
56 Lao PDR:
Nakai-Nam Theun
Protected Area
59 Philippines:
Mt. Hamiguitan Range
Wildlife Sanctuary
62 Malaysia:
Gunung Gading
National Park
BOOKMARKS
65 Results of the 2011
Philippine Biodiversity
Expedition revealed
65 ASEAN taxonomists form
network
66 ASEAN and Japan sponsor
plants and coral taxonomy
internship program
67 SM’s Green Retail Agenda
highlights sustainability
68 SyenSaya 2011 features
climate change and
biodiversity
68 UNDP workshop discusses
value of communication in
biodiversity conservation
69 ASEAN workshop
discusses investing in
natural capital for green

growth
70 Youth camp discusses role
of school children in
biodiversity conservation
70 Workshop highlights
importance of conserving
ecosystems and
biodiversity for human
prosperity
71 Magazine features
taxonomy concerns
71 ACB and GIZ cooperate on
biodiversity and climate
change
72 GEF establishes the
Nagoya Protocol
Implementation Fund
73 Governments establish
basis for implementation
of Nagoya Protocol on
Genetic Resources
74 Indonesia bans new forest
concessions
75 Infl atable shark among 300
new Phl species
75 UN organizations launch
Scientifi c Task Force on
Wildlife Diseases
76 State of the World 2011:
Agriculture innovation is

key to reducing poverty
and climate change
77 Illegal trading of gecko
poses threat to
environment
78 Asia builds capacity and
strategies to save
biodiversity
79
BIODIVERSITY NEWS
SOUTHEAST ASIA
FOCUS
89 Almaciga
90 Molave
91 Thailand Rosewood
92 Tualang
46
54
61
Publisher
Rodrigo U. Fuentes
Editor-in-Chief
Rolando A. Inciong
Managing Editor
Leslie Ann Jose-Castillo
Head Writer and Researcher
Sahlee Bugna-Barrer
Designer, Graphic and Layout Artist
Nanie S. Gonzales
Circulation Assistant

Angela Rose Crissie A. Metin
Editorial Board
Clarissa C. Arida
Rodrigo U. Fuentes
Rolando A. Inciong
Wilfredo J. Obien
Monina T. Uriarte
Sheila G. Vergara
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)
Headquarters
3/F ERDB Building, Forestry Campus
University of the Philippines
Los Baños, College, Laguna,
Philippines
Telephone:
+6349.536-3989
Telefax:
+6349.536-2865
E-mail:

Website:
www.aseanbiodiversity.org
ACB Annex
Ninoy Aquino Parks
and Wildlife Center
North Avenue, Diliman,
Quezon City 1156
Philippines
Disclaimer: Views or opinions
expressed herein do not necessarily

represent any offi cial views of the
Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN). The authors
are responsible for any data or
information presented in their articles.
Letters, articles, suggestions and
photos are welcome and should be
addressed to:
The Editor-in-Chief
ASEAN Biodiversity Magazine
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
College, Laguna
E-mails:



About the Contributors
Mr. Ega Denaswidhi, S.Si is a Forest Ecosystem Controller working with the Dodokan Moyosari
Watershed Management Agency based in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia – a government agency
under the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. The agency deals with watershed management and
forest/land rehabilitation in West Nusa Tenggara province. He has a degree in Geography, major in
remote sensing, GIS and Cartography.
Dr. Monina T. Uriarte is a Capacity Development Specialist at the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
She spearheads the implementation of trainings and workshops for the effective management of
protected areas, especially the ASEAN Heritage Parks. She has conducted research on natural and
plantation forests, particularly on growth and yield determination. Dr. Uriarte has published over 50
articles in various scientifi c journals, proceedings and conferences. She also serves as Chairman of the Board
for Foresters of the Philippines’ Professional Regulation Commission.
Dr. Filiberto A. Pollisco, Jr. specializes in forest ecology and land management/land use
planning; biodiversity conservation in genetic, species and ecosystems levels; and ecotourism.

He was formerly an Assistant Director/Supervising Science Research Specialist at the Philippine
Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)
where he handled sloping land management, solid waste management, organic agriculture, soil and water
conservation, and project development. He presently works at the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity as Program
Development Specialist.
Mr. Norman Emmanuel C. Ramirez is a Programme Management Offi cer at the ASEAN Centre
for Biodiversity. He has more than 12 years of progressive experience in the fi eld of training and
capacity building, as well as project management. Prior to joining ACB, he worked as Training
Specialist from 1999 to 2002 under the Training and Extension Branch of ACB’s predecessor – the
ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC). He also worked with the Local Government
Finance and Development (LOGOFIND). He earned his bachelor’s degree in Forestry at the University of the
Philippines-Los Baños and is now completing his Master in Management degree at the same university.
Ms. Rhia C. Galsim has almost 20 years of experience in the environment sector and has
worked with various agencies of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
of the Philippines, such as the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau and Ecosystems
Research and Development Services of a number of DENR offi ces. Prior to her appointment at the
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, she was a Senior Science Research Specialist at the Protected Areas Wildlife
and Coastal Zone Management Services of the DENR-National Capital Region. Rhia has a bachelor’s degree
in Sociology and a Masters Degree in Management, majoring in Agribusiness, from the University of the
Philippines in Los Banos. She is currently the Capacity Development Offi cer of ACB.
MAY - AUGUST 2011
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I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth
is prest
Against the earth’s sweet

fl owing breast;

A tree that looks at God
all day,
And lifts her leafy arms
to pray;

A tree that may in Summer
wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow
has lain;
Who intimately lives
with rain.

Poems are made by fools
like me,
But only God can make
a tree.
“
Trees” was originally
published in Trees and
Other Poems. Joyce Kilmer.
New York: George H. Doran
Company, 1914.
SPECIAL REPORT
www.aseanbiodiversity.org
ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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BAN KI-MOON
Secretary-General, United Nations
B
y declaring 2011 as the International Year of Forests, the United Nations
General Assembly has created an important platform to educate the global
community about the great value of forests – and the extreme social, economic
and environmental costs of losing them.
Forests are vital to our well-being. They harbour 80 percent of land-based
biodiversity, and store more than 1 trillion tons of carbon.
Greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation account for more than those
by the world’s entire transportation sector.
At the recent climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico, governments
took an important step towards building a low-emissions, climate-resilient
future. The balanced package of measures on which they agreed included
progress on the conservation and sustainable management of forests.
The decision to move forward with REDD Plus will provide tangible results
for the planet and the more than 1.6 billion people who depend on forests for
sustenance and livelihoods.
Let us build on this promising initiative so that present and future generations
continue to benefit from the rich diversity of forests.
Nearly two decades ago, at the Rio Earth Summit, concern about forest
management led to the establishment of the United Nations Forum on Forests.
In this International Year, and as we look ahead to the Rio+20 conference
in 2012, we have a chance to agree on how best to realize the full potential
of forests — for sustainable development, economic stability, the fight against
poverty, and our efforts to ensure future prosperity for all.
AHMED DJOGHLAF
Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity

B
iodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life. This was the slogan of the
International Year of Biodiversity.
Biodiversity is life and forests have more than 80 percent of biodiversity
of our land. The unprecedented rate of loss of biodiversity is therefore
compounded by the unprecedented loss of forests. And therefore, in Nagoya,
at the summit on biodiversity, the 193 Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity have adopted an overarching comprehensive strategy for 2011 up to
2020 called the Aichi Targets with 20 targets including several on forests – (1)
to at least halve deforestation, and where feasible bring it close to zero; (2) to
manage all areas under forestry sustainably; (3) to conserve at least 17 percent
of terrestrial and inland water areas; and (4) to restore at least 15 percent of
degraded forest ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation
and adaptation and to combating desertification.
These Aichi Targets need now to be translated as a national priority through
national strategies and action plans, and pay tribute to the General Assembly
for having declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests. This will allow
us to raise public awareness and engage the public as a whole to protect
biodiversity, to protect life and, of course, to protect forests.
Messages for the International Year of Forests
SPECIAL REPORT
ountries all over the world are celebrat-
ing 2011 as the International Year of
Forests (Forests 2011). Launched on
February 2, 2011 during the High-Level Seg-
ment of the Ninth Session of the United Na-
tions Forum on Forests (UNFF) in New York,
Forests 2011 was declared to raise awareness
on sustainable management, conservation and
sustainable development of all types of forests.

The celebration, with the theme “Forests for
People,” is serving as a global platform to cel-
ebrate people’s action to sustainably manage
the world’s forests.
The declaration comes at a critical time when
the world’s forests are facing immense pres-
sures and challenges.
The global launch was led by Joseph Deiss,
President of the 65th session of the UN Gen-
eral Assembly. Apart from Deiss, other speak-
ers were UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
(through a video message), UN Under-Secre-
tary-General for Economic and Social Affairs
Sha Zukang, and ministers from Croatia, Rwan-
da, Canada and Mexico. Nobel Peace Prize
Laureate Wangari Maathai, UNFF Director Jan
McAlpine, Global Environment Facility Chief Ex-
ecutive Officer and Chair Monique Barbut, and
many other experts shared their views on the
celebration.
At the launch, environmental experts and
world leaders joined hands in calling for the
sustainable management of forests in the inter-
est of human development.
“We have a chance to agree on how best to
realize the full potential of forests – for sustain-
able development, economic stability, the fight
against poverty and our efforts to ensure future
prosperity for all,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-
moon said.

“We have to eradicate poverty, but not the
forests. Each minute that we spend on this
planet breathing in and breathing out, about 25
hectares of forests are lost. Ultimately, as history
reminds us, in the past, entire civilizations col-
lapse due to deforestation,” Mr. Deiss stressed.
For Mr. Deiss, it is important to involve peo-
ple from various levels and sectors to achieve
the goal of protecting forests for people.
“It is my hope that this Year of Forests will
raise high political awareness and galvanize ac-
World focuses
C
MAY - AUGUST 2011
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ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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attention on forests
Participants to the High-Level Segment of the Ninth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests
Photos courtesy of UN
www.aseanbiodiversity.org
ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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8
tivities from the grassroots
up so that the interlinked
challenges of biodiversity
loss, climate change and
desertification can be effec-

tively tackled for the ben-
efit of sustainable develop-
ment,” Mr. Deiss said.
He expected that “in
2011 and beyond, every
country and each citizen of
our planet will take action
in favor of forests and bring
this message across: we
are all dependent on forests
as much as forests are de-
SPECIAL REPORT
The Forests 2011 logo
F
orests 2011 has a logo which was designed to
convey the theme of “Forests for People” cele-
brating the central role of people in the sustainable
management, conservation and sustainable develop-
ment of our world’s for-
ests. The iconographic
elements in the design
depict some of the mul-
tiple values of forests
and the need for a 360-
degree perspective:
forests provide shelter
to people and habitat
to biodiversity; are a
source of food, medi-
cine and clean water;

and play a vital role in
maintaining a stable global climate and environment.
All of these elements, taken together, reinforce the
message that forests are vital to the survival and well-
being of people everywhere, all seven billion of us.
For the use of the FORESTS 2011 logo, please log
on to />shtml for the documentary requirements.
pendent on us.”
In Southeast Asia, the
ASEAN Centre for Biodiver-
sity (ACB) issued a state-
ment of support for Forests
2011.
“The ASEAN region
played a very visible role in
the global celebration of the
International Year of Biodi-
versity 2010. This 2011, we
will show the same enthusi-
asm and support for FOR-
EST 2011 as this celebration
will enable us to continue
highlighting the values of
biodiversity through con-
servation and protection of
our forests,” Mr. Rodrigo U.
Fuentes, executive director
of ACB, said.
He invited governments,
schools and youth, civic

organizations, business,
media, conservation orga-
nizations, and individuals
to participate in the world-
wide celebration of Forests
2011.
“We need all hands on
deck to ensure that the
well-being and survival of
humans and all forms of
life relying on trees and for-
ests,” Mr. Fuentes said.
For more information
on the International Year
of Forests 2011, log on
to />events/iyof2011/.

A young delegate talks about the importance of growing trees
Speakers at the forum
Panelists discuss key issues on forest conservation
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SPECIAL REPORT
Forests:
how valuable are they?
y providing food, medicine, timber, a
source of livelihood and many other
products and services, forests play a

crucial role in sustaining lives of billions of peo-
ple.
According to the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD), in the past, timber production
was regarded as the dominant function of for-
ests. However, in recent years this perception
has shifted to a more multi-functional and bal-
anced view. Other forest functions and servic-
es, such as recreation, health and well-being,
biological diversity, maintenance of ecosystem
services and the mitigation of climate change
are increasingly recognized as integral compo-
nents of sustainable forest management and
forest biological diversity as both a complex
and unique element.
A single mature tree can release enough
oxygen back into the atmosphere to support
two human beings. It can absorb 4.5 kilos of
air pollutants, including 1.8 kilos of ozone and
1.4 kilos of particulates. Trees store carbon and
help slow human-caused climate change. Tree
canopies and leaf litter protect the soil surface
from the erosive power or rain. Trees purify our
air and water and provide us with food, timber
and medicine.
Over a 50-year lifetime, a tree generates
US $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides US
$62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles
US $37,500 worth of water, and controls US
$31,250 worth of soil erosion. All these ensure

the well-being and survival of humans and all
forms of life relying on trees and forests.
Forests feed rivers and are essential to sup-
plying water for nearly 50 percent of the world’s
largest cities. Forests create and maintain soil
fertility, as well as help regulate the devastating
impact of storms, floods and fires.
B
Photo courtesy of Felix Mirasol
www.aseanbiodiversity.org
ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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SPECIAL REPORT
Forests are home to 300
million people around the
world and to 80 percent of
our terrestrial biodiversity.
The livelihoods of over 1.6
billion people depend on
forests. Some 30 percent of
forests are used for produc-
tion of wood and non-wood
products. In 2001, global
trade in forest products
was estimated at US $327
billion.
Forests are one of the
most biologically rich ter-

restrial systems. Together,
tropical, temperate and
boreal forests offer diverse
sets of habitats for plants,
animals and micro-organ-
isms, and harbor the vast
majority of the world’s ter-
restrial species. Further-
more, forest biodiversity
is interlinked to a web of
other socio-economic fac-
tors, providing an array of
goods and services that
range from timber and non-
timber forest resources to
mitigating climate change
and genetic resources. At
the same time, forests pro-
vide livelihoods for people
worldwide and play impor-
tant economic, social, and
cultural roles in the lives of
many indigenous communi-
ties. Therefore, forests and
forest biological diversity
are innately linked to eco-
system and human well-be-
ing.
“Ensuring that forests
are conserved is, therefore,

crucial for human well-be-
ing. From simple activities
such as the planting and
nurturing of trees to the
more complex process of
curbing illegal logging, we
must encourage everyone
to contribute their share in
conserving our forests,” Mr.
Rodrigo U. Fuentes, execu-
tive director of the ASEAN
Centre for Biodiversity
(ACB), said.

Young ASEAN Biodiversity Champion Adeline Suwana leads a
mangrove planting activity in Indonesia.
Photo courtesy of Sahabat Alam
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ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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SPECIAL REPORT
Southeast Asia’s
forest ecosystems:
a rich natural heritage
By Dr. Monina T. Uriarte and Rhia C. Galsim*
orests are very important ecosystems.
The vast forests support ecologically,
economically and scientifically valuable
plants and animals. Forests are the largest ter-

restrial ecosystem, cover about 30 percent of
the earth’s surface, and harbor an estimated 75
percent of all terrestrial biodiversity to include
both flora and fauna. With an estimated 2,400
Gt of stored carbon, they account for almost
half the terrestrial carbon pool.
Forests underpin the livelihood of more than
1.6 billion people. More than 2,000 groups of
indigenous peoples live in forest ecosystems,
which satisfy their basic needs, such as food,
energy and health. Over three percent of all
global trade is in forest products, which are val-
F
ued at more than US $ 300 billion per year.
Every year, 13 million hectares of forests are
destroyed; deforestation contributes approxi-
mately 17 to 20 percent of global annual green-
house gas emissions, which is approximately
5.8 Gt of carbon dioxide equivalent per year;
and, 97 percent of all emissions from deforesta-
tion occur in the tropics and sub-tropics (Von
Scheliha et al., 2009).
These facts show how important our forests
are. In line with the International Year of Forests
(IYF), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) supports national initiatives and cam-
paigns in raising the importance and profi les of for-
ests and continues to enhance efforts in address-
ing forest and forest-related issues in the region.
Forests harbor a treasure trove of plants and animals crucial to keeping the ecological balance.

www.aseanbiodiversity.org
ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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SPECIAL REPORT
Forests in the ASEAN
Forests in the ASEAN
region may be categorized
according to functions: pro-
tection, production, recre-
ational, conservation and
protected areas. Ecologi-
cally, they may be classified
as mangroves, freshwater
swamps, peat swamps,
mixed dipterocarps and
montane or evergreen for-
ests. More intact forests
are found in protected or
conservation areas like
the ASEAN Heritage Parks
(AHP). Mostly terrestrial
forests, AHPs are special
protected areas that are of
high conservation impor-
tance because they harbor
spectacular biodiversity.
Forest cover in the
ASEAN region has de-

creased considerably not
only due to natural calami-
ties but also due, among
others, to destructive and
illegal logging, conversion
for agriculture and human
settlement. Figure 1 shows
the trends of forest area in
the ASEAN region for the
period 1980-2007.
Products and services
provided by ASEAN
forests
Millions of people, es-
pecially local communities
and indigenous peoples,
are very much dependent
on forests for their food,
shelter and livelihood. For-
ests are important sources
of forest products for local
communities like fuel wood,
bamboo, rattans, honey,
resin and medicinal plants.
Likewise, forests, especially
those under sustainable for-
est management, contribute
to combating desertifi ca-
tion; conserving biodiversity;
1

1
area(sq.km)
Ͳ
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
1
0,000
1
2,000
1990 2000 2005 2010
Figure 1. Trends of forest area in the ASEAN region, 1980-2007
Provisioning Services Cultural Services Regulating Services Supporting Services
Food crops, fiber crops
and fuel
Genetic resources
Biochemicals
Freshwater
Spiritual resources and
religious values
Knowledge system
Education and
Inspiration
Recreational and
aesthetic beauty
Pollination and seed
dispersal
Climate regulation
Pest and disease

regulation
Natural hazards
protection
Erosion regulation/soil
stabilization
Protect water resources
(infiltration, purification
and flow control)
Primary production
Provision of habitat
Nutrient cycling
Soil formation and
retention
Product of atmospheric
oxygen
Water cycling
Table 1. Different goods and services provided by forests
Local communities depend on the vast resources offered by
forests.
Photo courtesy of Nilo Rivera
Photo courtesy of Nonie Reyes, BusinessMirror
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ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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SPECIAL REPORT
ASEAN Heritage Parks and forests in Southeast Asia
mitigating climate change;
producing goods; protect-
ing soil; providing water and

other environmental servic-
es, providing socio-econom-
ic-socio-cultural services
and livelihood support; and
contributing to poverty al-
leviation. Table 1 shows the
different goods and services
that forests provide us.
International agreements
on forests
ASEAN Member States
are parties to a number of
international agreements
on forests. These include
the United Nations Frame-
work Convention on Cli-
mate Change (UNFCCC),
Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) and United
Nations Forum on Forests
(UNFF).
• The UNFCCC invites
parties to further
strengthen and sup-
port ongoing efforts to
reduce emissions from
deforestation and for-
est degradation on a
voluntary basis.
• The CBD’s Programme

of Work on Forest Bio-
logical Diversity (Deci-
sion VI/22) develops
coordinated response
strategies and action
plans at the global,
regional and nation-
al levels; promotes
maintenance and res-
toration of biodiversity
in forests to enhance
ASEAN Member
State
Profile / Description
Forests ASEAN Heritage Parks
Brunei Brunei is 78 percent forested
and mangrove forests cover four
percent of the total area. Forests
are categorized as protection,
production, recreational,
conservation and national parks.
Ecologically, they are classified
as mangroves, freshwater
swamp, peat swamps, mixed
dipterocarps, kerangas and
montane.
Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park. Visitors can walk under the rainforest canopy or stroll
along the beautiful lakeside walkways. They can also join the different ethnic groups in
celebrating the Adau Gayoh festival to celebrate the spirit of unity, uphold the ethnic
groups traditions and cultural identity, and express their gratitude for good harvest.

Cambodia Cambodias forests are divided
into protected areas (national
parks, wildlife sanctuaries,
community protected areas and
protected landscapes), multiple-
use area and protection forests.
Preah Monivong (Bokor) National Park. The park is predominantly covered with moist
tropical evergreen forests to dwarf montane on the top of a mountainous plateau. Other
forest types include virgin lowland forest, dry dipterocarp and mixed deciduous in the
north. Activities include protection, monitoring of wildlife and community outreach
programs.
Virachey National Park. Dense semi-evergreen lowland and montane forests, and
occasional patches of mixed deciduous forests dominate the Parks vegetation. The
most widespread habitat is the tropical evergreen rainforest, most of which are in
pristine condition.
In both parks, visitors can go bird watching, mountain climbing and trekking.
Indonesia Geologically, the country has
snow and tundra in the
mountain peaks of Papua, and
tropical rainforest in Sumatra
and Kalimantan. There are
conservation, preserved, limited
production, fixed production and
conversable production forests.
Forests are also classified as
tropical rainforest and
monsoonal tropical forests.
Kerin
c
i Seblat National Park. The park is home to Asias oldest tropical rainforest. It is

the highest mountain in Sumatra and the second highest in Indonesia. It has lowland,
hill, sub-montane, lower montane, mid-montane, upper montane and the sub-alpine
forests. Many visitors from all over the world climb Gunung Kerinci where the view at
the top is awesome.
Gunung Leuser National Park. The park is the core of Sumatras tropical rainforest
heritage and includes lowland evergreen dipterocarp forest, lower and upper mountain
rainforest, peat swamp forest, forest over limestone and sub-alpine meadows. Tourists
can go mountain climbing, rafting, kayaking, canoeing and caving.
Lorentz National Park. The park is Asias largest single protected area with snow-
capped mountains and glaciers. It has two distinct zones: swampy lowlands, virgin
forests and the high mountain and snowfields area of the Central Cordillera. The park
has very rich biodiversity and cultural community.
Lao PDR Forests are classified based on
altitude, rainfall, kind and
dominance of tree species and
the types of plant communities
present. These include lowland
forests (wet evergreen, semi-
evergreen, mixed deciduous,
deciduous dipterocarps and
lowland pine woodlands),
montane (evergreen and hill
evergreen), and azonal habitats
(
zonal communities
)
.
Nam Ha National Protected Area. Most of the area is covered by mixed deciduous
forest. Along the top of the mountain ranges are dry evergreen forests. Tropical and
sub-tropical forest types include evergreen gallery forests, semi-evergreen forests,

sub-tropical, sub-montane and limestone forests. With its spectacular views, caves,
and waterfalls and several minority groups, the park has high cultural, ecological and
nature tourism potential.
ASEAN Heritage Parks and forests in Southeast Asia (continuation)
ASEAN Member
State
Profile / Description
Forests ASEAN Heritage Parks
Malaysia Approximately, 60 percent of the
total area is forested, classified
as permanent reserved forests,
state land forests, national
parks, and wildlife and bird
sanctuaries.
Gunung Mulu National Park. The parks second highest mountain peak in Sarawak
characterized by gigantic limestone caves and tropical forests. Geological formations
include a large sandstone mountain and two smaller limestone mountains. The park
has one of the most extensive and spectacular limestone cave systems on earth. There
are four show caves developed for visitors: Deer Cave, Langs Cave, Wind Cave and
Clearwater Cave. Visitors can also experience jungle trekking and nights walks; and
view the plant life while on the canopy skywalk.
Kinabalu National Park. The park stretches from the lowlands to the peak of the
highest mountain in Borneo. This range includes hill dipterocarp forests, sub-montane
forests and stunted upper montane heath rhododendron. The granitic massif of Mt.
Kinabalu offers a range of opportunities for hikers, scramblers and rock climbers.
Likewise, it is known for its intimate connection with the folklore and local traditions of
Sabah.
Taman Negara National Park. The park is the first and oldest protected area of
Malaysia. It is generally hilly and mountainous. Lowland dipterocarp forests dominate
the area and comprise about 57 percent of plants in the park. The most popular

activities include river cruising and jungle trekking. The park also has the longest
rainforest canopy walk.
Myanma
r
Myanmar is endowed with
strikingly different forests
including snow-capped
mountains that are over 6,000
meters high.
About 50 percent of the country
is covered with forests, of which
24 percent are reserved and
protected public forests.
Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park. Its forests are classified according to elevation:
moist upper mixed deciduous forests, dry upper mixed deciduous forests, lower mixed
deciduous teak forest, indaing dry dipterocarp forests and pine forests on higher
ridges. The park offers excellent opportunities for study and recreation.
Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary. This is an inland lake dominated by moist upper
mixed deciduous and semi-evergreen forests on the mountainous terrain.
The park offers excellent opportunities for study and recreation. Visitors can participate
in or view traditional fishing practices. They can also see famous pagodas.
Hkakaborazi National Park. This is Myanmars largest park and highest mountain. It is
also the highest snow-capped mountain in Southeast Asia. The dominant forests
include evergreen, hill, and moist upper mixed deciduous forests. Many outdoor
enthusiasts climb the challenging Mt Hkakaborazi and other nearby mountain ranges.
The park also provides insights into the traditional culture and customs of the Kachin
Hill Tribe.
Lampi Marine National Park. The Park is comprised of seas, coral reefs, beaches,
mangroves and an inhabited lowland tropical evergreen which is very rare and
precious. Visitors will enjoy the jungle walks, great fishing, kayaking and a chance to

encounter the Moken Sea Gypsies.
Meinmhala Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary. The Park has some natural mangrove forests
generally used for research.
Philippines The countrys forest is
approximately 24 percent of its
total area. It consists of
dipterocarp/lowland rainforests,
mossy/montane/cloud forests,
coastal and mangrove forests,
pine and sub-marginal forests
and peat swamp forests.
Mount Apo Natural Park. This is the countrys highest mountain. Its distinct forest
formations include lowland, low montane, high montane summit or scrub forests. Mt.
Apo is a very popular recreation area for hiking and sightseeing. It has hotsprings and
orchid farms and gardens.
Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park. The large reserve contains montane forest on the main
peaks. The eastern portion is composed of multi-strata evergreen forests and dry
season deciduous forests. Interesting activities include bird and tamaraw watching and
mountain climbing.
Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park. This is one of the few remaining rainforests in
the Philippines classified as lower montane, upper montane (mossy). The park offers
opportunities for mountain climbing, hiking, camping and bird watching.
Singapore The country is home to Bukit
Timah Nature Reserve which
contains the largest tracts of
primary rainforests in the
country. Most of the trees in the
Reserve are rare and of special
interest.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. This is the first and only wetland reserve in

Singapore and is home to many tropical flora and fauna. Mangroves are dominant in
this area. The Reserve has patches of secondary forests and is managed for
conservation, education, recreation and research.
www.aseanbiodiversity.org
ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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14
SPECIAL REPORT
ASEAN Heritage Parks and forests in Southeast Asia (continuation)

ASEAN Member
State
Profile / Description
Forests ASEAN Heritage Parks
Thailand Thailand has four natural
regions: mountains and forests
in the north side, vast rice fields
in the central plains, semi-arid
farm lands in the northeast
plateau, and the tropical islands
and long coastline in peninsula
south.
Kaeng-Krachan Forest Complex. This is comprised of three national parks and one
wildlife sanctuary. The complex forms part of a continuous forest complex. Eighty
percent of the park is covered by dry dipterocarp, mixed deciduous and evergreen
forests. Popular destinations include waterfalls, caves and several areas with wonderful
natural landscape or scenery.
Khao Yai National Park. The Park has dry evergreen, dry deciduous, tropical moist
evergreen and hill evergreen forests. It has the most-developed trails for visitors. The

park also offers great opportunities to admire the great variety of landscapes,
vegetation and wildlife.
Tarutao National Park. The park has semi-evergreen forests covering over 60 percent
of the island. The dominant vegetation type is moist evergreen forest. Other types are
dry evergreen, mixed deciduous, mangrove, secondary, and beach and scrub forests. A
number of nature trails lead to panoramic views and superb beaches. Visitors can also
enjoy boat rides, kayaking, spelunking, bird watching and island hopping.
Viet Nam Forests in Viet Nam range from
closed evergreen to deciduous,
needle, limestone, mangroves
and bamboo.
Ba Be National Park. This is dominated by limestone mountains covered with thick
forests. Typical habitats are freshwater lakes, limestone and lowland evergreen forests.
Aside from its beautiful natural landscapes, the park offers opportunities for boat ride,
trekking and visits to local communities.
Chu Mom Ray National Park. The park has two major forest types: the lowland
evergreen and the lower montane evergreen forests. There are many interesting sights
and hill tribe villages in the fringes of this park.
Hoang Lien Sa Pa National Park. The park has three types of forests: sub-montane
dry evergreen forest, tropical montane deciduous forests, and sub-alpine forest. With
its various natural landscapes, the park hosts community-based tourism.
Konh Ka Kinh National Park. A large range of montane evergreen forests can be found
in elevation above 700 meters. Other forests include mixed coniferous and broadleaf
forest. The park offers scenic landscapes and other natural features for visitors.
Popular activities are trekking and bird watching.
their capacity to re-
sist and recover from
and adapt to climate
change; and promotes
forest diversity conser-

vation and restoration
in climate change miti-
gation and adaptation
measures.
• The CBD’s Programme
of Work on Protected
Areas and on Incen-
tive Measures (Deci-
sion VII/28) encourag-
es the establishment
and maintenance of
comprehensive, effec-
tively managed, and
ecologically represen-
tative national and
regional systems of
protected areas (2010
for terrestrial, and by
2012 or marine ar-
eas); and the creation
of incentives for inte-
gration of biodiversity
for all sectors.
• UNFF 4 Global Objec-
tives on Forests has
Objective 1 – to re-
verse the loss of for-
est cover worldwide
through sustainable
forest management,

including protection,
restoration, afforesta-
tion and increase ef-
forts to prevent forest
degradation.
Some challenges and
opportunities to be con-
sidered, among others,
include forests for people,
community-based liveli-
hood for local communities
and indigenous peoples
in the forests, and pov-
erty eradication. Billions
of people are very much
dependent on the services
provided by the forests.
Policies and governance
should be reviewed, en-
hanced and attuned to the
present needs, integrating
climate change and oth-
er environmental issues.
Communication, education
and public awareness ac-
tivities should be enhanced
and consciousness build-
ing should be promoted
at all levels. Environmental
education should be at the

community level and con-
duct of information cam-
paign in communities and
schools in the restoration
and safeguarding of forests
should be encouraged.

References
1. ASEAN Centre for Biodi-
versity, 2010. The ASEAN
Heritage Parks: A Journey
to the Natural Wonders of
Southeast Asia. Los Banos,
Laguna, Philippines. 310
pages.
2. ASEAN Biodiversity Out-
look, 2010. ASEAN Centre
for Biodiversity.
3. anbiodi-
versity.org/biss/index.
php?option=com
4. Regional and Subregional
Inputs to UNFF9. Prepared
by ASEAN Secretariat.
January 2011.
5. Von Scheliha, S., B. Hecht
& T. Christopherson. 2009.
Biodiversity and Liveli-
hoods: REDD Benefits.
Published by GTZ and

SCBD.
6. www.fao.org/forestry/icam
7. www.fao.org/forestry/man-
groves
*Dr. Monina T. Uriarte and Ms.
Rhia C. Galsiam are Capacity
Development Specialist and
Capacity Development Officer,
respectively, at the ASEAN
Centre for Biodiversity.
MAY - AUGUST 2011
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ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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SPECIAL REPORT
www.aseanbiodiversity.org
ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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SPECIAL REPORT
Introduction / Overview
ropical forests are the richest terrestrial
ecosystems (FAO, 2011) in terms of bio-
logical diversity. Covering a vast area of
the earth’s surface and supporting about
two-thirds of the world’s terrestrial biodiver-
sity, forests suffer the most widespread form
of conversion and degradation. Owing to the
multiple uses and benefits derived from forest

ecosystems, anthropogenic actions have mod-
ified much of the landscape. Many consider
the modification of the forest ecosystems as
one of the defining features in the progression
of human societies. Perhaps this is where the
most conspicuous threat posed by human ac-
tivities on biodiversity is reflected (ACB, 2010).
Species richness and diversity in forest ecosys-
The Status of ASEAN’s
Forest Biodiversity
and Solutions to Forest
Biodiversity Loss
By Dr. Filiberto A. Pollisco, Jr. and Norman Emmanuel C. Ramirez*
T
View of Southeast Asia with its remaining
forest cover
A gibbon perched on a tree branch in Lao PDR
• Photo courtesy of Animo Ltd.
MAY - AUGUST 2011
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ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
17
SPECIAL REPORT
tems are acknowledged as
vital resources. They have
been used by humans since
time immemorial, providing
a range of goods such as
wood, food and medicine
(FAO, 2011).

Southeast Asia has one
of the most diverse forest
ecosystems in the world.
Several types of forests are
spread all throughout the
region, the characteristics
of which vary from country
to country (ACB, 2010). A
number of endemic plant
and animal species that are
dependent on the health
of forest ecosystems are
located in the region but
they are at risk owing to
the pressure exerted on its
habitat. The hotspot coun-
tries of Indonesia, Malaysia
and the Philippines har-
bor more endemic species
compared to the rest of
Asia that includes China,
India, Japan, and Korea.
But they also have a con-
siderable number of threat-
ened species of amphib-
ians, birds, mammals and
reptiles (ACB, 2010).
In 2010, the Interna-
tional Union for Conserva-
tion of Nature (IUCN) re-

ported that the Philippines
had the highest number of
critically endangered and
endangered native species.
Indonesia has the highest
number of vulnerable na-
tive species, followed by
Malaysia and Viet Nam. In
terms of threatened native
plant species, the ASEAN
ranks third in Asia, with
China and Japan being first
and second, respectively
(ACB, 2010).
The transformation of for-
ests in the region has been
quite extensive over the
last 50 years. Almost 8,000
years ago, the entire region
was covered by forests. As
of 2000, only 47 percent of
the ASEAN region was for-
ested, with Brunei Darus-
salam, Cambodia, Indone-
sia, Malaysia and Myanmar
having more than 50 percent
of their total land area under
forest cover. By 2007, the for-
est cover of the entire region
was down by four percent-

age points, at 43 percent.
Between the period from
1980 to 2007, the ASEAN
forests have decreased by a
total of 555,587 square kilo-
meters, an area roughly the
size of Thailand; or by an an-
nual average rate of 20,578
square kilometers, an area
almost 29 times the size of
Singapore (ACB, 2010).
The Global Biodiver-
sity Outlook 3 noted the
increasing proportion of
land surface designated as
protected areas. This trend
is also manifested in the
ASEAN region. Since 1950,
the designated protected
areas have increased by
98 percent in terms of area
and by 89 percent in terms
of number. The Philippines,
Indonesia and Malaysia
have the most number of
protected areas. In terms of
coverage, Indonesia, Thai-
land and the Philippines
have the most expansive
areas. The ASEAN region

has also met the target of
having ten percent of its
terrestrial land declared as
PAs, having established
13.2 percent for such pur-
Mt. Apo National Park in Southern Philippines. Photo courtesy of />Southeast Asia
has one of the
most diverse
forest
ecosystems
in the world.
Several types
of forests are
spread all
throughout
the region, the
characteristics
of which vary
from country
to country.
pose. Six ASEAN Member
States have exceeded the
10-percent target; and of
the six, Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia and Thailand
have set aside more than
one fifth of their total land
area for protection and
conservation.
Initiatives that support

conservation of forest
biodiversity in the
ASEAN region
The key to addressing
the issues of forest eco-
systems depends largely
on effective governance
focused on three major
areas, namely: the effec-
tive enforcement of binding
laws and forest policies,
engagement of public (par-
ticularly communities and
local government units) and
private stakeholders, and
comprehensive programs
for the capacity building
of institutions involved in
the enforcement of laws.
There exist efforts being
pursued under convention-
al programs such as refor-
estation and afforestation,
www.aseanbiodiversity.org
ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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18
SPECIAL REPORT
social forestry and commu-

nity-based forest manage-
ment. The establishment
of more conservation areas
and better forest manage-
ment practices are critical
initiatives in saving forest
ecosystems in the region.
While current respective
national responses are con-
sidered to be sufficient in
design, two key programs
merit support: the imple-
mentation of forest certifi-
cation programs under the
ambit of sustainable forest
management (SFM) and the
Action Plan on Forest Law
Enforcement, Governance
and Trade (FLEGT).
Sustainable forest man-
agement and the formula-
tion of a forest certification
program are initiatives that
involve close partnerships
between government and
the private sector.
The ASEAN Centre for
Biodiversity (ACB), as an
initiative of the ASEAN,
maintains its active involve-

ment in international dis-
cussions which deliberate
on thematic areas such
as payment for ecosystem
services, economic valua-
tion of biodiversity, taxono-
my, invasive alien species,
wildlife enforcement, cli-
mate change, ecotourism,
and access and benefits
sharing, among others. It
advocates a holistic ap-
proach to biodiversity con-
servation that emphasizes
the importance of synergy
among all components of
the natural environment.
The ACB supports and
participates in local and
international fora related to
Reducing emissions from
deforestation and forest
degradation and the role of
conservation, sustainable
management of forests and
enhancement of forest car-
bon stocks in developing
countries (REDD-plus), The
Economics of Ecosystems
and Biodiversity (TEEB)

and PES to facilitate the
active involvement of AMS.
The ACB strives to ensure
that the AMS have a com-
mon understanding of cur-
rent and emerging issues
from a regional standpoint
for policy development and
implementation.
The establishment of
protected areas (PAs) re-
mains one of the key cor-
nerstones of biodiversity
conservation. They are
established as ASEAN
Heritage Parks (AHPs) to
generate greater aware-
ness, pride, appreciation,
enjoyment and conserva-
tion of ASEAN’s rich natural
heritage, through a regional
network of representative
protected areas, and to
generate greater collabora-
tion between AMS in pre-
serving their shared natural
heritage. AHPs are defined
as “Protected areas of high
conservation importance,
preserving in total a com-

plete spectrum of repre-
sentative ecosystems of
the ASEAN region” (ACB,
2010). At present there are
30 AHPs. The ACB serves
as the Secretariat of the
AHP Committee, with rep-
resentatives of the 10 AMS
serving as its members.
Invasive alien species
(IAS) are either plants, ani-
mals or microorganisms that
have been introduced out-
side their natural area, and
which exhibit rapid growth,
reproduction and dispersal
that they are highly com-
petitive to native species,
destructive and difficult to
control, particularly if the
new ecosystem lacks the
predators or pathogens of
their own native range. The
cost of damage caused by
IAS globally is estimated at
USD1.4 trillion per annum.
The globalization of trade
and industry has facilitated
the mobility of people and
goods over the past de-

cades. Its effect is the in-
creased associated trans-
port of animals, plants and
micro-organisms. Shipping,
for one, is a major pathway
for the unintentional intro-
duction of aquatic invaders
when, for instance, some
species get carried either
in the ballast water or other
parts of a vessel.
In the ASEAN region, in-
vasive alien species are be-
coming a threat to biodiver-
sity and the economy. They
are a major driver of envi-
ronmental change in the re-
gion, placing considerable
constraints on environmen-
tal conservation, economic
growth, and sustainable
development. The Conven-
tion on Biological Diversity
(CBD) calls on Parties to
“prevent the introduction
of, control or eradicate
those alien species which
threaten ecosystems, habi-
tats or species (Article 8h).”
It has also developed a

set of guidelines to assist
countries with the imple-
mentation of this article.
With fi nancial assistance
from the European Union,
the ACB implemented the
Joint Research/Initiatives
on Biodiversity Programme
from 2008 to 2010. Through
this programme, the ACB
provided technical and fi nan-
cial aid in the implementa-
tion of high quality research
projects aimed at address-
ing priority problems in the
fi eld of biodiversity conser-
vation in the ASEAN region
and at promoting regional
bridging of institutions and
individuals. From Septem-
ber 2009 to June 2010,
Viet Nam implemented the
project “Research on Solu-
tions to Control the Spread
of Mimosa pigra in Viet Nam
and ASEAN Countries”,
which thoroughly described
the characteristics and dis-
tribution of Mimosa pigra in
The Golden Apple Snail, Pomacea canaliculata, invades rice fi elds and attacks young rice plants

MAY - AUGUST 2011
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ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
19
SPECIAL REPORT
Viet Nam, and the proposed
solutions for the prevention
and control of spread of the
IAS.
Lessons learned and
ways forward
To manage and conserve
forests effectively and to ad-
dress the causes of defores-
tation and biodiversity loss,
forest management and
conservation are continu-
ously evolving. Forest con-
servation is becoming more
complex as conservationists
attempt to understand and
accommodate the needs
and rights of people who
live in and around forests
(FAO, 2011).
There is a need to pro-
vide the ASEAN Heritage
Parks with continued sup-
port so that countries can
demonstrate that they can

effectively manage the
parks. This could encour-
age more partners to sup-
port on-the-ground proj-
ects that will benefit the
parks directly.
One of the key challeng-
es in halting biodiversity
loss is the involvement of
the larger stakeholder base
beyond environment and
conservation practitioners.
Awareness campaigns
must also target not only
the general public, but also
those outside of the envi-
ronment sector, primarily
the economic development
sectors.
Biodiversity must be
mainstreamed outside of
the environment domain
into all relevant and sec-
toral policies and plans. As
the economic sector be-
gins to embrace biodiver-
sity and adopt sustainable
strategies, direct impact on
biodiversity is reduced and
ecosystems services are

enhanced.
The implementation of
National Biodiversity Strat-
egies and Action Plans
(NBSAPs) must occur at all
sectors and integrate biodi-
versity into national policies
related commitments into
national development plans
and strategies; integrate
and harmonize multi-sec-
toral approaches; encour-
age mechanisms for ben-
efit sharing; and promote
greater synergy between
the work of CBD, the Unit-
ed Nations Forum on For-
ests (UNFF) and the United
Nations Framework Con-
vention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC). (SCBD, 2009).
Biodiversity contributes
to business and develop-
ment. Engaging the busi-
ness community and the
private sector in promoting
biodiversity and business
initiatives has been one of
the emerging key strate-
gies to halt the loss of bio-

diversity. Business thrives
on biodiversity – pharma-
ceuticals, petroleum, bio-
technology or manufacture
– all are in one way or an-
other, beneficiaries of the
components of biodiversity.
Big companies engaging
on CSR investments, such
as support to rehabilitation
of degraded ecosystems,
must be acknowledged
and promoted. The TEEB
for Business (2010) has re-
affirmed that the business
opportunity for biodiversity
and the natural ecosystems
is getting stronger.
Biodiversity captures
media coverage and pub-
lic awareness and gains
the attention of leaderships
primarily when driven by
unusual and extraordinary
events. Sustained and con-
certed campaigns neces-
sary to reducing ecosys-
tems and biodiversity loss
are sorely lacking.
The ASEAN region is

not only home to biologi-
cally significant species
and ecosystems, but also
to globally significant and
worthy individuals and
groups who can champion
the cause of conservation.
The ACB heralds those
little but worthwhile initia-
tives that civil society or-
and programs on fisheries,
forestry and trade; and into
national poverty and de-
velopment plans, including
Millennium Development
Goals (MDG) strategies.
A better understanding
of the value of biodiversity
can boost political support
to effect changes in the way
we do things and further
mobilize financial resources
to address the threats and
drivers of biodiversity and
ecosystems loss. The Eco-
nomics of Ecosystems and
Biodiversity 2009, which
promotes the value of natu-
ral wealth from ecosystems
services, must continue to

earn recognition and un-
derstanding at the highest
political level and among
the economic sectors.
There is a great potential
for raising revenues from
REDD in Indonesia and
Cambodia. There is, howev-
er, a need to undertake ma-
jor improvements in the insti-
tutional capacities of REDD
countries for such potential
revenues to be realized.
In recent fora, the AMS
have acknowledged the
need to implement current
commitments on forests,
biodiversity and climate
change; develop national
information sharing net-
works; and foster greater
capacity building on tech-
nical issues. There is also
a need to integrate forest-
*Dr. Filiberto A. Pollisco, Jr.
and Mr. Norman Emmanuel
C. Ramirez are Programme
Development Specialist and
Programme Management
Officer, respectively, at the

ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
References:
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
2010. ASEAN Biodiversity Out-
look. Philippines. 208 pages.
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
2010. The ASEAN Heritage
Parks: A Journey to the
Natural
Wonders of Southeast Asia.
Los Baños, Laguna, Philip-
pines. 310 pages.
Food and Agriculture Organi-
zation of the United Nations.
Forest Biodiversity accessed
on 12 September 2011 at
/>sity/forest_biod_en.pdf.
Secretariat of the Convention
on Biological Diversity. 2009.
Report of the Sub-Regional
Capacity Building Workshop
on Forest Biodiversity and Cli-
mate Change. 2-5 September
2009, Singapore.
Secretariat of the Conven-
tion on Biological Diversity.
2010. Fact Sheet on Forest
Biodiversity accessed on 12
September 2011 at http://
www.cbd.int/iyb/doc/prints/

factsheets/iyb-cbd-factsheet-
forest-en.pdf.
Secretariat of the Convention
on Biological Diversity. 2011.
Report of the Asia-Pacific
Regional Consultation and
Capacity Building Workshop
on Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest
Degradation in Developing
Countries (REDD-Plus), Includ-
ing on Relevant Biodiversity
Safeguards. 15-18 March
2011, Singapore.
World Bank. Biodiversity and
Forests at a Glance accessed
on 12 September
2011 at http://siteresources.
worldbank.org/ESS
DNETWORK/64158610-
1111583197441
/20488129/Biodiversity
AndForestsAtAGlance.pdf
ganizations, the youth, and
regular individuals are able
to do to impact on society
at large.

One of the key
challenges in

halting biodiversity
loss is the
involvement
of the larger
stakeholder
base beyond
environment and
conservation
practitioners.
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Forestry cooperation
in the ASEAN region
ecognizing the need to conserve its
forest ecosystem, the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has
in place a policy framework for forestry cooper-
ation. Policy coordination and decision-making
on regional cooperation in the forest sector is
the task of the ASEAN Senior Officials on For-
estry (ASOF) guided by the ASEAN Ministers on
Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF).
The AMAF is the highest body which handles
the ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and
Forestry. It is supported by the Senior Officials
Meeting (SOM-AMAF). Under the SOM-AMAF

several permanent subsidiary bodies (Board,
Sectoral Working Group, Committee) are in
charge of the respective cooperation sectors.
The permanent subsidiary bodies establish task
forces, expert and working groups, e.g., the
ASEAN Experts Group on International Forest
Policy Processes (AEG-IFPP) and the ASEAN
Working Group on a Pan-ASEAN Timber Certifi-
cation Initiative (AWG-C), to undertake planning
and implementation of specific activities within
a specific time-frame.
The ASOF are responsible for policy coordi-
nation and decision-making in regional coop-
eration in the forest sector. Under the ASOF,
seven experts as well as working groups were
established to implement programs and activi-
ties, of which the AEG-IFPP and the AWG-C are
of special interest for forest policy: 1) ASEAN
Experts Group on International Forest Policy
R
Researchers inspect trees at a protected area.
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Processes (AEG-IFPP). The
AEG-IFPP deals with issues
such as Sustainable Forest
Management (SFM), nation-

al forest programs (NFP),
Forest Law Enforcement
and Governance (FLEG),
and Reducing Emissions
from Deforestation and
Degradation (REDD); 2)
ASEAN Working Group on
a Pan-ASEAN Timber Cer-
tification Initiative (AWG-C).
Understanding forest and
timber certification as an
important tool for promoting
SFM and in view of the in-
creasing demand for SFM-
certified timber worldwide,
the Ad-Hoc Working Group
on a Pan-ASEAN Timber
Certification Initiative (AWG)
was created in 2002 to ex-
plore concrete measures
for regional cooperation in
timber certification between
ASEAN Member States;
3) ASEAN Experts Group
(AEG) on CITES (Conven-
tion on International Trade
in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora); 4)
ASEAN Wildlife Enforce-
ment Network (ASEAN-

WEN); 5) ASEAN Social
Forestry Network (ASFN);
6) ASEAN Experts Group
(AEG) on Research and De-
velopment for Forest Prod-
ucts; and 7) ASEAN Experts
Group (AEG) on Herbal and
Medical Plants.
ASEAN cooperation
ASEAN cooperation
in the agricultural sector
started as early as 1968,
including food production
and supply. In 1977, the
scope of cooperation was
broadened to cover the
greater area of agriculture
and forestry as the needs
have increased. Currently,
the specific areas under
the ASEAN cooperation in
food, agriculture and for-
estry includes food secu-
rity, food handling, crops,
livestock, fisheries, agri-
cultural training and ex-
tension, agricultural coop-
eratives, forestry and joint
cooperation in agriculture,
and forest products pro-

motion scheme.
The basic objective of
the ASEAN Cooperation in
Food, Agriculture and For-
estry is to formulate and
implement regional coop-
eration activities to enhance
the international competi-
tiveness of ASEAN’s food,
agriculture and forestry
products as well as further
strengthen the food se-
curity arrangement in the
region and joint position in
international forums.
The ASEAN Socio-Cul-
tural Community (ASCC)
Blueprint ensures environ-
mental sustainability. This
includes, among others, in-
tensified regional coopera-
tion on global environmen-
tal issues, conservation of
biological diversity, as well
as promotion of sustain-
able forest management
(SFM) and eradication of
unsustainable practices
including combating illegal
logging and its associated

trade. In order to address
environmental issues ef-
fectively, the ASCC Blue-
print calls for a holistic
approach in regional coop-
eration.
In forest policy, ASEAN
Member States have been
pursuing a comprehensive
policy approach by imple-
menting the concept of
NFP. In order to achieve
SFM, the NFP has been the
framework for the work of
the ASOF and their expert
and working groups.
Further basic policy doc-
uments include the ASEAN
Vision 2020, released in
December 1997, which un-
derlines the region’s com-
mitment for a common un-
derstanding to “promote the
forestry sector as a model
in forest management,
conservation and sustain-
able development”. This
Vision is further elaborated
through the adopted Decla-
ration of ASEAN Concord II

(Bali Concord II) in October
2003 where ASEAN un-
derscored its commitment
to the Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation of the
World Summit on Sustain-
able Development (WSSD).
The ASEAN Vision 2020
calls for the promotion of
forestry as a model for sus-
tainable development by
harmonizing environmental,
social, and economic poli-
cies among the ten Member
States. Creating conditions
favorable to SFM - an entry
point for governance reform
- is a key national and re-
gional public management
challenge.
ASEAN Regional
Knowledge
Networks
The ASEAN Regional
Knowledge Networks
(ARKNs) on FLEG and
REDD were established
based on the decisions
of the Eleventh Meet-
ing of the ASOF, held in

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
on July 31 - August 1,
2008, to promote the
use of regional knowl-
edge network, among
others, to broaden
the ASEAN base of
knowledge in forestry.
The main objective of
these Networks is to
support ASOF and the
AMAF in decision-mak-
ing and implementation
processes by providing
specific policy-oriented
and focused research
and policy analysis.
Photo courtesy of Green Community
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ASEAN Forest
Clearing-House
Mechanism
The ASEAN Forest
Clearing-House Mechanism
(CHM) is a regional learn-
ing platform to facilitate

forest policy coordination
and policy learning among
the ASEAN Member States
and beyond. It is designed
to promote networking and
holistic knowledge man-
agement between ASEAN
stakeholders, processes
and institutions. The tool
is managed by the ASEAN
Secretariat and serves as
an institutional hub of the
new networked and knowl-
edge-based ASEAN. It is
an essential instrument of
information and knowledge
sharing and communication
for forestry-related ASEAN
mechanisms, such as
ASEAN expert and work-
ing groups and the ASEAN
knowledge networks, and
helps organizing exchange
of experiences as well as
learning processes among
them.
The CHM is also a tool
to enhance communication
and interaction with other
ASEAN stakeholders and

the broader public. Since
its first launch in 2004, the
CHM has been evolving
from managing data and in-
formation towards captur-
ing knowledge (e.g. series
of ASEAN-German ReFOP
Briefing Papers, ARKN
Briefing Papers) and trans-
lating knowledge into appli-
cation and innovation. The
latter includes the CHM’s
role as a communication
platform for the ASEAN Re-
gional Knowledge Networks
(ARKN) on forest policy pri-
orities in the region which
are FLEG and forests and
climate change, in particular
REDD. The ARKNs provide
policy-oriented research to
better inform policy deci-
sion-making and implemen-
tation by the AMAF/ASOF.
The ASEAN Secretariat
manages the interface be-
tween these complemen-
tary formal and informal
mechanisms, among oth-
ers, through the CHM.

In this context, the CHM
significantly contributes
to oversee the complex-
ity and interconnectedness
of forest policy issues and
processes. In the current
phase of development, fo-
cus will be on the human
dimension of KM, e.g., cap-
turing tacit knowledge (e.g.,
policy briefs by ARKN mem-
bers, lessons learned) and
managing exchange and
networking among ASEAN
stakeholders.
The CHM provides all us-
ers access to work-related
information and knowledge
and enables them to make
contact with the respective
sources. While managed by
the ASEAN Secretariat, the
ASOF community, members
of the regional knowledge
networks, ASEAN partners
and other ASEAN stake-
holders are responsible for
actively producing, upload-
ing and maintaining their re-
spective products retaining

full responsibility and own-
ership of their inputs into
the CHM. This custodian-
ship is important because
it places the responsibility
for timelines, maintenance,
access and other issues
squarely where it belongs,
on the initial producer or
provider. However, equally
pertinent is a mechanism
of quality control and stan-
dardization to be overseen
by the ASEAN Secretariat.
Sustainable Forest
Management
Sustainable Forest Man-
agement (SFM) aims to
ensure that products and
social, cultural, and envi-
ronmental services provided
by forests meet the needs
of the current generation,
while at the same time
maintaining their availability
for the development needs
of future generations. De-
spite a long history of forest
conversion and forest deg-
radation due to unsustain-

able logging practices, the
natural forests of Southeast
Asia still constitute an im-
mense renewable resource
and provide vital contribu-
tions to the economic and
social development of the
region. Invariably, the coun-
tries of the region are com-
mitted to the principle of
SFM, as expressed in their
respective forest policies
and/or sector strategies. In
line with international poli-
cy debates (e.g., UNCED,
1992: Rio Declaration and
Forest Principles) the defi-
nition of SFM applied by
these countries has gradu-
ally evolved from a focus on
sustained timber production
to sustainable forest man-
agement that embraces
the full range of economic,
environmental and social
aspects.
ASEAN Criteria and
Indicators for Sustainable
Management of Tropical
Forests

Criteria and indica-
tors for sustainable forest
Forests provide a host of
products such as wooden
furniture.
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management were devel-
oped to provide countries
with a framework for de-
fining sustainable forest
management and assess-
ing progress towards this
goal. They are tools to help
identify trends in the forest
sector and the effects of
forest management inter-
ventions over time, and
to facilitate decision mak-
ing in national forest policy
processes. The ultimate
aim of these tools is to
promote improved forest
management practices
over time, and to foster the
development of a healthier
and more productive forest

resource base.
A total set of seven criteria
for monitoring and assess-
ing sustainable management
of tropical forests in ASEAN
were identifi ed, as well as 59
indicators. These indicators
cover a range of forestry as-
pects required to attain sus-
tainable forest management,
from economic and institu-
tional frameworks; descrip-
tion of resource base and
conservation and protection
procedures; areas damaged
by human activities and
natural causes; resource
assessment and planning
procedures for forest har-
vesting; species and ge-
netic diversity; management
guidelines for reduced/low
impact logging; the protec-
tion of soil productivity and
downstream catchment val-
ues; and endangered, rare
and threatened species, in-
cluding procedures for their
monitoring and evaluation;
utilization of wood and non-

wood forest products; and
employment; to community
participation.
Monitoring, Assessment
and Reporting Format
for Sustainable Forest
Management in ASEAN
Achieving sustainable
management of forest is
the ultimate goal of any
forest management prac-
tices. All forest organiza-
tions and forest owners,
especially those directly in-
volved in the management,
conservation and develop-
ment of forest resources
are responsible to carry
out effective monitoring,
assessment and reporting
on the forest management
practices implemented,
based on the principles of
sustainable forest manage-
ment through the use of
agreed criteria and indica-
tors. They are tools to help
identify trends in the forest
sector and the effects of
forest management inter-

ventions over time, and
to facilitate decision mak-
ing in national forest policy
processes.
National Forest
Programs
In order to address envi-
ronmental issues effective-
ly, the ASCC Blueprint calls
for a holistic approach in
regional cooperation. In for-
est policy, ASEAN Member
States have been pursuing
a comprehensive policy ap-
proach by implementing
the concept of national for-
est programs (NFP). The
concept is based on the
“Forest Principles”, agreed
at the UN Conference on
Environment and Devel-
opment in 1992 in Rio as
the first global consensus
on the management, con-
servation and sustainable
development of all types of
forests.
An NFP constitutes a
participatory, holistic, in-
ter-sectoral and iterative

process of policy planning,
implementation, moni-
toring and evaluation at
national and subnational
level with the objective of
SFM as a contribution to
sustainable development.
NFPs are country-specif-
ic, though following spe-
cific principles: national
sovereignty and country
leadership with a clear
commitment to SFM and
assuming responsibility
for global concerns while
strengthening coordination
of international support to
advance the country-driv-
en NFP process; consis-
tency within and beyond
the forest sector address-
ing decentralization and
devolution efforts as well
as integrating SFM into
overarching processes at
the national level such as
national strategies for sus-
tainable development, rel-
evant national action plans
and poverty reduction

strategies; and partnership
and participation with a
view of finding consensus
among stakeholders, re-
solving conflicts and build-
ing alliances, paired with
transparency and public
accountability.
NFP processes are flex-
ible in integrating new chal-
lenges and policy agendas
deriving from the interna-
tional discussion, such as
FLEGT and REDD. They
combine protection and
sustainable use of natural
resources with economic
and social development,
thus reflecting key inten-
tions of the ASEAN Charter
and the ASEAN Declaration
on Environmental Sustain-
ability.
Forest and Timber
Certification
In view of the worldwide
increasing demand for cer-
tified timber, and under-
standing forest and timber
certification as an important

tool for promoting SFM, a
number of ASEAN Member
States embarked during the
1990s on the development
of national forest and tim-
ber certification schemes.
Several national standards
for forest certification of
natural and planted forests
were created, taking into
account the design of IT-
TOs C&I for SFM of natu-
ral tropical forests and/or
FSCs Principles and Cri-
teria for forest. On ASEAN
level, Regional Criteria and
Indicators for Sustainable
Management of Natural
Tropical Forests were pub-
lished in 2000.
ASEAN Working Group
on a Pan-ASEAN Timber
Certification Initiative
(AWG-C)
Within the ASEAN Mem-
ber States, the enabling
conditions and the situa-
tion in the context of for-
est certification vary sig-
nificantly. This led to the

establishment of the Tech-
nical Working Group on a
Pan-ASEAN Timber Certi-
fication Initiative (AWG-C),
entrusted with the develop-
ment of a regional guideline
for a Phased-approach to
Forest Certification (PACt).
The guideline or regional
policy framework shall sup-
port a step-by-step pro-
cess to achieve SFM within
each member state. The
working group ranked the
development of a regional
timber legality standard as
the first phase of the PACt.
In this context, the group
agreed on six elements to
be included in the regional
timber legality standard,
and currently drafts the re-
lated criteria and indicators
of the standard, to be fur-
ther interpreted on member
state level.
The AWG currently de-
velops the criteria and indi-
cators of the ASEAN timber
legality standard (based on

the agreed upon six ele-
ments) and drafts a regional
guideline on Chain-of-Cus-
tody (CoC). National inter-
pretations of the regional
timber legality standard
shall follow. The AWG con-
ducted several capacity-
building activities on certi-
fication, legality verification
and changing requirements
of international timber mar-
kets.

Reference:
anforest-
chm.org
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orests are home to nearly 90 percent
of the world’s biodiversity (World Bank
2004). Local communities depend on
forests as a source of fuel, food, medicines and
shelter. It directly supports the livelihoods of 90
percent of the 1.2 billion people living in extreme
poverty (World Bank 2004). Forests also provide

essential ecosystem services such as watershed
protection, water fl ow regulation, nutrient cy-
cling, rainfall generation and disease regulation
(Global Canopy Foundation 2009). Old growth
forest absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmo-
sphere, offsetting man-made emissions.
Previous approaches to reduce emissions
have been unsuccessful. A new framework, Re-
ducing Emissions from Deforestation and For-
est Degradation (REDD), was conceptualized
with the basic idea being that “countries that
are willing and able to reduce emissions from
deforestation should be financially compensat-
ed for doing so”.
SPECIAL REPORT
Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and
Forest Degradation
F
REDD is primarily about emission reductions.
The UNFCCC (2007) COP13 reports that to
mitigate climate change, REDD should include
the following: policy approaches and positive
incentives on issues relating to the reduction of
emissions from deforestation and forest deg-
radation in developing countries; and the role
of conservation, the sustainable management
of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon
stocks in developing countries.
More recently, the “Plus” in REDD-Plus has

attracted increasing attention towards activities
related to the conservation and enhancement
of carbon stocks. This could address climate
change and rural poverty while conserving bio-
diversity and sustaining vital ecosystem ser-
vices.
During the ASEAN Conference on Biodiver-
sity in October 2009, it was acknowledged that
deforestation leads to loss of species, as well
as the increase of greenhouse gas emissions to
MAY - AUGUST 2011
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ASEAN BIODIVERSITY
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SPECIAL REPORT
the atmosphere. The con-
ference participants gener-
ally agreed to pursue REDD
as a key strategy to climate
change adaptation and
mitigation efforts, as well
as biodiversity conservation
in the region, provided that
the approach be applied
to all ecosystems and not
on terrestrial ecosystems
alone; and that it should be
focused more towards re-
gional perspectives rather
than mainly at the country

and local levels. Numerous
issues surrounding REDD
remain under negotiation.
Significant messages that
came out of the conference
were:
• The definition of “for-
est” must be reviewed
in light of the UNFCCC
definition, which con-
siders “plantations”
of any tall growing
monoculture (e.g. oil
palm) as “forest.”
• REDD+ has to pursue
long-term goals with
ambitious targets, that
is: to halve the gross
deforestation/forest
degradation by 2010
and halt it by 2030.
Its long-term ap-
proach should include
all land uses; but for
the short- to medium-
term: to review and
implement the previ-
ous agreements on
REDD before expand-
ing its scope further.

• REDD mechanisms
must begin by having
firm agreements at the
smallest-scale and
most local level before
it is elevated to higher
ground.
• Communication and
public awareness ac-
tivities on REDD must
be enhanced; more
involvement and par-
ticipation from key
stakeholders, includ-
ing indigenous peo-
ples and the business
sector, must be en-
couraged on climate
change and other en-
vironmental agenda.
• Financing mecha-
nisms and schemes
must be studied thor-
oughly to determine
whether to continue
under government
support or move to-
wards self-financing.
• A general framework
is needed – flexible

enough to meet the
different countries’
needs.
The ASEAN region show-
cases some successful
REDD initiatives, specifi cally
in Cambodia and Viet Nam.
Cambodia
The REDD project in the
Seima Biodiversity Con-
servation Area (SBCA) is
the second REDD pilot site
in Cambodia, but the fi rst
one in a conservation area.
The area used to be a log-
ging concession prior to
the creation of the SBCA in
2002. It is inhabited by the
Bunong minority, an indig-
enous peoples group that
is described as having low
literacy, small in numbers
and of weak political clout.
In determining the success
of a REDD project, accurate
predictions of deforestation
rates must be determined.
This can provide sound esti-
mates of tons of carbon that
can be saved. Furthermore,

the REDD management sys-
tem must be able to provide
strong additionality, and law
enforcement activities and
community incentives for
forest protection must be
included in the strategy. The
project offi cially began in
October 2008. The fi rst ac-
tivities included staff train-
ing, actual data collection
for carbon stock surveys,
and baseline analysis to re-
cord and project deforesta-
tion rates. Fundraising for
implementation is ongoing,
along with the writing and
certifi cation of the Project
Design Document. In six
to twelve months, the fi rst
credits will be ready to be
brought to market.
Viet Nam
In Viet Nam, there exists
the potential and willing-
ness on the part of gov-
ernment to include REDD
as part of its strategy on
climate change response.
A national framework has

been developed, particular-
ly in linking it with the exist-
ing policy on PES. Start-up
A
new report from the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diver-
sity (CBD), REDD-Plus and Biodiversity (CBD Technical Series No. 59),
provides technical and scientific information on the ways to ensure that the
design and implementation of REDD-plus policies support the objectives
of the CBD.
REDD-Plus refers to policies for reducing emissions from deforestation
and forest degradation, conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable
management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in de-
veloping countries that are promoted under the United Nations Frame-
work Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The REDD-Plus and Biodiversity report aims to: outline potential benefi ts
of REDD-Plus for biodiversity and indigenous and local communities; dem-
onstrate the importance of biodiversity and indigenous and local community
co-benefi ts for the long-term success of REDD-Plus; outline possible risks
of REDD-Plus for biodiversity and indigenous and local communities, with
a view to contributing to the development or improvement of appropriate
policy recommendations; outline ways in which the CBD can contribute to
the success of REDD-Plus, and in turn, outline the potential ways in which
REDD-Plus can contribute to the objectives of the CBD; and present various
tools for achieving multiple benefi ts in planning and implementing REDD-Plus
activities.

New publication outlines biodiversity elements
for design and implementation of REDD-Plus