by Ms. Clarissa C. Arida
Acting Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
As the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) celebrate its 40th year, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) proudly announces the addition of five new parks to its network of topnotch nature reserves and natural parks in the Southeast Asian region.
Launched on 29 November 1984, the AHP—a hallmark initiative of ASEAN for biodiversity conservation features a network of protected areas that best represent the common natural heritage in the region. For four decades, the AHP Programme has remained relevant and continues to grow—as an outstanding showcase of “ONE ASEAN’’ regional cooperation and commitment of the ASEAN Member States to preserve and restore its immense natural wealth. The AHP Programme stayed true to its purpose of strengthening the connectivity of highly significant ecosystems in the region and in improving protected area management.
Being part of the AHP network provides protected areas with opportunities to: share good practices and experiences on protected area management, participate in regional capacity development and awareness-raising activities, engage with potential regional and international conservation partners, and get assistance in enhancing protected area management operations.
From its original 11 parks, the AHP Programme has expanded to 62 sites. This includes five new additions to its vibrant network this year, three new AHPs from the Philippines and two from Lao People’s Democratic Republic—this year’s ASEAN Chair. The new AHPs which were recently approved by the the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment are Phou Xieng Thong National Protected Area and Nam Poui National Protected Area in Lao PDR, and Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary, and Apo Reef Natural Park in the Philippines. These contribute to a total of 11.6 million hectares of legally gazetted protected areas representing terrestrial, marine, and wetland ecosystems.
Phou Xieng Thong National Protected Area
Situated in Salavan and Champasak Provinces in Southern Lao PDR and bounded by the Mekong River in the west, Phou Xieng Thong National Protected Area (NPA), the 58th AHP is a declared Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and a National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA) governed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. As a terrestrial ecosystem, Phou Xieng Thong NPA is home to various types of forests with extensive flats of bare rock and thin vegetation of grass and shrubs. Small caves, sheer cliffs, and a few mineral licks can also be found in the area.
There were 843 recorded plant species found in the area, including the Critically Endangered Siamese Rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis) and the Tamalan Tree or Black Rosewood (Dalbergia oliveri) and four Endangered species namely, Mersawa (Anisoptera costata), Burma Padauk (Pterocarpus macrocarpus); and Yang-Krat (Dipterocarpus intricatus). The park is also a known habitat of the Endangered Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina), Yellow-cheeked Gibbon (Nomascus gabriellae), Tiger (Panthera tigris), Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), and Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus) as well as the Critically Endangered Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica), Southern White-cheeked Gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys), and Banteng (Bos javanicus).
The cliffs in the park have numerous prehistoric cave paintings that reveal the traditional way of life of people during the prehistoric days. Scenes in paintings include fishing, rice farming, human figures, animals, hands, and geometric designs. There are a couple of well-known naturally occurring rock pedestals referred to as mushroom rocks because of their shape. There are also a number of caves, as well as a number of unnamed viewpoints overlooking the Mekong River.
Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park
Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park is designated as the 59th AHP. Rising up to 1,763 meters above sea level, the twin crater lakes of Balinsasayao and Danao are nestled in mountainous tropical lowland evergreen forests and upper montane rain forests in the province of Negros Oriental, in the central Philippines. Covering an area of 8,016.05 hectares, the Park is home to a total of 325 fern species, 237 tree species, 27 mammalian fauna, and 209 resident and migrant birds, of which 14 species are globally threatened.
The Park serves as habitat of globally important species such as the Endangered Negros Shrew (Crocidura negrina), Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi), Visayan Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis rabori), the Critically Endangered Philippine Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene rabori) and the Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons negrinus), as well as Philippine endemic species like the Endangered Golden-crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus). As an IBA, there are a total of 209 resident and migrant birds recorded, 14 species of these are globally threatened most notably, the Critically Endangered Negros Bleeding-heart Pigeon (Gallicolumba keayi) and the Visayan Wrinkled-billed Hornbill (Aceros waldeni). The park management allows recreational activities in the park as long as visitors do not disturb or affect the integrity of the area including its wildlife and environs.
Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in the southwestern tip of the Philippines, Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary (TIWS) is a pride of Mindanao and the 60th AHP. It is part of the Sulu archipelago in the municipality of Tawi-Tawi and is characterised as a rocky islet that spans six islands. It is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
TIWS is known to be the only major nesting habitat of Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Philippines—the only one in the ASEAN region. There are 281 flora species reported in the Turtle Islands and based on DENR records, there are 414,529 nests of Green Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles recorded in TIWS for the past 29 years with an average of 13,817 per year.
Turtle Islands was identified as Extremely High for biodiversity conservation and was declared a Turtle Island Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA) through a Memorandum of Agreement between the Philippines and Malaysia in 1996. TIWS is also a member of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia Marine Sea Turtle Site Network. This marine sanctuary is a premier ecotourism destination where visitors can engage in ecotourism activities like turtle watching, scuba diving, snorkelling, birdwatching, and nature walks through pristine coastal forests and mangroves.
Apo Reef Natural Park
This marine nature reserve stretches 27,488 hectares in the MIMAROPA region, about 28 kilometres west of the Municipality of Sablayan on the island of Mindoro. Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) is the largest contiguous coral reef system in the Philippines and the second largest in the world. ARNP is a marine biodiversity hotspot spanning vibrant coral reefs, pristine lagoons, seagrass beds, various mangroves, and lush beach forests. It is a sanctuary for over 482 fish species, 63 genera of hard corals, rare marine invertebrates such as the Endangered Green Sea Turtle and Critically Endangered Hawksbill Turtle, and iconic species like Dugongs, Whale Sharks, and Hammerhead Sharks.
Officially designated as the 61st AHP, ARNP is an IBA and holds the distinguished Blue Park Award for its outstanding conservation of marine wildlife. It is now in the Tentative List from the Philippines for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
As a prime marine ecotourism site in the Philippines, ARNP offers water activities such as snorkeling, free diving, or scuba diving for the public to explore vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life including sharks, rays, and turtles. Birding enthusiasts can also enjoy seeing rare bird species such as the Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) and Christmas Frigatebird (Fregata andrewski). Kayaking through mangrove-lined lagoons, hiking scenic trails, and visiting the iconic Apo Island lighthouse also provide opportunities to appreciate ARNP’s natural beauty. Overall, the ecotourism and educational programme provided by the park management highlights the natural beauty of its ecosystem as well as the conservation efforts.
Nam Poui National Protected Area
The 62nd AHP is Nam Poui National Protected Area—one of the top five largest NPAs with high biodiversity in Lao PDR. Nam Poui has an area of 191,200 hectares located in Xayaburi Province, the northwestern part of the country. It has various habitat types that are particularly important for supporting large mammal species and some bird species. The NPA mostly comprises mountainous areas with mixed deciduous forests, evergreen forests, and dry dipterocarp forests. It is estimated that at least 80 birds, 47 mammals and 17 reptile species are found in the NPA—of which there are at least 10 key species of birds, 15 key species of mammals and 7 key species. Rare or endemic flora species present in the area are Mai Taekha (Afzelia xylocarpa), Mai Dou Lai (Pterocarpus sp.), Mai Deng (Xylia xylocarpa), and May Khaen heua (Hopea odorata). There are at least 10 key species of birds, 15 key species of mammals and 7 key species of reptiles which warrant special management attention including the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Tiger (Panthera tigris), Gaur (Bos gaurus), White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar), and Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), among others. Key species of the NPA include Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus), Pheasants, and Peacocks.
Good quality forests in Nam Poui are readily accessible to the public from a major highway linking the Thai border at Kentao with Luang Prabang. The area is popular for some eco-trek, visit to the yellow leaves people and tour to the viewpoint at Phou Pot (mountain) for camping.
While it is expected that challenges will continue to arise given the adverse impacts of climate change and the rapid decline of biodiversity, this strong AHP network of 62 sites offers a glimpse of hope for what we can achieve through collective action and shared commitment. As the AHP Secretariat, the ACB continues to work closely with the ASEAN Member States and to explore meaningful partnerships with other like-minded institutions and dialogue partners from different sectors to safeguard the region’s natural wealth for present and future generations.
