ACB 2013 Annual Report by Nanie Gonzales

2013 AnnuAl REPORT

ANNUAL REPORT 2013 ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY Published February 2014 Publisher Roberto V. Oliva Editor-in-Chief Rolando A. Inciong Managing Editor Leslie J. Castillo Design and Layout Nanie S. Gonzales Editorial Board Roberto V. Oliva Clarissa C. Arida Sheila G. Vergara Rolando A. Inciong

Table of Contents iv 1 3 5 8 11 13 16 20 22 26 28 31 36 40 42 44 45

Message from the Executive Director The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Eight Years of ACB 2013 by the Numbers ASEAN Heritage Parks Small Grants Programme Capacity Development Access and Benefit Sharing Wildlife Law Enforcement Biodiversity and Climate Change Business and Biodiversity Biodiversity Information Management Communicating Biodiversity Partnerships Supporting ASEAN Member States 2014 and Beyond ASEAN Biodiversity Fund Representatives from the ASEAN Member States

Message

ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2013

roberto v. oliva Executive Director ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

s we look back at the year that was, we celebrate our accomplishments not only in 2013, but also for the past eight years. More than celebrating our achievements, we pay tribute to our partners who made these successes possible. For nearly a decade now, our strong collaboration with the ten ASEAN Member States has been propelling our work in the areas of capacity building, programme development, biodiversity information management, and communication to greater heights year after year. We are grateful to the men and women of the ACB Governing Board for guiding and supporting us and the ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity for providing us technical guidance. We also thank our National Contact Points for serving as our bridge to stakeholders in their respective countries. Your

participation truly is the key in the success of ACB activities. Special recognition goes to the Government of the Philippines for its financial support. As Host Country, the Philippines continues to lead the way in showing ASEAN Member States’ commitment to ensuring the Centre’s sustainability through the years. Our gratitude also goes to our partners from the development and donor communities, conservation organizations, the academe, media, and many other sectors in the ASEAN Member States, European Union, Germany, and the ASEAN Dialogue Partners for putting your trust in us. We look forward to many more years of fruitful collaboration. We hope that the accomplishments featured in this report will result in renewed commitment for all of us to work together in conserving, protecting, and sustainably managing Southeast Asia’s biodiversity.

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2013

he ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) is ASEAN’s response to the challenge of biodiversity loss. Established in 2005 with financial support from the European Union until 2010, ACB is an intergovernmental regional centre that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the ten ASEAN Member States and with relevant regional and international organizations and the private sector on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such natural treasures.

Core Strategic Goals The Centre’s core strategic goals are to: • Serve as an effective coordinative body to facilitate discussion and resolution of cross-country biodiversity conservation issues; • Provide a framework and mechanism for sharing information, experiences, good practices and lessons learned for efficient access by ASEAN Member States; • Implement a pro-active approach in monitoring and assessing biodiversity conservation status as a strategic step towards identifying critical issues and future trends; • Deliver/facilitate conduct of capacity-building services and technology transfer through engaging relevant and appropriate expertise; • Enhance common understanding of biodiversity

conservation issues, strengthening ASEAN regional positions in negotiations, and in compliance with relevant multilateral environmental agreements; • Promote public and leadership awareness of the values of biodiversity to develop champions and enhance support at different stakeholder levels; and • Undertake innovative resource generation and mobilization measures to pursue impact activities that will enhance biodiversity conservation in the region. Thematic Concerns ACB supports ASEAN Member States in the following biodiversity concerns that are of global and regional importance: • Access and benefit sharing • Agro-biodiversity • ASEAN Heritage Parks and protected area management • Biodiversity information management • Business and biodiversity • Climate change and biodiversity • Ecotourism and biodiversity • Global Taxonomic Initiative • Invasive alien species • Ecosystem services and biodiversity • Peatland and wetland management and biodiversity • Public and leadership awareness • Wildlife law enforcement and biodiversity

Eight Years of ACB

ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Eight Years of ACB

ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2013

ith the support and collaboration from the ASEAN Member States and partners, ACB has built an increasing international reputation for capacity building and technical support across a wide range of priority themes of international importance such as access and benefits sharing of genetic resources, biodiversity and climate change, promoting The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), protected area management, support to the Global Taxonomy Initiative, capacity building for wildlife law enforcement, biodiversity information management, business and biodiversity, and ecotourism and biodiversity. Over the years, the Centre has contributed to the enhancement of policy cooperation on biodiversity across the ASEAN region; strengthened institutional capacity within the ASEAN on regional and global biodiversity issues; and boosted public and leadership awareness of the

values of biodiversity and the need for conservation and sustainable management. Through its Programme Development and Implementation (PDI) Unit, ACB has undertaken various actions in the field of policy coordination and capacity building which included, among others, regional workshops on urban biodiversity, climate change and biodiversity, transboundary protected area management, enforcement of biosafety regulations, and development of biodiversity indicators. The Centre also has provided ASEAN Member States with technical and financial support in the areas of policy development; conducted studies on strategic policy issues relevant to biodiversity on various thematic areas; published, distributed and translated study outputs into various ASEAN languages; enhanced the capacity of policymakers and field- and mid-level practitioners; provided technical and financial assistance to biodiversity researches by ASEAN Member States; and assisted them in promoting and advancing common positions through the

Over the years, the Centre has contributed to the enhancement of policy cooperation on biodiversity across the ASEAN region and strengthened institutional capacity within the ASEAN on regional and global biodiversity issues.

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conduct of workshops on biodiversity-related concerns. ACB has also strengthened the capacity of ASEAN Member States in conserving and sustainably managing their biodiversity and in meeting their commitments as parties to various multilateral environmental agreements. The Centre has conducted training courses and workshops on communication and community relations, management effectiveness, transboundary gap analysis, wetlands, ecotourism, protected area integration, and competence and performance standards, among others. Training courses/modules for executives, middle-level and field staff in protected areas have been developed, and good practices on key policy areas in the ASEAN have been identified and documented. Through its Biodiversity Information Management (BIM) Unit, ACB has improved the digital knowledge management capacity of ASEAN Member States through the identification of standards for digital data exchange; development of regional

data analyses; harmonization of reporting requirements and standards; identification of gaps and shortcomings in digital capacity; and conduct of courses, exchange visits and study tours. The Centre, through its Communication and Public Awareness (CPA) Unit, has enhanced public and leadership awareness of the values of biodiversity and the need for conservation and sustainable management through the implementation of a communication strategy; production and dissemination of various information materials, including its website; advocacy and public information initiatives; and media and public relations activities.

H.E. Alicia dela Rosa-Bala Deputy Secretary-General Socio-Cultural Community Department Association of Southeast Asian Nations

s one of the founding members of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), who has been primarily involved in its conception, creation and establishment of its management and operational procedures, I am proud of what ACB is today and its immense achievements within a short span of less than ten years. ACB has ably fulfilled its mandate and is now recognized as the regional centre of excellence on biodiversity conservation and custodian of one of the three largest tropical ecosystems, apart from the Amazon and Congo regions. ACB has helped elevate sustainable biodiversity management of ASEAN’s rich natural heritage through innovative programmes and tools for the benefit of its member states and the global environment overall. I hope that the ASEAN Member States and the global community will continue to place its trust and invest in ACB to further enhance its efforts in conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity for mutual benefit.” Dr. Raman Letchumanan Head, Environment Division ASEAN Secretariat

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SEAN takes pride in its rich biodiversity and the immense importance of its contribution to social development, economic growth, environmental protection and ecosystem services at the national, regional and global levels. Since its establishment in 2005, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) continues to prove itself as a dedicated regional centre of excellence on biodiversity conservation which facilitates cooperation and coordination not only among the ASEAN Member States, but also with other national governments, regional and international organizations for the promotion of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the region. ACB has played an important role in supporting ASEAN Member States in biodiversity conservation through its various flagship programmes and activities, such as its partnership with the United Nations University – Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) in the United Nations Environment Programme – Global Environment Facility (UNEP-GEF) capacity building project to support the implementation of CBD Provisions on Access to Genetic Resources and Sharing of Benefits (ABS); its partnership with GIZ in a five-year Biodiversity and Climate Change Project to address climate change impacts on biodiversity; and its ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme to support the capacity development of ASEAN Heritage Parks in ASEAN Member States.

ASEAN Heritage Parks

Strengthening Management Effectiveness of ASEAN Heritage Parks and Protected Areas

Photo by Angela Metin

monitoring of six pilot projects in four ASEAN Member States in four ASEAN

ACB brought together more than 300 AHP managers and key stakeholders for the 4th ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference where they discussed issues and best practices to effectively manage protected areas.

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s Secretariat of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme (AHP), ACB continued to conduct initiatives aimed at strengthening AHP management effectiveness. In 2013, the Centre: • Facilitated the declaration of the Philippines’ Mount Makiling Forest Reserve as the 33rd ASEAN Heritage Park. • Brought together more than 300 AHP managers and key stakeholders for the 4th ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference where they discussed issues and best practices to effectively manage protected areas. The event, which was held in Tagaytay City, Philippines on 1-4 October 2013, was supported by the GIZ, and the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Tourism, and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority. • Facilitated the implementation and

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Heritage Parks under the Biodiversity and Climate Change Project (BCCP) funded by GIZ. • Conducted the Review and Analysis of the Management Effectiveness of ASEAN Heritage Parks under the BCCP. • Continued to coordinate with the AHP Committee, AHP Managers, and ACB National Focal Points on the implementation of their respective work plans.

Photo by Fahreza Ahmad

Small Grants Programme Developing Grant Models to Improve Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood of People in ASEAN Heritage Parks

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he ACB and the Federal Republic of Germany, through the KfWEntwicklungsbank (German Development Bank) launched the Small Grants Programme (SGP) on biodiversity conservation at the closing session of the 4th ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference. With a commitment of 10 million Euros from KfW for five years, the SGP seeks to improve biodiversity protection and the livelihood of the local population directly

dependent on selected ASEAN Heritage Parks and adjacent areas. To be piloted in Indonesia and Myanmar, the programme also seeks to strengthen the role of ACB in promoting biodiversity protection among the ASEAN Member States. The SGP is addressing the problem of unsustainable livelihoods and overexploitation of scarce natural resources in protected areas which threaten Southeast Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich biodiversity.

Capacity Development Building Capacities Across a Range of Biodiversity Thematic Concerns

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hrough capacity-building initiatives, ACB is helping ASEAN Member States meet their obligations to various multilateral environmental agreements and share good practices in the conservation

and sustainable use and management of biological resources. Capacity building activities include workshops on access and benefit sharing, taxonomy, and climate change. The Centre

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also continues to develop and enhance training modules on a variety of biodiversity thematic concerns. In 2013, ACB launched a Secondment Programme for junior biodiversity officials from ASEAN Member States. Two junior biodiversity officers from Viet Nam completed their short-term posting with ACBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Programme Development and Implementation Unit. ACB continued to strengthen its capacity development programme. Regional studies completed in 2013 include Assessment of Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Protected Area Management in Southeast Asia, and Training Needs Assessment on Biodiversity and Climate Change in Southeast Asia. These studies provide bases for identifying and prioritizing and designing capacity development needs of the ASEAN Member States.

Photo by Michael Caballes

Access and Benefit Sharing Enhancing the Understanding of ABS

he implementation of the project on Building Capacity for Regionally Harmonized National Processes for Implementing Convention on Biological Diversity Provisions on Access and Benefit Sharing funded by the United Nations

Environment Programme-Global Environment Facility enhanced the ASEAN Member States’ and Timor-Leste’s understanding of access and benefit sharing (ABS). This has significantly contributed to progress towards developing and implementing local ABS

plans in the ASEAN region. Under this project, ACB: • Supported eight ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste in conducting national work plans on ABS; • Conducted the 4th Regional Workshop on ABS (20-22 November 2013, Hanoi, Viet Nam); and • Developed and distributed communication, education, and public awareness materials such as policy briefs and a video.

Our participation in the ABS Project benefits numerous parties, from the project team to the agency and the country. The project has supported Lao PDR to accede to the Nagoya Protocol. For the project team, the ABS project has created working groups in order to plan and implement activities towards accession to the Nagoya Protocol and the development of a National ABS Framework. – KONGCHAY PHIMMAKONG Acting Director of Technical Service Division Biotechnology and Ecology Institute, Ministry of Science and Technology, Lao PDR ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2013

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Wildlife Law Enforcement

Supporting Efforts to Curb Illegal Wildlife Trade

ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Photo by Dr. Klaus Stiefel

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CB continued to work together with the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) and Freeland Foundation in arresting illegal wildlife trading in Southeast Asia. In 2013, ACB: • Promoted public awareness on illegal wildlife trade by publishing news and

feature stories in the ASEAN Biodiversity Magazine, the ASEAN Biodiversity News Updates e-news, and newspaper releases. • Under the cooperation agreement with ASEAN-WEN, in particular the implementation of the programme entitled PROTECT (Protected Area Operational

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and Tactical Enforcement Conservation Training), ACB facilitated the call for participants from ASEAN Member States. The training was conducted in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand on 1-12 March 2013. • ACB facilitated the visit of Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park (Philippines) officials and staff to the FREELAND Foundation’s office in February 2013 in Bangkok. Topics discussed include possible law enforcement trainings for park officers and workers and livelihood options for communities around the park. • ACB participated in the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on 2-14 March in Bangkok, Thailand. • The Centre participated in the 8th Annual Meeting of ASEAN-WEN on 3-5 June 2013 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, facilitating a side meeting on demand reduction during the annual meeting.

Biodiversity and Climate Change Promoting Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Mitigation

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CB and GIZ have completed the first three years of implementation of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Project. Key accomplishments include the conduct of regional studies and capacity building activities for the ASEAN Member States. The project is supporting ASEAN Member States to develop and enhance their strategies to appropriately address the interface between biodiversity and climate change. It is also assisting ASEAN Member States by implementing sustainable development options for selected ecosystems; and utilizing the concepts and instruments developed by ACB on enhancing the use of economic and financial tools for ecosystems and biodiversity.

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Business and Biodiversity Engaging the Business Sector in Conservation Efforts

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CB continued to reach out to the business sector by encouraging them to invest in conservation efforts. In 2013, ACB joined hands with Tagaytay Highlands Resort in the Philippines for its fourth tree planting activity. As a next step, a Biodiversity Assessment Project in Tagaytay Highlands Resort is being planned by ACB with Tagaytay Highlands and Belle Corporation. At the regional level, initial discussions were held for a Conference-Workshop on Business and Biodiversity to be conducted in 2014. The workshop is proposed to be hosted by Thailand in partnership with Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat and the Japan Business Initiative on Biodiversity.

Biodiversity Information Management Bridging Biodiversity Information Gaps

CB continued to promote sciencebased decision-making for biodiversity and enable ASEAN Member States to meet their commitments to the CBD and other multilateral environmental agreements. In 2013, ACB: • Boosted the capacity of ASEAN Member States to develop, populate and maintain their Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) websites by conducting capacity development activities; • Contributed to biodiversity learning by improving the utility of the ACB e-library which now has nearly 11,000 references on a variety of biodiversity-related topics;

and developing knowledge products such as locator maps and an interactive web-based facility for making graphs and posters; • Developed the 5NR encoding tool to assist ASEAN Member States in the preparation of their 5th National Reports to the CBD; each country now has its dedicated 5NR encoding URLs; • Organized databases for invasive alien species present in the ASEAN region and those that may potentially be invasive elsewhere; • Made biodiversity information more

– Dr. Eun-Shik Kim Professor from College of Forest Science, Department of Forestry, Environment, and Systems, Kookmin University, Ministry of Science and Technology, South Korea

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accessible and easier to use by developing the e-library mobile application and the ASEAN Heritage Parks mobile application; and • Helped bridge biodiversity information gaps by establishing strategic partnerships with various data holders including BirdLife International, the Ministry of Environment Japan, FREELAND, and the Ocean Biogeographic Information System.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the efforts and hospitality offered from you and your team members at ACB. I fully agree with the words from our friend, MA Keping of China, summarizing that the meeting was successful with fruitful discussions; the outcomes will benefit the development of AP BON on the right tracks; and you and ACB contributed critically to the success of the 5th AP BON meeting. Special thanks are due to our Japanese colleagues and MoEJ for mobilizing and promoting the APBON project! Of course, I am expecting to continue collaborating with all of you under the framework of AP-BON and beyond.

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Communicating Biodiversity Raising Awareness of the Values of Biodiversity Conservation

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CB focused on popularizing biodiversity information, issues and concerns by engaging nonenvironment sectors in advocacy for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management; expanding the network of communication practitioners from various sectors who act as partners of ACB in communicating biodiversity; forging strategic partnerships and leveraging communication resources with partners; and documenting good biodiversity communication, advocacy and conservation practices and promoting them as models to encourage greater participation in biodiversity conservation. In 2013, ACB: • Promoted the ASEAN Heritage Parks by conducting a Logo Design Competition. After receiving more than 300 entries from the ASEAN Member States, ACB officially unveiled the winning logo during the 4th ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference. • With support from GIZ, conducted the Second “Zooming in on Biodiversity”

Winning logo in the AHP Logo Design Contest

Photo Contest, drawing public attention to the twin issues of biodiversity climate change. A total of 798 entries were received from the ASEAN Member States.

ACB was the first international organization that we’ve officially worked with and we couldn’t hope for a better first experience. The people were very approachable and patient as we worked together to produce outputs worthy of publishing. Their team guided us throughout the planning and writing process, ensuring that we had everything that we needed to come up with quality outputs.

– Marko Montesur, ACB student intern

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ACB’s wide reach posed a great challenge for our group. Knowing that there’s a greater responsibility lying in each of our publications encouraged us to work twice as hard. In the end, not only were we taught to become more professional, but we were also given an invaluable opportunity to raise awareness on major concerns such as Earth’s biodiversity.

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• Conducted an internship programme for Development Communication students where student interns were immersed in development communication work focused on communicating biodiversity; and • With support from GIZ, conducted the search for the best biodiversity and climate change newspaper reporting in cooperation with the Philippine Press Institute (PPI). The contest, a special category under the PPI’s Annual Civic Journalism Community Press Awards, recognized the efforts of community journalists who have taken the initiative to educate people about the link between biodiversity and climate change.

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Partnerships Forming Strategic Linkages to Boost Conservation Efforts

t the core of ACB’s success in 2013 was its partnerships with various institutions and organizations. • Partnerships with Existing SubRegional Programmes. ACB continued to maintain ties with ASEAN Member States and partner organizations working on the different sub-regional programmes (e.g. Brunei Darussalam and WWF on the Heart of Borneo Initiative and the Greater Mekong Subregion). This was undertaken through networking with partners during ACB’s

participation in regional and international meetings (e.g., China-ASEAN Environment Forum, CBD-organized meetings, and other regional workshops). • Partnerships with Secretariats of Relevant Multilateral Environmental Agreements. ACB started implementing its Joint Work Plan with the Ramsar Convention Secretariat in March 2013. • Partnerships on Capacity Building. ACB and GIZ, in collaboration with UNEP Nairobi, co-organized the “Valuing and Accounting for the Environment

ACB continued to maintain ties with ASEAN Member States and partner organizations working on the different sub-regional programmes (e.g. Brunei Darussalam and WWF on the Heart of Borneo Initiative and the Greater Mekong Subregion). ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2013

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in the Asia Regionâ&#x20AC;? in October 2013. The activity assisted countries in Asia to understand how environmental change can be incorporated into national accounts, particularly by implementing the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting. â&#x20AC;˘ Promotion of Regional and Global Initiatives that Support Biodiversity Conservation. ACB signed a

memorandum of cooperation with the ASEAN-Korea Environmental Cooperation Project (AKECOP) on 11 November 2013. The cooperation will strengthen the capacities of the ASEAN Member States in implementing the sustainable use of biodiversity resources. ACB and AKECOP will implement a joint work programme consistent with their respective annual work plans

in the areas of biodiversity research, capacity building and training, public education and awareness, exchange of information, policy development and coordination, and technical and scientific cooperation. • Partnerships with Data Holders and Funding Agencies. BirdLife International (BirdLife) and ACB signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in January 2013. The MoU aims to strengthen environmental information management capacities of ASEAN Member States particularly in the identification of protected areas (PA) by improving the quality of PA and species and location data holdings served by the ASEAN CHM. In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment Japan, ACB co-organized the 5th APBON meeting on 26-27 November 2013 in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. • Communication Partnerships. ACB continued its communication and public awareness partnerships with the

ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network and Freeland Foundation, the CBD Secretariat, East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership, Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia, Save the Philippine Seas, and the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands.

Supporting ASEAN Member States Towards Excellence in Providing Services to ASEAN Member States

and awareness on biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and fair and equitable sharing of genetic resources, not only among governments, but also among private sector, local communities and the general public. On the third pillar of the CBD on providing benefits to all through access and benefit sharing (ABS) on genetic resources, ACB supported strengthening of capacities of ASEAN stakeholders to actively and productively participate in shaping national roadmap and legal framework on ABS in support of the implementation of the Nagoya protocol on ABS. ACB continuously propelled and enhanced its involvement in regional discussions on various biodiversity issues (leading the ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference, actively involving in Asia Parks Congress, Wetland conservation and management in Asia, IPBES Capacity building, etc.) in partnership with regional and international organizations. All these will serve as foundation for further efforts to ensure that ACB provides excellent services to ASEAN Member States.

ACB continuously propelled and enhanced its involvement in regional discussions on various biodiversity issues in partnership with regional and international organizations.

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he year 2013 marked ACBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heightened partnership and networking to deliver its key programmes to promote and facilitate biodiversity conservation in Southeast Asia. Notably, ACB has brought together key stakeholders of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme (AHP) to effectively manage these globally significant biodiversity sites that are also of cultural and heritage importance to ASEAN people. In supporting the AHP programme, ACB has leveraged at least Euro 10 million financial and technical assistance with German Cooperation. In supporting ASEAN Member States to achieve the 2020 Aichi biodiversity targets, ACB doubled its initiatives to building capacity in a number of biodiversity thematic concerns to conserve ASEAN biodiversity and provide benefits to the people. ACBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities on managing biodiversity information and sharing knowledge products; and awareness campaign on the values of biodiversity and ecosystems in Southeast Asia have resulted to increased appreciation

2014 and Beyond

Photo by Adyputra

n 2013, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity crafted and implemented a 12-point action plan on organizational and human resources development. Through this plan, the Centre seeks to transform itself into an excellent international organization providing efficient, effective and responsive services to the ASEAN Member States. The plan covers the period 2014-2020 and is anchored upon ACB’s Strategic Framework. It is focused on strengthening the capacity of ACB in fulfilling its mandates and in delivering excellent services to ASEAN Member States to enable them to meet the Aichi Targets and their commitments to various multilateral environmental agreements. Strengthening ACB

Working with ASEAN Member States 8. Work for the full ratification of the ACB Establishment Agreement and ASEAN Member States’ contribution. 9. Ensure full ownership of ACB by the ASEAN Member States. 10. Ensure ACB’s Work Plans are responsive to the needs of the region and the ASEAN Member States. Working with Multisectoral Partners 11. Work with development and donor partners, governments, and relevant public and private organizations to finance and leverage resources for biodiversity conservation and ASEAN compliance to the AICHI Targets. 12. Work with relevant sectors to promote wider public participation in biodiversity conservation and advocacy.

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1. Set up the necessary infrastructure, organization and human resources to maintain ACB as a centre of excellence in biodiversity conservation. 2. Promote management efficiency and institutionalize transparency and accountability in financial operations. 3. Work towards full financial sustainability of ACB. 4. Continue strengthening ACB’s programmatic capacity through its five components: Programme Development and Implementation, Capacity Building, Biodiversity Information Management, Public Awareness, and Management and Resource Mobilization.

5. Develop and promote ACB’s distinct expertise in biodiversity conservation and management. 6. Promote excellence in work ethics consistent with international standards. 7. Continue to avail of professional and technical guidance of ACB Governing Board and the ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity.

ASEAN Biodiversity Fund

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rticle 8 of the ACB Establishment Agreement provides for the creation of an ASEAN Biodiversity Fund (ABF) which shall be utilized to meet the expenses necessary to implement the activities required to fulfill the purpose of the Centre, as approved by the ACB Governing Board. The ASEAN Member States agreed to contribute USD 50,000 each as seed capital and provide impetus for mobilization of further contributions. As part of ASEAN Member Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; contribution to ACB, the ASEAN Biodiversity Fund (ABF) was established and the 10 ASEAN Member States are expected to provide US$50,000 each as seed fund for the ABF. To date, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, and Thailand have contributed to the Fund. Other ASEAN Member States are expected to contribute soon.

Representatives from the ASEAN Member States ASEAN Member State Brunei Darussalam

Representative to the ACB Governing Board Haji Muhammad Lutfi Bin Abdullah Chairman, ASOEN-Brunei Darussalam Permanent Secretary Ministry of Development

Representative to the AWGNCB Awang Hj Rahmad Hj Japar Director Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation Ministry of Development

ACB National Contact Point Ms. Noralinda Haji Ibrahim Senior Forestry Officer Forestry Department, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources Mrs. Hajaj Khartini Binti Haji Musa Senior Plant Breeder Department of Agriculture

Cambodia

Ms. Somaly Chan Director Department of International Convention & Biodiversity, GDANCP Ministry of Environment

Mr. Ngoun Kong (Principal) Deputy Director-General Ministry of Environment

Mr. Dana A. Kartakusuma ASOEN Chairperson Chairman, ASOEN-Indonesia Assistant Minister for Economy and Sustainable Development/ Acting Assistant Minister for Global Environment Ministry of the Environment

Mr. Antung Deddy Radiansyah Assistant Deputy for Biodiversity and Land Degradation Control Ministry of Environment

Mr. Antung Deddy Radiansyah* (Principal) Assistant Deputy for Biodiversity and Land Degradation Control, Ministry of Environment

Dr. Novianto Bambang Director of Biodiversity Conservation Directorate General for Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Ministry of Forestry

Ms. Somaly Chan (Alternate) Director International Convention and Biodiiversity General Department of Administration for Nature Conservation and Protection (GDANCP)

Dr. Nandang Prihadi *(Alternate) Assistant Director of Programme and Biodiversity Related Conservation Directorate General for Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Ministry of Forestry

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Indonesia

Mr. Vann Monyneath Chairman, ASOEN-Cambodia Technical Deputy Director General Ministry of Environment

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ASEAN Member State

Representative to the ACB Governing Board

Representative to the AWGNCB

ACB National Contact Point

Lao PDR

Mdm. Monemany Nhoybouakong Chairperson, ASOEN-Lao PDR Secretary General of Lao National Mekong Committee Secretariat National Coordinator of GMS, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Mr. Bouaphanh Phanthavong Head of Technical Unit Department of Forestry Division of Forest Resources Conservation

Ms. Chay Bounphanousay* Deputy Director Rice and Cash Crop Research Center, NAFRI

Malaysia

Datoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Zoal Azha bin Yusof Chairman ASOEN-Malaysia Secretary General Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Ms. Wan Hasmah Wan Mohd Undersecretary of Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment

Mr. K. Nagulendran (Principal) Deputy Undersecretary Conservation and Environment Management Division Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(MONRE)

Myanmar

Mr. Tin Tun Governing Board Member Director-General Planning and Statistics Department Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry

Mr. Win Naing Thaw Chairperson of the AWGNCB Director Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division (NWCD) Forest Department, The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry

Philippines

Mr. Demetrio L. Ignacio, Jr. Chairman, ASOEN-Philippines Undersecretary for Planning and Policy Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim Director Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau Department of Environment and Natural Resources

ASEAN Member State Singapore

Thailand

Representative to the ACB Governing Board

Representative to the AWGNCB

Dr. Lena Chan (Authorized representative of ASOEN- Singapore to GB) Assistant Director (Biodiversity Centre) Singapore Botanic Garden National Parks Board

Wendy Yap Hwee Min Deputy Director (International Relations) National Biodiversity Centre National Parks Board Singapore Botanic Gardens

Mr. Chote Trachu Permanent Secretary Chairman, ASOEN-Thailand Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Dr. Nawarat Krairapanond Acting Director Biodiversity Division Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning

ACB National Contact Point Wendy Yap Hwee Min Deputy Director (International Relations) National Biodiversity Centre National Parks Board Singapore Botanic Gardens Mr. Jeremy Woon (Alternate) Biodiversity Manager National Parks Board Dr. Sirikul Bunpapong (Principal) Director, Biological Diversity Division Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning Ms. Patama Domrongphol (Alternate) Senior Environmental Official Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning

Viet Nam

Pham Anh Cuong, Ph.D Director, Agency for Biodiversity Conservation (BCA) Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE)

Nguyen Xuan Dung Chief of Administrative Office Biodiversity Conservation Agency Vietnam Environment Administration ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Cach Tuyen Chairman, ASOEN-Viet Nam Deputy Minister cum Director-General Viet Nam Environment Administration Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Photo by Ivy Cabardo

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