Quezon city: Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna has made a compelling call for increased funding, improved management, and active community participation to secure the future of ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs). He emphasized that merely designating these areas as protected is insufficient to curb biodiversity loss throughout the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, Cuna spoke at the inaugural ASEAN Heritage Parks Forum in Quezon City, held during the country's chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He highlighted the mounting threats to Southeast Asia's natural ecosystems, including deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, unsustainable resource extraction, and the worsening impacts of climate change. Cuna stressed that protection must be complemented by adequate resources, capable institutions, and sustained management.
In his keynote address, Cuna underscored the importance of treating the ASEAN Heritage Parks network as a regional conservation priority. These parks serve as critical biodiversity corridors and transboundary conservation initiatives, maintaining ecological connectivity and supporting resilient landscapes that benefit both wildlife and human food systems. Cuna pointed out that the network, covering millions of hectares, represents a vital natural infrastructure for the region.
Cuna further emphasized that AHPs are crucial nature-based solutions to the climate crisis and foundational to biodiversity conservation in ASEAN. In the Philippines alone, there are 14 ASEAN Heritage Parks, and Cuna noted that Mount Balatukan Range Natural Park in Mindanao is set to join this network. He also announced the establishment of the Philippine ASEAN Heritage Parks Network to foster cooperation and knowledge-sharing among existing and prospective heritage park managers.
Linking the work of heritage parks to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), Cuna reiterated the commitment to conserving part of the world's terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas. The GBF, known as 'The Biodiversity Plan,' aims to protect 30 percent of the world's land and oceans by 2030.
Cuna called on ASEAN countries to move beyond declarations and ensure effective management of protected areas. He cited studies showing that properly managed protected areas can significantly reduce forest loss, although only about half of the areas studied in the region are achieving this goal. The region faces one of the highest deforestation rates globally, threatening up to 40 percent of its biodiversity by century's end.
Despite these challenges, Cuna expressed hope, noting that science supports the effectiveness of well-managed protection. He urged ASEAN countries to increase financial and technical support for heritage parks, involving indigenous peoples, local communities, and other conservation partners in their management.
Tourism Secretary Maria Bernardita Angara-Mathay also addressed the forum, highlighting the importance of conservation for the tourism industry. She emphasized that nature is not just a backdrop for tourism but the destination itself. Angara-Mathay called for sustainable tourism practices that respect carrying capacities and engage local communities as partners.
Cuna concluded by stressing the need for stronger regional cooperation, as environmental threats transcend national borders. He urged ASEAN members to ensure that their protected parks remain resilient and vibrant, with inclusive decision-making processes involving those who manage and depend on them.
ASEAN members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
