ASEAN Heritage Parks program key in promoting protected area biodiversity conservation efforts.
Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most biologically significant regions, home to 18 percent of known plant and animal species globally. Across the region, various ecosystems including forests, agro-ecosystems, peatlands, freshwater systems, mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds are among the protected areas being managed and conserved.
The management of these protected areas remains among the priorities of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), particularly through the institutionalization of the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) Program, which aims to address biodiversity loss and promote innovative ecosystem-based approaches through close coordination among ASEAN member states.
The Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR), located in the province of Laguna and parts of Batangas and spanning more than 4,200 hectares, is one of the 14 declared ASEAN Heritage Parks in the Philippines and among the 69 recognized sites across the ASEAN region.
The program has proven beneficial for MMFR, particularly in promoting the forest reserve, its rich natural resources, and its diverse flora and fauna, while also helping to call for volunteers and potential partners for its environmental initiatives.
“Ang pinaka-importance ng AHP sa Mount Makiling ay ‘yung kaniyang identity. Nilalagay ang Mount Makiling sa roadmap. Nagiging very visible ang Mount Makiling sa mata ng mga potential funding agencies [at] nae-elevate natin ang identity ni Mount Makiling,” Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME) university extension specialist Leonardo Barua said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency.
Every three years, the ACB convenes park managers, leaders of ASEAN Heritage Parks, and environmental agencies from ASEAN member states to foster knowledge-sharing and address gaps in sustaining park operations.
In 2025, the MCME participated in the conference, where representatives expressed hope that more opportunities for linkages and funding support would emerge through the initiative.
“‘Yung potential programs na pwedeng magmula rito, wala pang specifics pero puwede nitong mai-open ang doors para sa potential partnerships in terms of research na puwedeng gawin sa Mount Makiling.”
Barua shared that the MCME has been implementing one of the key points discussed during the conference, which encourages ASEAN Heritage Parks to mobilize indigenous peoples, women, and youth sectors to raise awareness on the importance of biodiversity-rich areas and involve them in protecting and conserving natural resources.
“Ang sektor ng kabataan, lagi namin silang nagiging kliyente sa mga programa namin sa environmental education, especially ‘yung mga youth summer program kung saan iniimbitahan namin na dumalo at pumunta rito ‘yung mga piling estudyante para firsthand nilang ma-experience ‘yung ginagawa namin sa Mount Makiling like ano ‘yung mga researches na ginagawa,”
He added that the MCME also provides alternative livelihood programs for women in communities to help prevent the overextraction and eventual degradation of natural resources.
“Inilalayo namin sila sa direct na pag-extract ng resources para sa ikabubuhay, so kung meron silang mga alternative na pagkukunan ng kita, maiiwasan natin na sa bundok sila kukuha ng resources and in the long run pwedeng humiwalay ‘yung survival nila mula dun sa resources na galing sa bundok,” Barua explained.
One of the core programs of both the ACB and AHPs is mainstreaming biodiversity, in which the specialist said the MCME continues to support local and international researchers who contribute to studies and empirical research on Mount Makiling.
“When it comes to biodiversity research, maraming mga nai-co-conduct dito sa Mount Makiling and ‘yung mga na-pu-publish na materials galing dito, ‘yun ang pinaka-contribution namin sa biodiversity studies,”
Amid the growing challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, a collective approach among ASEAN Heritage Parks has become more crucial than ever. These parks provide a strategic platform for advancing regional goals as ASEAN continues to translate its aspirations into concrete actions for the greater good of its people. (CH/PIA-Laguna)
