ASEAN Center for Biodiversity
Encyclopedia
The ASEAN
CENTRE FOR Biodiversity (ACB) is an intergovernmental regional centre of excellence that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the members of ASEAN, and with relevant national governments, regional and international organization
s on the Conservation and Sustainable use of biological diversity
, guided by fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such biodiversity.
(EU), and hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines.
The Financing Agreement inked between EU and ASEAN provided the necessary funding for the establishment of ACB. The Centre was established primarily to facilitate coordination and cooperation among AMS on the sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity. The Agreement on the establishment of the Centre was signed by the Environment Ministers of Brunei Darussalam
, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR
, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam on behalf of their respective governments.
in the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and is the national agency involved in biodiversity conservation and research in Singapore.
Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
has recommended to the Senate President
and Members of the Senate the ratification of the Host Country Agreement (HCA) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines
and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity. Signed on 08 August 2006 in Manila, the HCA provides that the Philippines shall be the Host Country for the ACB which is currently headquartered at the University of Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna
.
Subject to concurrence by the Senate, the Philippine Government
will later grant immunities and privileges to ACB and its staff. The Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR), the Department of Finance
(DOF), the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Department of Transportation
and Communication (DOTC), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP), and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) have endorsed the ratification of the HCA.
, executive secretary of the United Nations
Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD), calls ACB “a unique mechanism that uses the bottom-top approach to deal with the biodiversity loss problem.”
Now on its 41st year, the ASEAN has resolved to further strengthen its commitment to protect its biodiversity from degradation. “As part of the ASEAN action to save the region’s biodiversity, the countries declared 27 areas as ASEAN Heritage Parks and designated 1,523 protected area
s based on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) category,” Director Fuentes said. He added that “promoting national and regional cooperation to address measures related to environmental agreement
s, and establishing a regional database containing an inventory of the region’s biological resources are also part of the action to curb biodiversity loss,” Director Fuentes said.
Now on its third year, ACB reinforces its efforts to engage more sectors and stakeholders in the quest to save the region’s biodiversity. It forms alliances with key stakeholders in the regional and global levels.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN rarely ), is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has...
CENTRE FOR Biodiversity (ACB) is an intergovernmental regional centre of excellence that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the members of ASEAN, and with relevant national governments, regional and international organization
International organization
An intergovernmental organization, sometimes rendered as an international governmental organization and both abbreviated as IGO, is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states , or of other intergovernmental organizations...
s on the Conservation and Sustainable use of biological diversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
, guided by fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such biodiversity.
Description
Acknowledged as the first regional initiative to save the ASEAN’s rich but highly threatened biodiversity, ACB is a continuation of the ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC), which was a joint cooperation project of the ASEAN and European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU), and hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines.
Funding the center
From 1999 to 2004, ARCBC successfully established the bridge that fostered strong collaboration among ASEAN Member States (AMS) and between ASEAN and EU partner institutions, and gained recognition in the regional and global arena for biodiversity. A year later in 2005, the ASEAN and EU agreed to establish the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity to carry on the work of the completed ARCBC project.The Financing Agreement inked between EU and ASEAN provided the necessary funding for the establishment of ACB. The Centre was established primarily to facilitate coordination and cooperation among AMS on the sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity. The Agreement on the establishment of the Centre was signed by the Environment Ministers of Brunei Darussalam
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam on behalf of their respective governments.
Government Relations
The National Biodiversity Centre represents SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and is the national agency involved in biodiversity conservation and research in Singapore.
Launch
ACB was launched at the 9th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on 27 September 2005. The Agreement also established the ASEAN Biodiversity Fund with voluntary contributions of the AMS, other governments and organizations as approved by the Governing Board. The Fund is to be utilized to meet the expenses of the Centre and its various initiatives. The President of the PhilippinesPresident of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
has recommended to the Senate President
President of the Senate
The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...
and Members of the Senate the ratification of the Host Country Agreement (HCA) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity. Signed on 08 August 2006 in Manila, the HCA provides that the Philippines shall be the Host Country for the ACB which is currently headquartered at the University of Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna
Los Baños, Laguna
The Nature and Science City of Los Baños is a 1st class urban city in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 98,631 inhabitants in 17,030 households...
.
Subject to concurrence by the Senate, the Philippine Government
Politics of the Philippines
The Politics of the Philippines takes place in an organized framework of a presidential, representative, and democratic republic whereby the president is both the head of state and the head of government within a pluriform multi-party system...
will later grant immunities and privileges to ACB and its staff. The Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR), the Department of Finance
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
(DOF), the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Department of Transportation
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
and Communication (DOTC), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and commonly abbreviated as BSP is the central bank of the Philippines. It was rechartered on July 3, 1993, pursuant to the provision of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the New Central Bank Act of 1993...
(BSP), and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) have endorsed the ratification of the HCA.
Focus and Scope
Dr. Ahmed DjoghlafAhmed Djoghlaf
Ahmed Djoghlaf , is the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity under the United Nations Environment Programme ....
, executive secretary of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
(CBD), calls ACB “a unique mechanism that uses the bottom-top approach to deal with the biodiversity loss problem.”
Now on its 41st year, the ASEAN has resolved to further strengthen its commitment to protect its biodiversity from degradation. “As part of the ASEAN action to save the region’s biodiversity, the countries declared 27 areas as ASEAN Heritage Parks and designated 1,523 protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
s based on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) category,” Director Fuentes said. He added that “promoting national and regional cooperation to address measures related to environmental agreement
Environmental agreement
This is a list of international environmental agreements. Most of the following agreements are legally binding.-Alphabetical order:*Aarhus Convention Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, Aarhus, 1998*Alpine...
s, and establishing a regional database containing an inventory of the region’s biological resources are also part of the action to curb biodiversity loss,” Director Fuentes said.
Now on its third year, ACB reinforces its efforts to engage more sectors and stakeholders in the quest to save the region’s biodiversity. It forms alliances with key stakeholders in the regional and global levels.