Conclusion
Regional perspective
Charles Besancon, program officer of LifeWeb of SCBD, acknowledged that progress has been made toward meeting the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and actions have been undertaken to improve the status of biodiversity in Southeast Asia. The Aichi Biodiversity Targets were adopted in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, in October 2010.
However, Besancon said in his talk on Global Biodiversity Outlook, that biodiversity indicators point to continued decline, because of multiple pressures.
While many Asean member-states have earned “high scores” or “green light” in improving the protected areas (PAs) management in Southeast Asia, particularly in Asean Heritage Parks (Aichi Target 11), many countries have earned the “red-light tag,” a failing mark in preventing pollution (Aichi Target 8), particularly inland water pollution, said Sheila Vergara, director of ACB Biodiversity Information Management, in an interview.
Aichi Target 11 states that by 2020 at least 17 percent of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10 percent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of PAs and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscape and seascape.
Vergara explained the light tag based on the positive impact of policies or actions implemented by Asean member-states. “Red” means it appears on the reports submitted to the SCBD that issues are not a priority or the actions of the member-states are not making positive impacts.
“Yellow” means member-states know what to do and has somehow put into action policies, but positive impacts have yet to be fully realized. “Green” means that because of the policies, put in place, there is already positive impact on biodiversity. Based on the Fifth National Reports submitted by the 10 Asean member-states, Vergara said majority earned the yellow light.
“We are definitely on track in the establishment of protected areas. In the region, out of the target of 17 percent for terrestrial, we already have 14 percent. In coastal and marine areas, we have 4.5 percent,” she said.
Aichi Target 8, states that by 2020, pollution, including those coming from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity. Among countries that got poor scores in addressing pollution, as indicated in Aichi Target 8, are the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia. She explained that some cities like Manila and Jakarta are highly industrialized and are thickly populated.
“We are doing fairly well in terms of mainstreaming biodiversity in our plans and programs. About half of the member-states have recognized that they are incorporating biodiversity conservation in their plans and programs,” she said.
According to Vergara, there is a need to intensify communication, education and public-awareness campaign, noting that indicators suggest there are still a big number of people who are not fully convinced of the values of biodiversity.
She is confident that, with sustained effort of Asean member-states, there will be a greener picture of the region in terms of biodiversity conservation.
Asean member-states’ initiatives
Asdaporn Krairapanond, deputy secretary-general at the Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning of Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said Thailand has succeeded in reducing the loss of natural habitat and enhanced management of PAs in Thailand. She said Thailand has also put in place a strong policy to conserve threatened species and has implemented various programs.
Ratna Kusama Sari of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia said Indonesia’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2020 has been integrated into the country’s national long-term development plan 2005-2025 and national midterm planning. These plans are designed to enhance conservation and utilization of biodiversity, being Indonesia’s basic capital for development.
Where is the Philippines in biodiversity conservation?
Officials of the Philippines’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the country has put in place policies geared toward conserving its rich biodiversity.
Assistant Secretary for Administration and Finance Corazon C. Davis is confident that the Philippines is well on its way in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, considering that the policies, including environmental laws, are backed with budgetary support.
One of the strengths of the Philippines, Davis said, is in terms of public awareness. “People are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it substantially.
A communication plan on biodiversity conservation has been adopted as early as 2012,” said Davis, the DENR’s focal person for environmental education.
She said the DENR has gone a long way in educating the people of the values of biodiversity through various programs that “holistically” address environmental problems, along with hunger and poverty, citing the National Greening Program (NGP). The Philippines has one of the most numbers of environmental laws in Asean. These include laws promoting clean air, clean water, ecological solid-waste management, fisheries, renewable energy and climate change.
The Aquino administration has also put in place the policy declaring total log ban on natural forest through Executive Order (EO) 23 and the policy promoting the massive reforestation of the country’s denuded forest through Executive 26, which established NGP. EO 193, signed by President Aquino in November 2015, expanded the NGP. Aquino’s EO 97, meanwhile, declared 84 percent of the country’s total land area “off limits” to mining activities.
“Our strategy is incorporated in the policies and programs not only as environmental investment but also as a poverty-reduction strategy. Through this program, we are also able to mitigate climate change, reduce risk of disasters, fight hunger and poverty, and conserve biodiversity,” she said.
On top of the NGP, she added that the DENR also allocated P1 billion for Mangrove and Beach Forest Development Program, which she said, would have positive impact on the country’s coastal marine environment. While the country’s own assessment revealed that it failed in terms of addressing pollution and its impacts on ecosystems, Davis said various programs and initiatives are dedicated to addressing soil, water, as well as air pollution, as mandated by law. Director Theresa Mundita Lim of the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) said various environmental laws and policies, particularly on PAs, boost the country’s biodiversity-conservation efforts.
“All our environmental programs are now being aligned to our international commitments, including the Aichi targets,” she said.
According to Lim, the DENR is now in the process of developing a National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan (Nissap), which aims to provide an enabling policy and institutional framework for coordinated and multisectoral management of pesky species, another major driver of biodiversity loss.
The action pertains to Target 9 of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
Nissap, she said, is also being incorporated in the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (PBSAP). To further boost the country’s PAs management, the DENR, through the BMB, is supporting the passage of the Expanded National Integrated PAs System bill, which seeks to strengthen the protection and conservation of 100 PAs.
“We are also pushing for the integration of biodiversity conservation in the National Climate Change Action Plan,” she said.
The initiative, which covers Aichi Target 15, aims to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities and the resilience of natural ecosystems to climate change.
The Philippines is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, yet, it is also one of the 34 countries identified as biodiversity hot spots because of the rapid rate of biodiversity loss.
Protecting and conserving the country’s rich biodiversity reflects the country’s commitment to good environmental governance.
Oliva said Asean, including the Philippines, can be greener with sufficient budgetary support to enhance conservation efforts through the PAs system.
“Our protected area should be given more budget. In the Philippines alone, our protected areas need at least P3 billion annually, but it is getting only P1 billion,”he said.
Lim also said increased budgetary allocation is needed to sustain the operation of the country’s PAs, whether they are backed by laws, to ensure that the Philippines’s ecosystem and the wildlife will continue to thrive.
Image credits: Jonathan L. Mayuga