Hanoi (VNA) - Environment officials from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries met recently in the Philippines to craft a strategic plan to save the region’s highly endangered biodiversity, according to Philippine media on May 7.
A statement released by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) said environment officials identified concerns and issues on biodiversity conservation which will serve as the basis for a framework of action for ACB.
ASEAN has designated 1,523 protected areas based on World Conservation Union (IUCN) guidelines and declared 27 areas as ASEAN Heritage Parks.
Several conservation plans have been prepared especially for endangered species, such as the tigers, elephants, gaurs, Sumatran rhinoceros, otters and pheasants.
While occupying only 3 percent of the earth’s surface, ASEAN countries contain the natural habitats of up to 40 percent of all species on earth. The region has one-third of the world’s coral reefs, translating to 284,000 square kilometres, that among the most diverse in the world.
ASEAN countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.-Enditem
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