CALAMBA CITY (PIA) — The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the governments of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, launched a joint marine conservation project that aims to create strong protected areas for sustainability and develop science-based solutions.
The project, dubbed as “Effectively Managing Networks of Marine Protected Areas in Large Marine Ecosystems in the ASEAN Region” (ASEAN ENMAPS), is a five-year project that aims to develop and improve the management of networks of marine protected areas and marine corridors within selected Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) conservation of globally significant biodiversity areas and support for sustainable fisheries and other oceanic goods and services.
According to the ACB, ASEAN is home to 35 percent of the world’s coral reefs with more than 600 species of hard corals, 23 out of 50 seagrass species in the world, and over 1,300 reef-associated fish species, providing vital ecosystem services, including breeding, nursing, and feeding grounds for fisheries.
However, unsustainable resource extraction, infrastructure development, pollution, policy gaps, population pressures, overfishing and other destructive fishing practices have been identified as the most widespread local threats to marine resources in Southeast Asia.
If such threats are not addressed, there might be no viable fish stocks left by as early as 2048, thus the institutionalization of the program after years of dialogues comes at the right time.
The geographic focus of ASEAN ENMAPS includes the Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, Sulu-Celebes Sea, and the Indonesian Seas — areas that are vital for food security and economic trade.
For the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) director Asec. Marcial Amaro Jr., the partnership will pose a unified and solid effort in protecting the rich biodiversity of the region.
“It shall serve as a crucial platform for us to come together and discuss the project’s objectives, outcomes, governance arrangements, and work plans. We have the opportunity to delve into conservation efforts in Indonesia, The Philippines, and Thailand, which may provide benefits across the region and even on a global scale.”
Amaro believes that the initiative will be beneficial for coastal communities and poor families, as ACB and UNDP will directly engage and impart knowledge in communities and for environmental groups within the three countries to mitigate various environmental risks.
The director explained: “[The project] is envisioned to support coastal communities by addressing threats to coastal ecosystems and by providing opportunities to improve the lives of some of the poorest, if not the poorest sectors in our society.”
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity executive director Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim urged like-minded groups and other stakeholders to participate and converge to better implement and operationalize environmental policies and regulations.
“We need a sea change in how we care for the oceans. Working with nature is one of our best options for ocean action. With only about eight percent of the ocean under some level of protection, countries must think expansively and cooperatively to conserve, manage and restore the ocean that sustains us.”
Lim is optimistic that the networks of marine protected areas and marine corridors will be a force multiplier for conservation of the seas.
By 2050, it is estimated that close to 500 million people will live in coastal and marine areas in Southeast Asia, all of whom will rely on the rich marine biodiversity that is their source of livelihood, protection and even culture and identity. (CH/PIA-Laguna)
