Ms. Clarissa C. Arida Director, Programme Development and Implementation

1. ASEAN Environmental Challenges: Green Issues of Biodiversity2ndASEAN Chief Justices Roundtable Discussion on the Environment7-10 December 2012, Melaka, Malaysia Ms. Clarissa C. Arida Director, Programme Development and Implementation ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

2. Biodiversity - Global Context and the Convention on Biological Diversity • Biodiversity challenges – Transboundary Issues • Regional Cooperation and National Imperatives Biodiversity – the variety of life on earth; the amazing life forms Includes all plant and animal species on earth including their homes – mountains and forests, rivers and seas, the air – the full range of ecosystems, their component species and genetic variety of species Southeast Asia – small in Size but home to globally Ssgnificantbiodiversity

3. ASEAN Heritage Parks CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY • CBD – an international legally-bindingtreaty • Conservation of biologicaldiversity • Sustainable use of its components • Fair and equitable sharing of benefitsarising out of the utilization of geneticresources (ABS) • At the Natinallevel: • National BiodiversityStrategy and Action Plans – Updatingof NBSAPS in line with the CBD Strategic Plan (2011-2020) and Aichi BiodiversityTargets By 2020, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.” (CBD Vision)

4. Habitat Change Drivers of Biodiversity Loss In Southeast Asia Climate Change Invasive Alien Species Drivers of Biodiversity Loss in Southeast Asia Over Exploitation Pollution Target 5 CBS Aichi TargetBy 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced Poverty

5. Green Issues Biodiversity Challenges • Loss of habitat for many birds, mammals and other animals • Reduced pollinator activity • Decline in species richness and populations • Overall reduction in biodiversity • Target 12 CBD Aichi TargetBy 2020 the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline, has been improved and sustained. • Illegal Wildlife Trade, Deforestation, Large scale mining, Pollution, Climate Change

6. Biodiversity Challenges • ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE – Southeast Asia is a hotspot in the multi-billion dollar global trade of wildlife. Illegal wildlife trade valued at about 10 to 20 billion U.S. dollars. • Wild species including illegally cut timber, birds, reptiles, and mammals are traded in the region • INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES is estimated to have caused environmental and economic damage at US$ 1.4 trillion per annum (Global Invasive Species Programme, 2008). • -Valuing biodiversity and ecosystems services and good in economic terms – ASEAN TEEB – also as basis for compensatio n and damages

7. Biodiversity Challenges Other key biodiversity issues • Creation of an access and benefit sharing scheme on utilizing genetic resources • Nagoya Protocol – responding to the 3rd objective of the CBD on benefit sharing • National ABS Policies – Institutioanl and legal • Examples: Philippines – Executive Order 247 and WildlifeAct - Prescribes the guidelines and procedures for the prospecting of biological and geneticresources; NIPAS and WildlifeLaws • Malaysia – Sabah and Sarawak ABS policies and on-goingdevelkipment of national ABS legislation

8. Regional Cooperation and National Imperatives • ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme 32 sites now • Support to sub regional programmes such as the Coral Triangle Initiative, Heart of Borneo Initiative, Greater Mekong Sub-Region, Sulu-Sulawesi Seas , and others • Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin • ASEAN Agreement on TransboundaryHaze Pollution • ASEAN Framework Agreement on Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits

9. Regional Cooperation and National Imperatives • Sustained awareness raising and capacity building among the 3 branches of governments on CBD related national legislations like Protected Area law and Wildlife laws; involving scientific experts like biologists, zoologists, foresters, taxonomists to promote LEGAL and SCIENCE & POLICY INTERFACE • Continuous dialogue amongst ASEAN Member States in regard to CBD related implementationof national laws; e.g., CBD and ABS policies including indigenous and local communities as keepers of traditional knowledge (TK) leading to benefit sharing

10. Regional Cooperation and National Imperatives • Cooperation with neighboring countries with respect to transboundary protected areas • Policy and Legal Forum and Technical Training for Protected areas and forest guards and law enforcement officers • Wildlife seminars for transboundary areas – common threatened and endangered species • Use of information technology in the dissemination of the latest information about CBD related legislation, technologies and management techniques • ACB Clearing House Mechanism of Biodiversity Information and national CHM/websites – linking to legal issues on environmental challenges to foster knowledge sharing and learning.

11. www.aseanbiodiversity.org Terimahkasi!