The Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heritage Parks are representative of efforts to conserve areas of particular biodiversity importance or exceptional uniqueness throughout ASEAN member states. The ASEAN Ministers of Environment cooperatively signed the ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks on 18 December 2003. Through the declaration, countries agreed that:
“common cooperation is necessary to conserve and manage the AHP for the development and implementation of regional conservation and management action plans as well as regional mechanisms complementary to national efforts to implement conservation measures.”
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) serves as the secretariat of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme.
Currently the Philippines has 9 ASEAN Heritage Parks sites, 2 of which are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary was the latest site to be officially recognized during the 6th ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) Conference in Pakse, People’s Democratic Republic of Laos.
Designation Date | ASEAN Heritage Park Name | Location | UNESCO Site (Y/N) |
1984 | Mt. Apo Natural Park | Cotabato | |
1984 | Mt Iglit Baco National Park | Mindoro | |
2009 | Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park | Bukidnon | |
2011 | Mt. Malindang Natural Park | Misamis Occidental | |
2013 | Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve | Laguna | |
2014 | Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park | Palawan | Yes |
2014 | Mt. Hamiguitan Range Natural Park | Davao Oriental | Yes |
2015 | Mt Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument | Camiguin | |
2019 | Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary | Agusan del Sur |