QUEZON CITY—The Philippines now hosts 15, of the 71 protected areas recognized under the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) Programme, ASEAN’s flagship initiative for regional biodiversity conservation, officials announced on 9 September 2026 during the second night of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Forum 2026.
Envisioned in 1978 and formally established under the 1984 ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks and Reserves, the AHP network has grown from its original 11 sites to 71 sites today. As one of the world’s 17 megadiverse nations, holding more than two-thirds of the planet’s biological wealth, the Philippines is now tied with Viet Nam for the highest number of contributions to the network.
Of the country’s 15 AHP sites, 14 are managed under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), while the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve is managed directly by the University of the Philippines Los Baños – Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems.
When we safeguard our 14, and soon to be 15, ASEAN Heritage Parks in the Philippines and the rest of the AHPs across Southeast Asia, we are securing the water systems that irrigate our farmlands, the natural barriers that buffer our coastlines against severe typhoons, the carbon sinks that mitigate global warming, and the ecosystems that drive green and blue economic growth,” said Dr. Jerome Montemayor, Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr. of DENR underscored the regional dimension of the designation. “The 69, and soon to be 71, ASEAN Heritage Parks managers are brought together regularly, as often as we can, for learning exchange, for sharing of best practices. These are not just national treasures, but beyond the protected areas being treated as our national patrimony, these are also ASEAN rich heritage and treasures that we should all value as ASEAN citizens,” he said.
The network’s growth extends across the region. Malaysia recently secured recognition for three new sites, including Bako and Lambe in Sarawak and the Tengku Hasanal Wildlife Reserve in the Peninsula. Timor-Leste, ASEAN’s newest member state, has identified the Nino Konis Santana National Park as a candidate for its first AHP nomination, which officials hope to secure before the end of the Philippine chairmanship.
As lead ASEAN Member State for Protected Areas under the ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, the Philippines continues to shape the network’s direction heading into the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila this November.
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