The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) formally presented last Friday a certificate declaring the 30,000-hectare Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Mindanao as ASEAN’s 28th and newest ASEAN Heritage Park.

The certificate was presented by ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Karmain to Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio during the ASEAN launch of International Year of Biodiversity held at the Dusit Hotel in Makati City.

ASEAN is formed by 10 countries – Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

The park now joins 27 other ASEAN Heritage Parks.

Mt. Kitanglad is the third declared ASEAN Heritage Park in the Philippines, after Mt. Apo in Davao and Mt. Iglit-Baco in Mindoro Oriental.

Under the ASEAN Heritage Parks program, protected areas with unique, diverse, and outstanding value are given the highest recognition as an ASEAN Heritage Park. The program aims to promote conservation of the region’s natural heritage.

Mt. Kitanglad covers seven municipalities and one city in Bukidnon, namely: Talakag (4,945 hectares), Baungon (3,157 ha), Libona (6,196 ha), Manolo Fortich (595 ha), Sumilao (3,532 ha), Lantapan (7,912 ha), Impasug-ong (1,985 ha), and Malaybalay City (2,317 ha).

Covering an area of about 30,642.0 hectares, Mt. Kitanglad was declared a protected area in 2000 by virtue of Republic Act No. 8978.

The three-day event gathered the 10 ASEAN senior officials on the Environment, who are members of the ACB Governing Board. They held its 11th meeting for the approval of the Philippine-based ASEAN Center for Biodiversity 2010 work plan and discuss ACB’s long-term business plan to ensure the sustainability of ASEAN’s regional efforts at conserving the region’s rich, but highly threatened biodiversity.