Quang Ninh, Viet Nam – On 2 December 2025, the project Effectively Managing Networks of Marine Protected Areas in Large Marine Ecosystems in the ASEAN Region (ASEAN ENMAPS) of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) convened its Second Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting, held back-to-back with the 8th ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP8) Conference in Hanoi.
The PSC meeting gathered representatives from the Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines, and the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning of Thailand to review project progress and strengthen coordination among key partners.
“As the implementing partner of the project, the ACB remains committed to working closely with the United Nations Development Programme and the ASEAN Member States to ensure that the science, governance, and community engagement dimensions of ASEAN ENMAPS are realised in a balanced, gender-responsive, inclusive, and results-oriented manner,” said Dr. Jerome L. Montemayor, ACB Executive Director, in his welcome remarks.
Key agenda items included:
- Presentation of the current project status
- Guidance on recommended actions following the Project Implementation Review
- Addressing implementation concerns at regional, national, and site levels
- Approval of the 2026 work plan, budget plan, and procurement plan
- Review of the risk registry and identification of possible contingencies
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Cheryl Loise T. Leal, Director of the Policy and Planning Service of DENR-Philippines, with Dr. Sofiane Mahjoub, Regional Technical Adviser of UNDP Asia and the Pacific, serving as co-chair.
In parallel, ASEAN ENMAPS’ participation in the AHP8 Conference provided a strategic platform to align upcoming initiatives with regional priorities. This engagement is particularly significant for pilot sites designated as ASEAN Heritage Parks, ensuring that lessons learned and best practices from ASEAN ENMAPS directly contribute to strengthening the management, resilience, and sustainability of marine AHPs across the region.
