Cimatu seeks concerted Asean action on ecology

Newly appointed Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Ci­matu is calling for Asean member-na­tions’ increasingly concerted action for environmental protection.

Such action is essential in better addressing environmental problems common in the Asean region, he noted.

“Asean needs strong resolve and action to confront challenges this region may face in the next decades,” he said in a message read by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Jonas Leones on Thursday (May 11) at the 18th meeting of Asean’s working group on coastal and marine environment.

Cimatu raised urgency for intensifying Asean’s convergence, noting environmental problems are among the most difficult issues to address since these are multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral in nature.

“Such issues are a pressing and urgent concern for all of us,” he said.

Established in 1967 as a regional organization for promoting peace and prosperity, Asean groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Studies show the Asean region covers only 3.0 percent of Earth’s surface but hosts terrestrial and marine biodiversity of global significance.

The region is home to Earth’s most diverse coral reefs and the mega-diverse countries of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, studies also show.

Experts, however, warned environmental problems hound the region.

Possible extinction of some migratory wildlife species are among problems needing action, noted Ci­matu.

“We need to prohibit taking of such species, conserve and restore habitats of these, remove obstacles to such wildlife’s migration and control other factors that might endanger these,” he said.

Climate change, pollution, resource over-extraction and marine litter are also among problems jeopardizing the environment of Asean.

Cimatu is expecting the meeting in Metro Manila to generate in­puts for helping Asean more effectively deal with such problems.

“The meeting is of great im­portance to my country as it plays a role in charting the path for Asean community-building over the next 10 years,” he also said.

He cited Asean’s strategic priorities for the environment as among keys to realizing the bloc’s Vision 2025 which aims sustaining integration and community-building across the region.

Those strategic priorities are nature conservation and biodiversity, coastal and marine environment, water resources management and sustainable cities, he said.

He also said the priorities include climate change, chemicals and waste, environmental education as well as sustainable consumption and production.

“Ours is a fragile world — our efforts must continue to engage and benefit Asean communities,” he said.

He rallied the Asean community to increasingly defend the region’s natural wealth.