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Philippine-based Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Center for Biodiversity (ACB) urged the ASEAN member-nations to address biodiversity loss in the region, noting that the benefits of intact biodiversity to the ASEAN region is estimated to be worth over US$200 billion annually. The ACB cited that biodiversity brings enormous benefits to mankind from direct harvesting of plants and animals for food, medicine, fuel, construction materials, and other uses to aesthetic, cultural, recreational, research values. Also, benefits to ecosystems include climate and water regulation. It noted that about 80 per cent of the income of the rural poor is derived from the local biodiversity. In April 2002, 10 ASEAN member-states where among the 191 parties worldwide that committed to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth.
De Vera, E. B., 2009. Address Biodiversity Loss, ASEAN Urged. Manila Bulletin, http://www.mb.com.ph/ (28 August 2009). |
