We are losing wetlands at an alarming rate—three times faster than forests—making them the world’s most threatened ecosystem.
According to Wetlands International, one-third of the world’s wetlands have been lost over the past 50 years. Rapid population growth, urbanisation, unsustainable production and consumption, and the increasingly complex impacts of climate change threaten these critically important ecosystems.
Far from being a wasteland, wetlands provide essential services for our survival. These ecosystems provide food and livelihood sources, protect and improve water quality, and provide habitat and breeding grounds for fish, birds, and other wildlife, including many threatened and endangered species.
They also reduce disaster risks by acting as a natural flood control, shielding us from loss of life and property. Wetlands are also called the most effective carbon sinks on Earth. They play a significant role in stabilising greenhouse gas emissions, proving their value as a natural way to cope with climate change. Wetlands perform all these functions and offer all these benefits and more at no cost.
There are almost 2 million square kilometres of lakes, rivers, freshwater swamps, marshes, streams, and other inland waters and wetlands in the Southeast Asian region.
The Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) helps safeguard this wealth through its flagship programmes and projects that provide capacity development, enhanced protected area management, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity mainstreaming, policy support, and adoption of frameworks. Asean Member States (AMS) and the ACB continuously promote wetlands conservation mainly through the Asean Heritage Parks (AHP) Programme, the Asean Flyway Network, and its participation in the World Coastal Forum—a global event to facilitate national and international efforts to protect coastal ecosystems through science-based solutions.
As we direct our attention to this natural wealth this World Wetlands Day this year, the ACB is also pleased to announce the inclusion of Bang Pu Recreation Center, also called the Royal Thai Army Nature Education Center in Bangkok, Thailand —a wetland park, as the 63rd AHP.
This remarkable area is a fitting example of how wetlands provide various ecosystem services while being sustainably used and managed.
An Asean Heritage Park in honour of the King
Established in 1937 as a recuperation site for soldiers injured in combat, the Royal Thai Army in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Thailand, has since transformed Bang Pu into a centre for biodiversity conservation and a study area for the youth, government, agencies, and the private sector.
On 6 December 2024, the Asean Environment Ministers, via ad referendum, approved the declaration of Bang Pu as the 63rd Asean Heritage Park in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s (Rama X) 72nd birthday.
Located in the central region of Thailand, the Bang Pu Nature Education Centre is situated along the coast of the upper Gulf of Thailand (Bangkok Bay). It covers approximately 201 hectares and encompasses a variety of functional ecosystems: mangrove forests, mudflats, and brackishwater marshes. These ecosystems are important for nutrient accumulation and sediment deposition, which enriches the soil and biodiversity potential.
Mangrove forests are particularly significant for their carbon storage capabilities. They effectively absorb carbon dioxide and help regulate greenhouse gases to mitigate temperature increases. Additionally, these forests serve as a natural barrier, reducing wave intensity and sea currents during extreme weather and natural disasters.
The Bang Pu Nature Education Centre also supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Of the 81 mangrove species in Thailand, 22 species thrive in this area, creating essential habitats and food sources for various mangrove-dependent organisms.
It is located along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, the most densely populated bird migration flyway in the world. This flyway serves as both a habitat and a crucial resting area for about 600 migratory bird species, traversing 37 countries from Alaska to Southeast Asian countries and Australia and New Zealand. Approximately 360 bird species, including both resident and migratory populations, can be observed in this region, with migratory numbers peaking at 10,000 to 20,000 during winter.
The Bang Pu Nature Education Centre is a vital refuge for several globally endangered species. Notably, it is home to the Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) and various endangered migratory shorebirds, including the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor), Nordmann’s Greenshank (Tringa guttifer), Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), and Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis).
Additionally, the area supports internationally significant species such as the Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) and Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), underscoring its importance as a critical habitat for these vulnerable populations.
In 2009, the Thailand Cabinet recognised the site as a nationally significant wetland, and in 2010, it was included in the established network for migratory birds.
Furthermore, it has been designated as a conservation area through the Royal Thai Army’s declaration to establish measures for conserving and rehabilitating natural resources and the environment. These efforts highlight Thailand’s commitment to recognising and protecting vital wetlands and their ecological functions.
The AHP programme
Established in 1984, the AHP Programme—a hallmark initiative of the Asean for biodiversity conservation—features a network of protected areas that best represent the region’s common natural heritage. Through this flagship programme, the ACB, together with the AMS, works to advance the protection of wetlands in the Asean region, which serves as a lifeline for most of its people.
Being part of the AHP network provides protected areas with opportunities to share good practices and experiences in protected area management, participate in regional capacity development and awareness-raising activities, engage with potential regional and international conservation partners, and receive assistance in enhancing protected area management operations and sustainable livelihood support for communities living in and around the AHP sites.
From its original 11 parks, the AHP Network has grown to 63 sites, including Bang Pu Nature Education Centre. The other AHPs that feature wetlands are Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park (Brunei); Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Inlay Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary (Myanmar); Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (Singapore); Ba Be National Park (Thailand); U Minh Thuong National Park (Viet Nam); and Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (Philippines).
The Asean Flyway Network (AFN)
Conservation of the region’s wetlands is integral in the work of the ACB and its regional cooperation with the AMS. To further improve wetland conservation and the protection of migratory bird species that depend on them, the ACB and the National Parks of Singapore, with support from the Japan-Asean Integration Fund, launched in 2017 a regional initiative called Improving Biodiversity Conservation on Wetlands and Migratory Waterbirds in the Asean Region.
This project gave birth to the Asean Flyway Network—a network of national focal points, flyway managers in Asean, relevant partners and other stakeholders, aiming to support local and national conservation efforts and cross-border knowledge sharing to protect migratory species and wetland habitats. The project also addressed information gaps by conducting baseline data and monitoring surveys in selected and potential flyway sites and priority coastal areas within the Asean region.
More coordinated actions are underway to strengthen the capacities of local networks and communities and raise public awareness of the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the value they provide. Relationships formed within the network would also lead to sound policy and decision-making that considers the value of wetland ecosystems and the migratory bird species that rely on them.
Wetlands are excellent nature-based solutions to our current global challenges. May today’s observance remind us that protecting wetlands entails everyone’s action. The ACB continues to raise awareness of the immense importance of wetlands and how they directly impact our human well-being and development. Recognising their essential role and how they benefit both people and the planet should motivate us to work together to conserve and reverse the rapid loss of wetlands, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for Southeast Asia.
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