The ACB

About Us

Who We Are

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), established in 2005, is ASEAN’s response to the challenge of biodiversity loss. It is an intergovernmental organisation that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the eleven ASEAN Member States (AMS) and with regional and international organisations on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such natural treasures.

Vision

Biodiversity in the ASEAN region is valued, conserved, sustainably managed, and the benefits derived from the use of thereof are equitably shared

Mission

To catalyse and scale up efforts on biodiversity valuation, conservation, sustainable management, and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use thereof in the ASEAN Region

Our Goals

  • Science-based decision-making and policymaking on biodiversity are supported and promoted
  • The capacity of ASEAN to value, conserve, sustainably use, and manage biodiversity, and equitably share its benefits is improved
  • Biodiversity considerations into the development processes of the ASEAN are mainstreamed
  • Common understanding on biodiversity-related policies among the ASEAN Member States is fostered
  • The sustainability of the ACB as a regional intergovernmental organisation and centre of excellence for biodiversity in the ASEAN is realised and ensured

We are ASEAN's response to the challenge of biodiversity loss

How We Are Organised

Who manages ACB

The Centre is managed by a Governing Board, which is composed of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) and the ASEAN Secretary General. Headed by the Chairman of the ASOEN, the Governing Board has overall responsibility and accountability for the operations of ACB.

The ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (AWGNCB) provides technical guidance to ACB by recommending the key areas of focus for its work. The AWGNCB Members also act as ACB National Contact Points in their respective countries

Our People

ACB is headed by an Executive Director who is assisted by highly skilled professionals with international and national experiences in the areas of environment and biodiversity conservation, policy and programme development and coordination, finance and administration, information and knowledge management, and communication.

Milestones

1998

10 AMS established the ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity (ARCBC) Project with funding support from European Union

2005

Environmental Ministers of ASEAN agreed to establish the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)

2006

Establishment Agreement (EA) was ratified by Viet Nam and the Philippines, and the Host Country Agreement (HCA) was ratified by PH

2008

EA was ratified by Brunei Darussalam, Lao PDR, and Singapore

2009

EA was ratified by Myanmar, and the HCA was concurred by the Philippine Senate

2013

EA was ratified by Malaysia and Thailand

2016

EA was ratified by Cambodia

2017

EA was ratified by Indonesia