The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), established in 2005, is ASEAN’s response to the challenge of biodiversity loss. It is an intergovernmental organization that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the ten ASEAN Member States (AMS) and with regional and international organizations 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.

Beginnings
ACB’s beginnings date back to 1998 when the ten AMS established the ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity (ARCBC) Project with funding support from the European Union. The project was implemented with two key objectives: a) intensify biodiversity conservation and b) promote institutional networking among ASEAN countries and between ASEAN and European Union partner organizations. The outcome of the ARCBC Project was viewed as a productive flagship project. Prior to the project’s ending, the Environmental Ministers of ASEAN found the need to create an institution that would sustain the gains of the ARCBC Project. In 2005, the Environmental Ministers of ASEAN agreed to establish ACB.

The Establishment Agreement (EA) of ACB was ratified by nine AMS: Brunei Darussalam (19 May 2008), Cambodia (26 February 2016), Lao PDR (2 October 2008), Malaysia (29 April 2013), Myanmar (8 July 2009), Philippines (14 July 2006), Singapore (28 October 2008), Thailand (19 February 2013), and Viet Nam (31 October 2006). The Host Country Agreement between ACB and the Philippines was ratified on 01 September 2006 and concurred by Philippine Senate on 14 September 2009.

Vision
An ASEAN region whose biodiversity is conserved, sustainably managed and used, and equitably shared for the well-being of its peoples.

Mission
To effectively facilitate regional cooperation and deliver capacity building services to the AMS in conserving biodiversity.

Goals

• Facilitate coordination and cooperation on regional biodiversity conservation programmes
• Deliver capacity-building services
• Develop regional mechanisms to sustainably manage and protect biodiversity and ecosystems and strengthen ASEAN regional positions in negotiations and in compliance with relevant multilateral environmental agreements
• Impart and deliver to AMS the knowledge and tools on managing biodiversity
• Enhance the linkage between science and policy on biodiversity
• Promote multi-stakeholder and leadership awareness of the values of biodiversity and the actions they can take to conserve it
• Undertake resource generation and mobilization measures for impact activities that will enhance biodiversity conservation in the region
• Enhance ACB’s capacity and sustainability as a regional centre of excellence on biodiversity