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Malacañang
30 May 2011
President Benigno S. Aquino III declared 2011-2020 as the National Decade on Biodiversity in the Philippines as the country hosts the historic launching of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity and International Year of Forests in Southeast Asia in Malacañang.

In his statement, the President called on everyone to act now in the preservation and protection of vulnerable species and habitats because the region is quickly losing a significant number of these endangered plants and animals due to deforestation, wildlife hunting, climate change, pollution and population. He also said that the government has begun several programs like the National Greening Program to sustain the balance of the country's biodiversity. The administration will also continue to pursue regional conservation efforts, such as the Coral Triangle Initiative, the Greater Mekong Program, the Heart of Borneo Initiative and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heritage Parks.

UN Assistant Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary and ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Executive Director Rodrigo Fuentes and Undersecretary Antonio Rodriguez called on President Aquino earlier to discuss the goals and targets of the said 2011-2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity.

Together with the some of the ambassadors in the ASEAN member countries, they also joined the President in the unveiling of the commemorative marker for the Malacañang Heritage Tree. The event is to demonstrate the commitment of the Philippines and ASEAN toward the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity. The "balete" or strangler fig tree contributes immensely to biodiversity conservation as a great food source and habitat for birds, small mammals and other wildlife. It is considered a sacred tree by Filipinos and also believed to be resided by supernatural beings. Famously called as Mr. Brown, the heritage tree is over a century old and stands just outside the Palace entrance.

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