1.3 ASEAN Biodiversity Rich Countries
1.3.1 Brunei Darussalam-Home of the Black Lake and Hauntingly Beautiful Lakeside Walkways
Brunei Darussalam is found in the northwest coast of the island of Borneo，Brunei Darussalam has a 130-kilometer coastline bordering the South China Sea，which consists of high-profile sandy beaches with a complex estuarine mangrove and mudflat zone in the northeast. The alluvial and often swampy coastal plain backed by low hills with swamps further inland，characterizes the western part of the country. The eastern part comprises a swampy coastal plain rising gradually to low hills to mountainous terrain inland. Its rich biodiversity includes 15，000 species of vascular plants with estimated 2，000 species of trees；about 100 non-flying mammal species，nearly half are rodents；about 400 species of corals；about 98 amphibian species and 50 reptiles；about 50 freshwater fish；and about 144 marine species.
New discovered species are damselfly （Euphaea ameeka），an endemic species，and white collared fruit bat found only in Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park.
The damselfly Euphaea ameeka is endemic to Brunei’s Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park.
Photo courtesy of Brunei Museums Department
1.3.2 Cambodia-Where the Great Lake （Tonle Sap） and Angkor Wat Are
Cambodia is dominated by lowlands along the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap （Great Lake），which are the most populated sites and where most agricultural lands are situated. The three mountainous regions in the southwest，north and northeast are less populated and remain rich in forest resources.
Cambodia is home to 123 mammal species，545 bird species，88 reptile species，2，308 plant species，874 fish species，70 hard coral species，8 seagrass，63 amphibian species，874 fish species of which 490 are freshwater fishes belonging to 64 families，410 are saltwater fishes from 83 families，22 are threatened；one is endemic；and 13 are introduced fish species.
Cambodia has 7 national parks，10 wildlife sanctuaries，3 protected landscapes，3 multiple use areas，6 protection forests，and 8 fish sanctuaries.
Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia
Photo courtesy of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
1.3.3 Indonesia-17，000 Islands Heavily Laden with Unique Flora and Fauna
Rafflesia found in Leuser National Park
Photo courtesy of Leuser National Park
Indonesia is a key player in global biodiversity，counting as one of the 17 countries with the richest biodiversity，or what is also known as megadiversity country. It contains 90 ecosystem types，35 species of primates，515 mammals （ranks 2nd in the world），515 reptiles （4th in the world），1531 bird species （5th in the world），270 amphibians （6th in the world，and 38，000 plant species （5th in the world）. It covers a total terrestrial area of 1，860，359.67 sq km and 5.8 million sq km of water bodies and it has about 17，000 islands.
Protected flora and fauna of Indonesia include 70 species of mammals，93 bird taxa，31 species of reptiles，9 fishes，20 insects，1 species of Anthozoa，14 species of Bivalvia，2 species of Araceae，1 Rafflesiaceae，27 species of Orchidaceae，1 family of Nephenteceae and 12 species of Dipterocarpaceae.
1.3.4 Lao PDR-Land-locked Country in Southeast Asia and Home of Spectacular
Lao PDR is a land-bordered country，rich with diverse landscapes and ethnic populations. It is located in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula and is surrounded by China，Viet Nam，Cambodia，Thailand and Myanmar，providing potential for a strategic resource base and land-link to the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
The rich biodiversity of Lao PDR includes around 8，000 to 11，000 species of flowering plants，150 to more than 200 species of reptiles and amphibians，at least 700 species of birds over 90 known species of bats，over 100 species of large mammals，and about 500 species of fish. At present，there are 44 IBAs and ornithological data are available.
1.3.5 Malaysia-Spectacular with Its Gigantic Limestone Caves，High Peaks and the World’s Oldest Forests
Malaysia consists of 13 states and three federal territories. Eleven states and two federal territories （i.e.，Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya） are located in Peninsular Malaysia，while the two states of Sabah and Sarawak are located in the island of Borneo. Malaysia is considered as one of the world’s megadiverse countries and ranks 12th in the world，according to the National Biodiversity Index.
Located near the equator，its climate is ideal for supporting a vast and diverse range of ecosystems，habitats and species，from microscopic organisms such as bacteria，to mammals，birds and fishes.
Malaysia harbors about 15，000 species of vascular plants of which about 8，300 are found in Peninsular Malaysia and about 12，000 species are in Sabah and Sarawak. It has 229 species of mammals found in Peninsular Malaysia and 221 species found in Sabah and Sarawak，of which 152 species are similar；742 species of birds；242 known species of amphibians；567 species of reptile；290 species of freshwater fish found in Peninsular Malaysia，about 100 and 200 species in Sabah and Sarawak，respectively；about 500 species of marine fish；936 species of butterfly species in Peninsular Malaysia；about 1，700 beetles in Sabah；and 1，200 recorded ant species.
Limestone pinnacles at Gunung Mulu National Park
Photo courtesy of Gunung Mulu National Park
1.3.6 Myanmar-Land of Pagodas，Shrines and Intha Tribes
The Union of Myanmar is located northwest of the Indochina region and covers 676，577 sq km total land area and is home to the Intha tribes. The country is bordered in the north and northeast by China，in the east and southeast by the Lao PDR and Thailand，in the south by the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal，and in the west by Bangladesh and India. About 42% of the total land area is forested and 7 out of 14 states and regions are mountainous. Reserved forests，public protected forest and protected area system cover a total of about 201，622 sq km or 31% of the total land area.
Myanmar has 11，800 species of gymnosperms and angiosperms；of which 841 are medicinal plant species，96 bamboo species，1696 species of shrubs，541 species of orchids，and 50 species of rattan；about 300 mammals；1，056 bird species；360 species of reptiles；82 species of amphibians，310 freshwater fish；1，200 butterflies；and 465 marine water species. Newly discovered species are Himalayan griffon vulture （Gyps himalayensis），Chestnut-crowned bush warbler （Cettia major），and 106 orchids including the black orchid （Paphiopedilum wardii）.
Threatened species in Myanmar include 38 plant species，of which 33 are angiosperms and 5 are gymnosperms. Agar-wood （Aquilaria malaccensis），a source of an aromatic resin，is one threatened species.
Fern corals at Lampi Marine National Park，Myanmar
Photo courtesy of Lampi Marine National Park
1.3.7 Philippines-A Well-known Marine Turtle Nesting Area
The Philippines is located between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea，east of Viet Nam and north of Indonesia and Malaysia. The country has 240 protected areas covering about 5，436.36 sq km or 14.16% of the total land and water area.
Over 60 per cent of the population lives in coastal areas. Luzon，the largest island group，accounts for more than half of the entire population. The Philippines has vast natural resources that provide food，water，shelter and livelihood for its rapidly growing population. It is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries，accruing to its geographical isolation，diverse habitats and high rates of endemism.
The Philippines ranks 5th in the number of plant species，with at least 25 genera and 49% of terrestrial wildlife are endemics. The country harbors about 16，233 and 22，103 plant species （15th in the world） and 22，103 animal species. It has 40 species of mangroves，about 3，214 species of fish and about 500 known coral species with one species newly discovered （Leptoseris sp.）
The Philippines ranks 4th in the world in bird endemism，5th in mammal endemism，and 8th in reptile endemism. The following are biodiversity resources found only in the Philippines：tamaraw，Northern Luzon giant cloud rat，Philippine cockatoo，Philippine crocodile，forest ground frog. Rare marine animals include olive ridley，hawksbill，leatherback and green sea turtles；dwarf spinner dolphin；bottlenose dolphin；and bryde’s whale. Some notable flora and fauna species are Philippine eagle，the world’s largest eagle；King cobra，the largest terrestrial venomous snake；Philippine ironwood，the hardest wood；and reticulated python，the largest and the longest snake；cloud rat，the world’s largest rat；slow loris and tarsier，smallest primitive primates；and mouse deer，one of the smallest deer.
A green turtle （Chelonia mydas） goes back to sea after laying eggs in the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area in the Philippines
Photo courtesy of Dennis Velasco
1.3.8 Singapore-With Its Seamless Green Parks and Streetscapes
A tropical island city-state，Singapore lies within the Malesian geographical region，consisting of one main island and about 60 smaller offshore islands. Located 137 kilometers north of the equator，it is separated from Peninsular Malaysia by the Straits of Johor and from the Indonesian Islands by the Strait of Singapore.
Singapore’s rich native biodiversity include 2，145 native vascular plant species；364 bird species；98 reptile species；66 freshwater fish species；301 butterfly species，127 dragonfly species；more than 400 spider species；35 true mangrove species；12 seagrass species；255 hard coral species；and 50 sea anemone species. Rediscovered species include mosses：Geocharis aurantica and Memecylon pubescens.
1.3.9 Thailand-Rich Biodiversity and Cultures are Sources of Fascination and Pleasure for Visitors
Thailand covers a total land area of 13，115 square kilometers. It lies in a hot and humid climatic zone，and hence supports a variety of tropical ecosystems. Its forests harbor a large portion of the country’s biodiversity. Forest types range from rainforest，evergreen，deciduous and mangrove，to shrub forests and savannah forests. The freshwater ecosystem，which includes rivers，reservoirs，swamps and ponds，is where，most of the endemic species of Thailand are found. For coastal ecosystems，the country’s more than 2，000-kilometer coastline surrounding islands numbering over 200 are comprised by coral reefs，sandy beaches，muddy beaches and seagrass beds. Marine ecosystems are located on both sides of the peninsula. Agriculture ecosystems make up about one-fifth of the country，and while entirely man-made，these bear certain components of biodiversity nonetheless.
Thailand harbors 15，000 species of plants，of which 11，733 species are vascular plants （568 fern species，10，000 flowering plants and 1，140 orchids），302 species of mammals，six are endemic，at least 982 species of birds，353 reptile species，137 semi-water animal species，2，820 fish species （720 freshwater and 2，100 marine fish species），and about 83，000 invertebrate species.
Rich forest in Khao Yai National Park
Photo courtesy of Rhia Galsim
1.3.10 Viet Nam-One of the World’s Plant Breeding Centers
Viet Nam is a country rich in tropical rainforests and monsoon savannah，as well as marine life and mountainous sub-alpine scrubland. It covers 320，000 sq km terrestrial area and 3，260 km coastline plus thousands of islands. The lowland coastal zone is bisected by rugged limestone mountains which separate the generally wetter forest types of the east from the drier forests of the Mekong Basin in the west，creating habitat diversity favorable to a broad range of species compositions. The country grows important cash crops such as tubers，tea and rice，and currently Viet Nam is the world’s second largest rice exporter. It also abounds with domesticated animals such as chickens，pigs and ducks. This balanced diversity of natural and agricultural resources represents the wealth of a unique physical environment and thousands of years of adaptation and selective cultivation and breeding.
Viet Nam has more than 13，200 floral species and about 10，000 faunal species in terrestrial ecosystems，over 3，000 aquatic creatures in wetlands；and more than 11，000 forms of sea life.
The 128 protected areas in Viet Nam cover 75% of the total territory and these are distributed as follows：30 national parks；60 conservation areas；and 38 landscape protection areas. Some nature reserves are internationally recognized：2 World heritage Sites；8 Biosphere reserves；4 Ramsar sites；and 5 ASEAN Heritage Parks.
Biodiversity rich lake and forest of Ba Be National Park
Photo courtesy of Nong The Dien