Frequently Asked Questions

1.  What is the Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP)?

APAP is an informal network of government protected area agencies and other stakeholders. It has been designed as a platform to promote the exchange of protected area experiences, lessons and best practices and to encourage greater regional collaboration on protected areas.

2.  Why was APAP established?

Asia’s protected areas are coming under increasing pressure from many sources and face a growing array of threats. To help address these challenges, PA agencies in the region have often expressed a desire for increased regional collaboration and the sharing of best management practices. In November 2013, the concept of an "Asia Protected Areas Partnership" was endorsed at the 1st Asia Parks Congress held in Sendai, Japan. The Congress’ principal outcome document, the Sendai Charter, highlighted the many shared challenges facing Asia's protected areas and the urgent need for enhanced collaboration. APAP was formally launched in 2014 at the IUCN World Parks Congress in Australia.

3.   What kinds of activities does APAP organise?

APAP’s activities are defined by its members and are currently focused on three main areas: 1) knowledge sharing and capacity building; 2) transboundary and regional collaboration; and 3) awareness raising. Typical activities include:

• Organising technical, experience sharing workshops on priority themes, such as collaborative management of protected areas and human-wildlife conflict;
• Translating the best practice guidelines developed by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) into national languages; 
• Facilitating dialogue among countries wishing to explore the potential for transboundary collaboration;
• Strengthening the voice of the Asian protected area community at key regional and global policy forums, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity.

4.   Who are the members of APAP?

APAP members are primarily national or sub-national government protected area agencies from Asia. APAP also has a small number of Associate Members; these are international organisations, research agencies, NGOs, universities or private sector organisations working across more than one country in Asia and with a particular focus on protected areas. (Membership criteria can be viewed in full in the APAP Partnership Document).  To see the latest list of members, please click here. 

5.    Are there any membership fees?

APAP does not charge a membership fee. Members are only responsible for being supportive of APAP’s objectives and actively engaging in APAP activities.

6.    Can more than one institution per country join APAP?

In recognition of the fact that responsibility for protected areas in many countries of Asia is divided among multiple government institutions, there is no limit on the number of PA institutions from any given country that can become APAP members, so long as the eligibility criteria are met.

7.   How can my organisation become a member of APAP?

If your organisation is interested in becoming a member of APAP, please send an initial letter of enquiry to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The letter should briefly summarise your organisation’s work on protected areas and the ways in which it fulfills the APAP membership criteria (as defined in the APAP Partnership Document). Letters of interest can be submitted at any time.

8.    Can I join APAP as an individual?

Membership in APAP is restricted to institutions and is not open to individuals.

9.    How is APAP governed?

APAP is co-chaired by the IUCN Asia Regional Office and an APAP member organisation on a three-year rotational basis (currently the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of India). Steering Committee meetings, comprised of representatives from all the member countries and a number of other participants, are held at least once a year. APAP is supported by a small secretariat within the IUCN Asia Regional Office in Bangkok.