"The environment ministers of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) classified the 215,072-hectare sanctuary in northern Myanmar as a heritage park during the 15th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME) in Siem Reap last week. Aside from the Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary, there were already seven other ASEAN Heritage Parks in the country - the Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Inle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Khakaborazi National Park, Lampi Kyun Wildlife Reserve, Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary and Nat Ma Taung National Park. A Forest Department official said the designation of the Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary as a ASEAN Heritage Park will boost “international attention on the park and improve opportunities to secure funding and support for conservation”. Five protected areas in Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam have joined the network of ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs), areas of high conservation value that best represent the region’s rich natural resources and cultural identity..."