ASIAN JUSTICES FORUM ON THE ENVIRONMENT Manila, Philippines July 5-6, 2007 On 26-27 April 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand, senior justices and jurists from Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and the United States convened the first meeting of the Asian Justices Forum on the Environment with support from Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network, or AECEN, whose mission is to promote improved compliance and enforcement with environmental legal requirements in Asia through regional exchange of innovative policies and practices. At the Bangkok meeting, participating justices and jurists agreed to work together to: (1) identify common challenges and innovative solutions for improving court policies and practices for the environment; (2) develop strategies for country and regional cooperation on strengthening human and institutional capacity for adjudicating environmental disputes; and (3) create counterpart linkages between courts in Asia, and cooperate with programs aimed at promoting environmental compliance and enforcement, and court and judicial strengthening. On July 5-6, 2007 in Manila, Philippines, at the second Asian Justices Forum on the Environment, honorable justices and jurists from Australia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United States affirm their commitment to the Forum objectives, and agree to work together to support specific Forum objectives and activities. During the Manila Forum, honorable justices and jurists shared experience on innovative court policies and practices for the environment, and on strategies for strengthening the institutional capacity of Philippine courts to adjudicate environmental cases, including strengthening and studying the establishment of green benches, and building judicial capacity. Honorable justices and jurists also identified specific areas for regional cooperation on environmental adjudication, including

- - - - - Compilation and dissemination of relevant information via websites and other means; Court-to-court internships, fellowships or other exchange programs; Targeted country studies and institutional reform initiatives; Specialized country training initiatives; and Regional forums and training events.

To help achieve Forum objectives, the Forum participants recognize the key role of international development agencies and organizations, including the United States Agency for International Development, which is a core funding agency for AECEN. Other cooperating organizations included the United Nations Environment Programme, the Asia Pacific Jurist Association, and the Philippine Judicial Academy. We appreciate the continuing efforts of international development partners to collaborate closely in their support of judicial reform for the environment in Asia. The Forum participants also express their deep appreciation to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines, Honorable Justice Reynato S. Puno, for his leadership in chairing the Forum, and to Honorable Ameurfina A. Melencio-Herrera, Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy, for effective organization of the program.

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