At Timor-Leste’s eastern tip, forests, sacred caves and coral reefs are becoming part of a new regional conservation story. Nino Konis Santana National Park has been identified as the country’s first candidate for ASEAN Heritage Park recognition, following its inclusion in UNESCO’s biosphere reserve network this year.
A New Regional Chapter
At the ASEAN Heritage Parks Forum in September 2026, officials identified Nino Konis Santana as a candidate for Timor-Leste’s first nomination. The regional network then comprised 71 recognised parks. Candidacy is an important step, but it should not be confused with an approved designation.
The initiative comes after Timor-Leste joined ASEAN on October 26, 2025, becoming its 11th member. Its conservation ambitions now offer a practical avenue for deeper regional cooperation through protected-area management, scientific exchange and community participation.
A separate milestone arrived on June 5, 2026, when UNESCO recognised Nino Konis Santana as Timor-Leste’s first biosphere reserve. That designation connects biodiversity protection with sustainable livelihoods; it does not automatically confer ASEAN Heritage Park status.
A Landscape Rooted in National Memory
Established in 2007, Nino Konis Santana was Timor-Leste’s first national park. Named after a resistance leader, it links the country’s natural heritage with its struggle for independence and the cultural traditions of communities in Lautém municipality.
At its establishment, BirdLife International reported an area exceeding 123,600 hectares, including more than 55,600 hectares of marine habitat. The park brought together three Important Bird Areas: Lore, Monte Paitchau–Lake Iralalaru, and Jaco Island.
“It will help our nation to protect its national heritage, culture and history,” Manuel Mendes, then director of Timor-Leste’s Department of Protected Areas and National Parks, said in 2007. His words placed people and historical memory at the centre of conservation from the outset.
From Sacred Shores to Living Reefs
The park’s appeal lies in the connection between land and sea. Tropical forests and wetlands meet coral reefs and seagrass meadows within the Coral Triangle, creating habitats that also sustain surrounding communities.
Jaco Island offers a particularly clear example of tourism shaped by local values. Visitors cross from Valu Beach by small fishing boat to explore its beaches and surrounding waters. The island is sacred and uninhabited, and overnight stays are not permitted. This keeps accommodation on the mainland while creating opportunities for local boat services.
The landscape also remains a place of scientific discovery. Researchers found a new bent-toed gecko in the Lene Hara cave system, illustrating how much remains to be documented beneath the park’s familiar scenery.
Communities Shape the Next Step
The wider UNESCO biosphere reserve covers nearly 300,000 hectares, including the national park, buffer zones and transition areas. This larger boundary should not be confused with the park’s original footprint. Timor-Leste’s protected-area portal also lists Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão National Park, showing that Nino Konis Santana is no longer the country’s only national park.
Following UNESCO recognition, Secretary of State for Forests Fernandino Vieira da Costa emphasised that “the active involvement of local communities in the management of natural resources is the cornerstone of long-term sustainability.” He also advocated incorporating traditional knowledge into conservation practice.
ASEAN recognition would offer another platform for that work. Its lasting value will depend on protecting habitats while ensuring that local residents help guide decisions and share in the benefits of research, conservation and responsible tourism.
