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SUPA Component 1 and Environment and Forestry Office of Aceh Province Held the Launching of SUPA Pilot Site in Aceh, Indonesia

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As a follow up to the signing of the agreed minutes for technical cooperation on Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA) Component 1 on 25 May 2021, GIZ and Environment and Forestry Office of Aceh Province held the launching of SUPA Pilot Site in Aceh, Indonesia on 15 June 2021. This launching is the opening of a series of events related to SUPA Pilot Site in Aceh.

The virtual ceremony was attended by Sri Parwati Murwani Budisusanti, Director of Peatland Degradation Control; Anizar, MP, Secretary of Environment and Forestry Office of Aceh Province, and other relevant stakeholders. 

Reading the opening remarks of Head of Environment and Forestry Office of Aceh Province, Anizar shared some of the efforts that Aceh Province has done in peatland conservation. “Government of Aceh Province through the Environment and Forestry Office hopes that this SUPA programme will run smoothly and all the programme’s objectives can be achieved as planned.”

On 16-17 June 2021, a focus group discussion workshop was held to develop SUPA Pilot Site Work Plan. The workshop was attended by relevant stakeholders from Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Environment and Forestry Office of Aceh Province, NGOs, academics, and private sectors. The workshop generated valuable inputs and feedbacks from stakeholders that will be incorporated in the SUPA Pilot Site Work Plan.

The last meeting in this series of events is the preliminary meeting to prepare the 1st Project Steering Committee of SUPA Pilot Site in Aceh, Indonesia. With guidance from Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Environment and Forestry Office of Aceh Province, SUPA Component 1 will organize the 1st Project Steering Committee of SUPA Pilot Site in Aceh in due course.

SUPA Component 1 and Ministry of Environment and Forestry of The Republic of Indonesia Signed Agreed Minutes for Technical Cooperation in Aceh, Indonesia

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GIZ and Ministry of Environment and Forestry of The Republic of Indonesia (MoEF) signed the agreed minutes for technical cooperation on Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA) Component 1 on 25 May 2021. The signed agreed minutes is specific for Work Area 3: Generating Pilot Experiences in Aceh, Indonesia.

The virtual ceremony was attended by Sri Parwati Murwani Budisusanti, Director of Peatland Degradation Control; Warthane Puvanarajah, First Secretary, Climate and Environment at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Jakarta; A. Hanan, Head of Environment and Forestry Office of Aceh Province, and other relevant stakeholders. 

Reading the opening remarks of Director General of Pollution and Environmental Damage Control, SPM Budi Susanti said that the cooperation between Peatland Degradation Control Directorate and GIZ is warmly welcomed. “We hope that the cooperation in Aceh Barat and Nagan Raya district in Aceh province can realize the sustainable peatland ecosystem by implementing activities that support the targets and obligations of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in the field of peat protection.”

“The results we achieve on the ground should primarily benefit the partners at the local level. But it is also important that we create good examples and best practices that can be adopted by others—not limited to Indonesia but to the entire ASEAN region,” said Berthold Haasler Principal Advisor of SUPA Component 1.

As a result of a thorough discussion and a list of criteria, the Indonesian government decided that the Aceh province with Nagan Raya and Aceh Barat districts should become the pilot area of SUPA Component 1 in Indonesia. This agreement will officially start the implementation of Work Area 3 in Indonesia.

Workshop on Concept Note Development for ASEAN Member States by SUPA Component 1

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Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA) Component 1 Work area 2 supports state actors in the ASEAN Member States (AMS) via funds in the implementation of the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) and National Action Plans on Peatland (NAPPs). The funds will be allocated to AMS, except Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, through a restricted call for proposals. Eligible state agencies are invited to present project proposals which will contribute to one or more of the four SUPA expected results, which are (1) ASEAN Programme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems, APMS and NAPPs are gradually implemented at local, national and regional level through enhanced capacity and identification of ASEAN  peatland areas; (2) significantly reduced peatland fires and associated haze through fire prevention and peatland rehabilitation; (3) integrated management of targeted peatlands to maintain ecological functions and biodiversity and reduce GHG emissions; and (4) peatlands are sustainably managed to enhance livelihood and maintain economic value.

Two Concept Note Development Workshops, held in Indonesia on 5-6 February 2020 and in Malaysia on 13-14 February 2020, initiated the restricted call for proposals. The goal of these workshops was to improve the capacities of AMS state agencies to develop project-related concept notes to apply for SUPA Component 1 funds. 

On 13th March 2020, the third Concept Note Development Workshop was held in Myanmar. Due to increasing concerns in the region over the Covid-19 pandemic, this workshop was the last to be held in person. 

Increasing travel restrictions and lockdowns being implemented in several ASEAN countries forced the SUPA Component 1 team to adopt a new strategy to conduct the workshops with the remaining ASEAN AMS. Taking into account that access to internet and stable internet connection may not always be a reality across the region to support an online live workshop, SUPA Component 1 team decided to adapt the Concept Note Development Workshops content into a visual presentation supported by audio to allow all participants to enter the restricted call for proposals and therefore the SUPA Component 1 funds. The online workshop package was sent to participants on the 3rd April 2020, with the submission deadline on 18th May 2020.

To date, we have received Concept Notes from most countries, while a few requested for an extension of the deadline. Extensions have been granted, as it is understandable that disruptions to the approval process due to work-from-home situation is affecting many countries in the region.

Although online workshops were not the initial plan, we are all adapting into new ways in life and work to cope with these unprecedented challenges. With the collective commitment from ASEAN Member States, we are confident that the programme will adapt and move forward.

SUPA Component 1 Organizes Concept Note on Development Training for Indonesia and Malaysia

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The Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA) Component 1 has three work areas. Work area 2 focuses on specific support to ASEAN Member States (AMS) for the implementation of ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) and National Action Plan for Peatlands (NAPPs) via SUPA funds. The support will be done through funding allocation which will be distributed to eligible AMS through a restricted call for proposals.

GIZ Concept Note on Development Training, held for Indonesia on 5-6 February 2020 and for Malaysia on 13-14 February 2020, was the first activity related to Work Area 2. The goal of these workshops was to improve the capacities of AMS to develop project-related concept note drafts to apply for SUPA funds. During the two-day workshop, participants of relevant units from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KHLK) in Indonesia and the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources (KATS) in Malaysia as well as other ministries and state agencies with a mandate related to peatland and fire issues brainstormed ideas and presented initial concept note drafts for feedback.

The national focal points for peatlands In Indonesia and Malaysia, KHLK and KATS, thanked for the provision of funds to support sustainable peatland management on ground, and expressed appreciation for the training opportunity to develop integrated and high-quality concept notes. 

SUPA National Workshop in Indonesia and Malaysia

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Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA) Component 1 and Directorate of Peat Degradation Control (DPKG) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia (KLHK) held the launching of SUPA’s Pilot Site in Indonesia on 4th February 2020 in Jakarta.

During the workshop, KLHK announced that the pilot site of SUPA Component 1 in Indonesia will be located in the Aceh Province. There are 3 peat areas in Aceh namely Tripa, Singkil and Kluet. Pilot villages will be selected based on the National Medium-term Planning (RPJMN), taking into considerations criteria like status of the land (preferably land should have a clear ownership status and the limits should be clearly delineated), the willingness of local stakeholders to get involved, as well as lessons learnt from sites that have high potential for upscaling.

In the opening remarks, the Director of Peat Degradation Control SPM Budi Susanti thanked EU and BMU for the continued support to Indonesia, especially in peat management. She also hoped that SUPA can help contribute further evidence towards effective and efficient approaches in protecting and managing peatlands in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, on 12th February 2020, Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA) Component 1 and the Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division of Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources (KATS) of Malaysia organised “Workshop on Generating Pilot Experience in Malaysia” in Putrajaya.

During the workshop, participants discussed the current status and condition of peatlands and how they are managed in Malaysia; shared practical experiences on sustainable use of peatland and fire management; discussed a set of criteria for selecting the pilot site; and identified potential sites within Pahang, Selangor and Sarawak which fit to the selection criteria of the pilot site. KATS collected all the pilot site proposals and arguments, and will present them to the Jawatankuasa Induk Tanah Gambut Malaysia (National Peatland Steering Committee) for the final decision on the selected pilot site. The pilot project aspires to demonstrate how a peatland, within the landscape or peatland hydrological unit, can be restored and/or rehabilitated through sustainable peatland management options.

IFAD, together with ASEAN invest in reducing transboundary haze pollution in Southeast Asia

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Bangkok, 27 November 2019 – The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and ASEAN Secretariat have launched the Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management in Southeast Asia (MAHFSA) Programme today to reduce transboundary haze pollution and its impacts in Southeast Asia.

It is estimated that haze pollution affects the health of 50 million people in the region. IFAD is granting US$ 3.5 million to ASEAN towards financing the programme. The ASEAN Secretariat, the Center for International Forestry Research, and the Global Environment Centre will jointly implement the regional programme. The programme is a follow-up to the GEF4-IFAD ASEAN Peatland Forests Project 2009-2014, and aims to support ASEAN Member States to achieve the goals of the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy, the key targets of the ASEAN Programme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems, and support the implementation of the ASEAN Haze-Free Roadmap.

In close collaboration with ASEAN Member States, the programme aims to assist and facilitate the collection and analysis of land management and haze-related information to predict, monitor and prevent fires and haze. It will also strengthen the ASEAN regional coordination mechanisms for advancing sustainable land management, haze prevention policies, programmes, and projects, through the establishment of a regional multi-stakeholder platform, and mobilise increased flow of financial and human resources for haze-free programmes and projects.

“The Programme is critical to advancing sustainable land management, and haze prevention policies in the region,” said Fabrizio Bresciani, IFAD Regional Economist, Asia and Pacific. “Among other things, it seeks to develop an estimated US$1.5 billion investment programme that prioritizes national and regional actions on haze elimination and sustainable peatland management,” he added.

In his remarks, Dr. Vong Sok, Assistant Director of Environment Division of ASEAN Secretariat, emphasised that cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement at different levels are vital to address root causes, effects and risks of haze issues, in order to move towards the prosperity of a clean and green ASEAN to promote sustainable development for the benefit of our people.

He also reiterated that with ASEAN’s theme this year: ‘Advancing Partnership for Sustainability’, the Member States have reaffirmed their commitment to address transboundary haze issues through closer cooperation and collaboration.

EU to support sustainable use of peatland and haze mitigation in ASEAN

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JAKARTA, 15 November 2019 – To support ASEAN’s endeavours in combating transboundary haze pollution and peatland fires, the European Union (EU) launched the civil society component of the EUR 24 million programme to support Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA). The overall programme is funded with EUR 20 million contributions from the EU and EUR 4 million from the German Government.

This new initiative supports the objectives of the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy through collective actions and enhanced cooperation that improves sustainable peatland management, mitigates the impacts of climate change, manages the risk of wild fires and reduces trans-boundary regional haze. The initiative also supports and sustains local livelihoods while contributing to global environmental management.

The programme is also critical in tackling the root causes of peatland fires in mitigating the impacts of climate change, especially in the wake of recent peatland and forest fires in the region in 2019, with a total of 857,755 hectares burned, an increase from the 529,266 hectares that burned in 2018 and on top of the 2.6 million hectares burned in 2015[1].

The EU’s support to ASEAN’s sustainable peatland management is composed of two mutually reinforcing main components, namely governmental approach and non-state actor approach. The governmental approach is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) while the non-state actor approach is implemented by World Resources Institute Indonesia in collaboration with Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre Malaysia and the IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative. The two components will work collaboratively to support ASEAN in addressing the root causes of forest fires.

The EU Ambassador to ASEAN Igor Driesmans hopes that this new programme will encourage the ASEAN region to become more resilient and proactive in sustainable peatland management. Although much has been achieved since 2015, to fully realise the ASEAN Transboundary Haze Agreement, efforts to mitigate peatland fires and curb the adverse impacts of climate change requires sustained attention.

The Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi highlighted that the spirit of ASEAN cooperation in addressing regional and transboundary issues remains strong and it is augmented through this year’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme: ‘Advancing Partnership for Sustainability’. ASEAN cooperation and its mechanisms will continue to complement and add-value to the ASEAN Member States’ priorities in many fronts, while simultaneously contributing to the implementation of the UN SDGs.

Further, Dato Lim mentioned that together with the ASEAN-EU High-Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate Change held earlier this month in Bangkok, and the project on Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas in ASEAN, SUPA programme is another opportunity provided by the ASEAN-EU cooperation framework which will act as foundation of knowledge to help ASEAN Member States and relevant institutions in achieving enhanced capacity and regional coordination in sustainable management of forest and peatlands.

Ambassador Driesmans also pointed out that the SUPA Programme marks a significant milestone for the EU and ASEAN, as this is the first regional cooperation under the EU-ASEAN Multi-annual Indicative Programme in the area of climate change. This showcases that both regions are committed to tackle the root causes of peatland fires and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change. In addition, he highlighted that the programme contributes to the EU’s commitment to address global environmental issues, in particular to support mitigation of carbon emissions from carbon-rich peatland areas, as well as conservation of the unique biodiversity of peatland ecosystems.

[1] http://sipongi.menlhk.go.id/pdf/luas_kebakaran

ASEAN and Global Green Growth Institute explore collaboration

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JAKARTA, 12 April 2016 – Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Le Luong Minh, welcomed the President of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and former President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, yesterday at the ASEAN Secretariat to discuss potential collaboration on green growth.  Currently, five ASEAN Member States are members of GGGI: Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam.

 Dr. Yudhoyono highlighted the need to work collaboratively to ensure that green growth concept be adopted by all countries, especially by the emerging and developing economies. He updated on the progress of GGGI’s work and projects with governments, including a number of ASEAN Member States and international organisations. He reiterated the need to support countries in fulfilling their targets to curb the greenhouse gas emission, as pledged in their respective Intended Nationally Determined Contributions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.  He proposed four core areas which could serve as cooperation with ASEAN, i.e. energy, green city development, land use and water conservation.

With Southeast Asia being one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change impacts, Secretary-General Minh emphasized that addressing climate change and promoting low carbon development is one of the priorities of ASEAN. He also shared on ASEAN’s efforts in addressing climate change, such as through promoting sustainable peatland management to reduce greenhouse gas emission from peatland fires, and implementing the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. Secretary-General Minh also highlighted that ASEAN, while being rich in biodiversity but remained vulnerable to habitat and biodiversity loss due to climate change, places high importance on biodiversity conservation, as reflected in the establishment of a dedicated centre for biodiversity based in Los Banos, Philippines. He recognized that there are synergies and mutually-enforcing action-plans between ASEAN Vision 2025 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Both sides agreed that there is a convergence of interests and opportunities for collaboration, and hoped to enhance broader and deeper cooperation. Dr. Yudhoyono also encouraged ASEAN to continue to be in the driving seat in addressing global issues, and that the collaboration between ASEAN and the GGGI can be a showcasefor other potential partners to follow suit.

Indonesia Deposits Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution

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JAKARTA, 20 January 2015 – H.E. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, the Director General for ASEAN Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, today deposited Indonesia’s Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution with H.E. Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of ASEAN.

Ambassador Puja conveyed his Government’s appreciation to the ASEAN Secretariat and the other ASEAN Member States (AMS) for the support and encouragement extended to Indonesia in concluding the ratification process. He informed SG Minh that the ratification of the Agreement was approved by Indonesia’s Parliament through Law No. 26 Year 2014.

SG Minh congratulated Indonesia for the ratification and commended the country for its efforts and commitment to working collectively with other AMS to address the transboundary haze pollution issues under the framework of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

The Governments of the ten ASEAN Member Countries signed the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) on 10 June 2002 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and it entered into force on 25 November 2003. The Agreement is the first regional arrangement in the world that binds a group of contiguous states to tackle transboundary haze pollution resulting from land and forest fires. It has also been considered as a global role model for the tackling of transboundary issues. With Indonesia’s ratification, the Agreement has now been ratified by all ASEAN Member States.

ASEAN Secretariat and IFAD Ink Deal to Promote Sustainable Development of Peatlands and Address Transboundary Smoke Haze Pollution

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A Project Grant Agreement to implement the “Rehabilitation and Sustainable Use of Peatland Forests in Southeast Asia” project was recently signed by the ASEAN Secretariat and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Agreement was signed by Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN and Mr Lennart Båge, President of IFAD.

The four-year project received a grant of US$4.3 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and will mobilise an additional US$10.2 million in co-financing during the implementation phase. IFAD has been designated as the implementing agency for GEF while the ASEAN Secretariat will coordinate the execution of the project in ASEAN Member States.

Dr Surin expressed his appreciation to GEF and IFAD for their support to this project. He noted that “the project will help to address the major transboundary environmental problem – smoke haze pollution – facing the ASEAN region.”

He added, “More importantly, this project will also contribute towards addressing the global climate change crisis. More and more international partners have recognised the value and mutual benefits of working with ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat and capitalising on its robust intergovernmental framework for programme design, implementation and monitoring. This GEF/IFAD project is another demonstration of this confidence in ASEAN.”

ASEAN has more than 30 million hectares of peatlands comprising 60% of global tropical peatland resource. Peatlands are primarily water-logged areas containing centuries-old decayed vegetative matter up to several metres deep. While being significantly important for development, livelihood, environment and biodiversity, unsustainable practices and adverse climate conditions have severely degraded the peatlands, making them the primary source of fires and smoke haze that affects the region regularly. Degraded peatlands are also a major source of greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. ASEAN, through the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution adopted in 2002, is undertaking a concerted effort to address forest and land fires in fire prone areas such as the peatlands.

This project takes a holistic approach to promote sustainable management of peatlands, sustain local livelihoods, reduce risk of fire and associated smoke haze, and contribute to global environmental efforts particularly biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. It consists of both national activities undertaken in participating countries with major peatland areas, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Viet Nam and regional activities involving all ASEAN States to share best practices, technology and experience. On-the-ground activities will be undertaken at several identified peatland areas together with the local governments, private sector and local community.