ASEAN Haze and Peatland Programmes

The ASEAN Programme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems (APSMPE 2014-2020) was endorsed by the Ninth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to AATHP (COP-9) held on 23 September 2013 in Surabaya, Indonesia, to support collaboration among various stakeholders (including government, private sector, communities and civil society) in the ASEAN region to achieve the goal of the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy 2006-2020 (APMS), namely: to promote sustainable management of peatlands in the ASEAN region through collective actions and enhanced cooperation, support and sustain local livelihoods, reduce risk of fire and associated haze and contribute to global environmental management.

Six (6) key targets for the APSMPE are as follows:

  1. All peatland areas in ASEAN identified and inventorised;
  2. Zero-burning uniformly practiced and controlled-burning only in exceptional cases to prevent any uncontrolled wildfires on peatlands, and eliminated any widespread smoke haze;
  3. Fire prone sites rehabilitated by focusing on root causes of fire;
  4. Peatlands sustainably managed, sustainable livelihoods enhanced, and sustainable economic use mainstreamed;
  5. Peatlands conserved to contribute to significantly reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and increased peatland biodiversity in the region; and,
  6. APMS and National Action Plan on Peatlands (NAPs) implemented; national and regional capacity enhanced.

Since the endorsement of the APSMPE, a number of actions have been taken to further implement the APMS. At regional level, several ongoing projects and programmes are being implemented collaboratively with various partners and stakeholders to achieve the sustainable management of haze and peatlands.

MAHFSA
SUPA
  • Component 1 Work Area 1
  • Component 1 Work Area 2
  • Component 1 Work Area 3
  • Component 2
Mekong Peatland
Past Programmes
  • APFP
  • SEApeat
MAHFSA outcomes:
  1. Strengthened capacity of ASEAN to use information and results management systems for sustainable land and haze management;
  2. Improved availability and usage of knowledge products on peatland and haze management; and
  3. Enhanced ASEAN regional multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms and partnerships related to sustainable land and haze management.
Work area 1 supports ASEAN and Member States to gradually implement policies, such as the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, the ASEAN Programme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems, the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) and National Action Plan for Peatlands (NAPPs) at local, national and regional level, through strengthening  capacity development and identification of peatland areas in ASEAN.
Work Area 2 supports state actors in ASEAN member states in implementing the APMS at the national level through projects funded on the basis of a restricted call for proposals.
Pilot site Aceh, Indonesia: will cover 3 Peatland Hydrological Units (PHU) across 2 districts Nagan Raya and Aceh Barat and working together with at least 10 villages directly in the implementation of sustainable peatland management practices.
Pilot site for Malaysia is in Pekan Forest Reserve, Pahang.
Aims to sustainably manage peatland ecosystems in targeted countries and to conserve biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by:
  • assessing and documenting peatland ecosystems in the three countries;
  • strengthening institutional capacity and enabling policy and legal frameworks for sustainable peatland management at local, national and sub-regional levels;
  • demonstrating sustainable peatland management practices that conserve biodiversity, reduce GHG emissions and strengthen sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

APFP (July 2009-December 2014)

Focus on:
  • Strengthening institutional capacity and framework;
  • Reducing the rate of degradation on peatlands in Southeast Asia;
  • Demonstrating integrated management and rehabilitation of peatlands at target sites; and
  • Engaging the private sector and local communities in sustainable peatland management.

SEApeat (December 2010-June 2015)

Main Implementation Activities:
  • Capacity building for peat forest assessments and support implementation of NAPs;
  • Testing/demonstration of incentives mechanisms that have reduced peatland forest degradation;
  • Establish a system to predict peat fire and monitor degradation in fire prone peatland forests and pilot activities to reduce these fires;
  • Plan guidance for climate change funding mechanism for reduction of peatland deforestation and degradation; and
  • Collate, develop, and disseminate guidelines for integrated planning for sustainable peatland management including buffer zone and catchment protection, community livelihood options and for responsible management of existing oil palm and forest plantation on peatlands.