Reviewing the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy

On 13 March 2020, the Yayasan Gambut expert team and Global Environment Centre took part in a focus group discussion on reviewing the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Participants included representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Peatland Restoration Agency, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, Wetlands International and several departments within the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

The APMS aims to achieve sustainable peatland management in ASEAN through collective action and enhanced cooperation, supporting local livelihoods, reducing fire and haze risks, and contributing to global environmental management. It has 4 general objectives:

1. Enhance awareness and capacity on peatlands;

2. Address transboundary haze pollution and environmental degradation;

3. Promote sustainable peatland management; and 4) promote regional cooperation.

Facilitated by the ministry’s Directorate of Peatland Degradation Control, the discussion gathered stakeholder input on progress under the APMS, whose general objectives are supported by 13 focus areas and 25 operational objectives.