Ha Noi (VNA)- Trans-national programmes of action on sustainable management of peat, a major cause to wildfires in Southeast Asia, was high on the agenda of a four-day ASEAN meeting on cross-border smoke control, which opened in Ha Noi on May 11.

The Secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said the meeting also focussed on measures to raise public awareness of the ASEAN treaty on cross-border smoke pullution and encourage regional countries to share experiences in effectively implementing the treaty.

The meeting also mulled a proposal for cooperation for simpler immigration and customs procedures in an effort to mitigate effects of the problem.

The event aims to boost regional cooperation in the surveilliance, forecast, exchange of experiences and coordination of action to control smoke pollution, said the ASEAN Secretariat.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Hua Duc Nhi said that the population explosion, negative human action and climate change have over the past two decades caused the spread of wildfires and smoke across Asia. He described slash-and-burn farming and droughts as having caused countless harm to ASEAN economies and societies, especially since 1991.

In this context, the ASEAN treaty on cross-border smoke pollution came out on November 25, 2003, said Nhi.

On the sideline of the meeting there will be an exhibition on innovations and measures against forest fires and cross-border smoke pollution.--Enditem