Date: 16-17 October 2003

Venue: Pangrango II Hotel, Jl Raya Padjajaran No. 32 Bogor, Indonesia

South East Asia has more than 25 million ha of peatland, comprising 60% of the global tropical peatland resource. These peatlands have significant importance for development, livelihood and the environment. Drainage and unsustainable management practices degrade peatlands and make them vulnerable to fire. Peatland fires are now major problems of regional and global significance that require regional action. This has negatively impacted human health, food production and biodiversity as well as contributed to global climate change.

At the 9th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Haze (AMMH), the Ministers discussed action to be taken for fire prevention and control in peatlands. As a result, the ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative (APMI) was developed with various partners and adopted by the ASOEN-Haze Technical Task Force (HTTF) in February 2003.

The goal of the APMI is to promote sustainable management of peatlands in the ASEAN region through collective actions and enhanced cooperation to support and sustain local livelihoods, reduce risk of fire and associated regional haze and contribute to global environmental management.

The APMI is a long-term initiative which will work through the existing ASEAN structure and is coordinated by the ASOEN-HTTF and ASEAN Secretariat. The Global Environment Centre (GEC) provides technical and operational support to the APMI and assists in generating resources to support for activities.

Purpose of Workshop 

The workshop is being organised to review the status of peatland management in the member countries and to elaborate various activities identified in the APMI Work Plan 2003-2005 which require further consultation among ASEAN member countries. These activities include:
• Developing a regional strategy to prevent peat fires
• Identification and monitoring of peatlands with high fire risk
• Promotion of fire prevention measures in high risk areas
• Development of awareness study tour and training programmes
• Regional exchange of peatland information


Programme 

• Presentation of country status reports
• Review of country and regional needs
• Discussion and elaboration of issues in the Work Plan 2003-2005
• Agreement on framework for regional strategy and need for country action plans
• Establish procedures for information sharing and technical exchanges

Organisers 

Ministry of Environment of Indonesia, ASEAN Secretariat, and Global Environment Centre

Sponsors 

Wetlands International Indonesia, Climate Change Forests and Peatlands in Indonesia (CCFPI) project, Global Peatland Initiative (GPI), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Participation 

Participation is for all National Focal Points of ASOEN-HTTF together with other invited participants.
Observers are welcome but subject to approval of application by organisers.