PEATLANDS in Southeast Asia 

Exec summary:  De-gazettement of Kuala Langat Peatland, permanent solution to forest fires in Indonesia, and threats on climate change.
Scroll down for more info

In conjunction with World Wetlands Day 2020 celebrated every 2nd February, Global Environment Centre (GEC), Selangor State Forestry Department and UPS Malaysia led 255 volunteers replant degraded area of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest with 1,200 tree saplings while promoting the importance of peatland biodiversity. Read more 
 

Indonesia President Joko Widodo quashed excuses by officials comparing the forest fire incident to other countries, denying fires in Indonesia sent haze to Malaysia and Singapore despite evidence to the contrary. 

Much of the burning in Indonesia occurred on carbon-rich peatlands, in contrast to the mineral soils of the Amazon. As a result, the fires in Indonesia unleashed at least 708 million tons of greenhouse gases — nearly double the 366 million tons churned out by the burning in the Brazilian Amazon, according to a study. Read more
 

Last year's forest fire in Indonesia suffered a whopping 1.6 million hectares of forests and peatlands burn. The World Bank estimated losses of 5.2 billion USD. Approaching the 2020 dry season, Indonesia President Joko Widodo urges permanent solution. Read more 
 

The Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management in Southeast Asia (MAHFSA) is seeking a competent programme officer to support the Environment Division of the ASEAN Secretariat on work related to haze and peatland management.  Read more 
 

Malaysians are infuriated over the news of proposed de-gazettement of Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve in Selangor. The irreplaceable forest reserve has unique mixture of lowland forest and peat swamp forest and key to mitigate climate change. 

Seven environmental and social NGOs formed a Coalition to object the proposed de-gazettement of the forest reserve.  Read more 

Listen to the podcast about an initiative by Art4HutanKita on supporting the Temuan indigenous people in protesting the proposed degazettement of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve. 

Find out what's at stake with the degazettement of this forest reserve with Leela Panikkar, the director of Treat Every Environment Special (TrEES). Listen to the podcast. 

In the four weeks up to March 1, China’s discharge of CO2 fell 200 million tonnes, or 25 per cent, compared to the same period last year, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) — equivalent to annual CO2 emissions from Argentina, Egypt or Vietnam. 

However, the pandemic is draining the market stocks of US$9 trillion in value and could costing the global economy US$2.7 trillion. This pandemic may make mitigation efforts harder as resources are needed to make climate change transformation. Read more 
 

Global Environment Centre (GEC) with technical support from Tonibung, successfully installed solar system for electricity and tubewell with filtration system for water source to 25 villagers at rural Kampung Melogo in Pahang. Read more