The Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Management of Peatlands in ASEAN Member Countries (or ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) in short) has been developed by ASEAN Member States (AMS) to guide actions to support management of peatlands in the region in the period of 2006-2020. The APMS has been prepared due to the pressing need recognised by both local and international communities for wise use and sustainable management of peatlands as well as the emerging threat of peatland fire and its associated haze to the economy and health of the region, and its possibility of contributing to global climate change. The APMS is being developed within the framework of the ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative (APMI) and the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

The strategy primarily focuses on the following four objectives:

• Enhance Awareness and Knowledge on Peatlands
• Address Transboundary Haze Pollution and Environmental Degradation
• Promote Sustainable Management of Peatlands
• Enhance and Promote Collective Regional Cooperation on Peatland Issues

The strategy sets out operational objectives that would contribute to the delivery of one or more of the areas above, which would serve as guidance to AMS and other implementing bodies and collaborating partners through specific action plans and timeframe for these actions. Considering the increasing need for networking, regional and international cooperation to address the issue of peatland fire and haze, conservation and sustainable management, and capacity building in peatland related research and management – this strategy can play a greater role to provide the formal cooperation among AMS to solve peat- related problems in the region.

Read the strategy here: ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS)

Image credit: Ryan Woo/Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)/Flickr