The objective of this case study, Gambut: ASEAN peatland forests project Malaysia component special publication, is to highlight the successes of the Malaysia Component of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) Peatland Forests Project (APFP). These successes, which are documented briefly in the following pages, have been brought about by the tremendous effort that has been put in by all of the project partners involved in the project since it first began in 2010. The various project partners include the various Government agencies, NGOs, private sector, as well as the local communities living around the APFP pilot site in Selangor. Special mention must also be given to the Selandgor State Government and our corporate partners, who have generously committed substantial resources towards the co-funding of the project.

The ASEAN Peatland Forests Project (APFP) entitled “Rehabilitation and Sustainable Use of Peatland Forests in South-East Asia” is a four (4) year project that aims to demonstrate, implement and scale up integrated management of peatlands in Southeast Asia.

Launched in 2009, the project’s overall objective is to promote sustainable management of peatlands in Southeast Asia in order to sustain local livelihoods by reducing poverty, reducing the risk of fire and associated haze, and contributing to global environmental management, particularly biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

The global environmental objectives are to reduce the rate of degradation of peat swamp forests and support their rehabilitation to maintain biodiversity, carbon storage and climate regulation functions.

The APFP consists of five (5) components, i.e. a Regional Component that focuses on developing a strong framework for partnership between all ASEAN member countries; as well as four (4) Country Components for Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Viet Nam.

The objective of Malaysia Component of the APFP is to promote sustainable management and rehabilitation of peatlands in Malaysia through capacity building, improved inter-sectoral management and demonstration of best management practices at a selected pilot site. The component continues from previous projects carried out in the country which used a multi-stakeholder approach to address the main issues pertaining to peatland management.

Read the publication here: Gambut: ASEAN peatland forests project Malaysia component special publication