Forestry and climate change

Context

While the economy of South-East Asia has been experiencing a period of rapid growth, not all segments of the its population are benefiting from this development. Natural resources such as forests, soil and agricultural land throughout the region are suffering from both overexploitation and the effects of climate change. Should South-East Asia fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and better prepare itself to deal with the increasing impacts of climate change, this trend will threaten the livelihoods of its population, especially the rural poor. Women, as one of the more vulnerable groups within society are particularly at risk.

As part of their vision for a common market, the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) aim to promote sustainable and climate-conscious agriculture and forestry. However, the ASEAN Member States, and the organisation’s institutions and specialised bodies, lack the technical and administrative capacities needed to ensure efficient cooperation among the member states, and to achieve a common position on this topic. This has impeded joint efforts to develop competitive agriculture and forestry sectors that are resilient to the effects of climate change.

Objective

ASEAN has improved the cooperation and joint positioning of its member states on key climate change issues in the areas of agriculture and forestry.

Approach

This regional project supports the ASEAN Member States and specialised bodies in improving the regional and national frameworks for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade). Another focus area addressed by the project involves assisting ASEAN and its member states in disseminating examples of agricultural practices that have proven to be more resilient to the effects of climate change throughout the region. In addition, the project has also provided support for establishing the ASEAN Climate Resilience Network. This cooperative network aims to facilitate the creation of agricultural and forestry value chains that will remain competitive as well as sustainable in the face of the impacts of climate change.

Project staff provide advisory services to the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN specialised bodies and, in cooperation with other German programmes, also advise partner institutions in Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Viet Nam.

Results achieved so far

Support from the project has contributed to enhancing the awareness and capacities of decision-makers in ASEAN for addressing relevant issues. ASEAN has developed a common vision and strategy for the agricultural, food and forestry sectors that takes account of sustainable agriculture and forestry as well as climate change mitigation. In addition, numerous ASEAN guidelines have been formulated and adopted, including those related to climate-conscious agricultural practices, climate risk insurance for agriculture, and the legality of forest products.

Work carried out by the project has led to greater cooperation among the ASEAN Member States. Through the processes of the international climate convention they have achieved common positions regarding climate change adaptation within agriculture and REDD+, and have issued relevant position papers and joint statements.