Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA)

Project description

Project title: Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
Co-funded by: European Union
Countries: ASEAN Member States
Lead executing agency: ASEAN Secretariat
Overall term: 2018 to 2023

Context

In the ASEAN region, peatlands cover approximately 23.6 million hectares, representing 56 per cent of global tropical peatlands. It is estimated that ASEAN peatlands store approximately 68 billion tons of carbon, i.e. 14 per cent of the global carbon stored in peatlands. In the past few decades, human interventions such as logging, slash and burn, deforestation, drainage for agriculture, and consequently increasing wildfires have turned ASEAN’s carbon-rich peatlands into gigantic carbon emitters. Annual emissions are now estimated at about 2 billion tons; approximately 5 per cent of global fossil fuel emissions. Since the late 1990’s, uncontrolled large-scale land and forest fires occurring mainly on peatlands plagued Southeast Asia. The fires caused severe transboundary smoke haze pollution affecting the health of millions of people, disrupting transport systems, led to economic losses, and strained the diplomatic relations between neighboring ASEAN countries. Globally, this situation contributed to huge releases of carbon and widespread loss of the unique and valuable peatland biodiversity and ecosystems.

Objective

The ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Member States successfully improve sustainable peatland management in ASEAN. This helps the region to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation of peatlands and mitigate the adverse impact of climate change, manage risk of wild fires and reduce transboundary haze as well as conserve and enhance biodiversity of peatlands.

Approach

SUPA/REPEAT will be implemented using a multi-level approach, engaging stakeholders at regional, national, sub-national and local levels. The implementation of component 1 is structured into three work areas: (1) Strengthening regional cooperation by strengthening ASEAN, (2) Specific support to AMS for the implementation of ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) and National Action Plan (NAPPs), and (3) Generating pilot experiences from Indonesia and Malaysia.