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ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands (ATFP)

ATFP
Left: Aerial view of the different vegetation zones of the Caimpugan Peat Swamp Forest in Agusan del Sur, the only known remaining intact peat swamp forest in the Philippines [PASu Office of Agusan Marsh WS DENR Caraga]; Right: Aerial view showing the "black water" of Nalukaban Marsh, a wetland with 88 hectares of suspected peatland found in Pambujan, Northern Samar. [Dennis Arino, DENR CENRO Pambujan]

The ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) provided the context for the creation of the ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands. Under the AATHP's Conference of Parties (COP), the Committee (COM) was established to assist the COP in the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. The ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands was established to assist the AATHP COM in monitoring and supporting the implementation of the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) 2016-2020. Its main role is to realize the objectives of the APMS through oversight of the design and implementation as well as monitoring of the ASEAN Programme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems (2014-2020) and other relevant programs/projects, facilitate cooperation with relevant partners and report the progress of the implementation of the APMS to COM of AATHP. The COM meets prior to the AATHP COP meetings. The AATHP COP and COM meet back-to-back at least once a year.
 
Focal Office:
Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB)
Date:
Established September 23, 2013
Focal Persons:
FOR. RICARDO L. CALDERON
OIC-Assistant Secretary for Staff Bureaus and Director, DENR-BMB
Tel. Nos. (632) 924 6031 to 35 local 222, 925 8952 to 53

Contact Person
SUPT. DENNIS A. MOLO
Chief Fire Suppression Operations Division, Bureau of Fire Protection Department of Interior and Local Government
Tel. No. (632) 376 0117

Contact Person
MS. JOY M. NAVARRO
OIC-Chief, Special Ecosystems Standards Section, Caves, Wetlands and Other Ecosystems Division, DENR-BMB
Tel. No. (632) 924 6031 to 35 locals 228, (632) 925 8950, 925 8950-51

Alternate
MS. ZOISANE GEAM G. LUMBRES
Ecosystems Management Specialist - II, Caves, Wetlands and Other Ecosystems Division, DENR-BMB
Tel. No. (632) 925 895, 925 8951
Commitments:
ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) 2006-2020 - The APMS was endorsed by the ASEAN Environment Ministers in 2006 and updated in 2013 to guide actions to support management of peatlands in the region in the period of 2006 to 2020 due to the pressing need for wise use and sustainable management of peatlands as well as the emerging threat of peatland fire and associated haze to the economy and health of the region, and its possibility of contributing to global climate change. The APMS was 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
ASEAN Programme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems (2014-2020) - In September 2013, the ASEAN Environment Ministers endorsed the development of the ASEAN Programme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystem (APSMPE) 2014-2020. APSMPE supports collaboration among various stakeholders to achieve the goal of the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy 2006-2020 (APMS) as listed above.
Sources / Relevant Links:
http://www.aseanpeat.net/index.cfm?&menuid=158 http://www.aseanpeat.net/
http://haze.asean.org/asean-peatland-management-strategy-apms-2/
http://haze.asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/APSMPE-flyer-1.pdf https://environment.asean.org/media-release-14th-meeting-of-the-conference-of-the-parties-to-the-asean-agreement-asean-agreement-on-transboundary-haze-pollution/ http://www.aseanpeat.net/index.cfm?&menuid=282&parentid=279
Status / Updates:
The 20th Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution (20th MSC) was held on 1 June 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand, and attended by Ministers/representatives responsible for the environment, for land, forest fires and haze, from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, and the Secretary-General of ASEAN.
The Ministers noted the significant progress of the implementation of the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS 2006-2020) through the ASEAN Programme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems (APSMPE 2014-2020) and expressed appreciation for the support from ASEAN dialogue and development partners.
14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
5 October 2018; Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
The Ministers responsible for the environment, for land, forest fires and haze from ASEAN Member States (AMS) noted with satisfaction the significant progress of the implementation of the APMS 2006-2020 through the APSMPE 2014-2020 and expressed appreciation for the support from ASEAN dialogue and development partners. The Ministers recalled the Financing Agreement for the ASEAN-EU Programme on Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA) which was signed on 27 December 2016 with an indicative budget of EUR 24.5 million for the duration of 60 months, and looked forward to the programme implementation in 2018. The Ministers also looked forward to the finalization and signing of the Large Grant Agreement of the Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management in Southeast Asia (MAHFSA), a programme supported by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), amounting to USD 3.5 million for a duration of 60 months. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to coordinate the implementation of programmes/projects under APSMPE 2014-2020 through ASEAN mechanisms, enhanced national level efforts and multistakeholder partnership. The Ministers also supported the second review of APMS to be undertaken by the ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands.
3rd Meeting of the ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands
4 October 2018; Brunei Darussalam
Regional initiatives to support the APSME 2014-2020 potential cooperation with dialogue or development partners, and review of the implementation of the APMS were among matters discussed at the 3rd Meeting of the ATFP. The update on the Roadmap on ASEAN Cooperation towards Transboundary Haze Pollution Control with Means of Implementation was also discussed.
7th Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution in the Mekong Sub-Region (7th MSC Mekong) 29 August 2018; Danang City, Vietnam
The Ministers supported the upcoming second review of APMS 2016-2020 to ensure that initiatives remain consistent with the overall goal and general objectives of the Strategy and are responsive to emerging issues and priorities.
Workshop on Implementing the ASEAN Guidelines on Peatland Fire Management
A Train-the-Trainer Workshop for implementing the ASEAN Guidelines on Peatland Fire Management was held on 30 May-1 June 2016 in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The workshop trained the participants to be national trainers to promote the endorsed ASEAN Guidelines on Peatland Fire Management in respective AMS. It also provided a platform for the participants to share their existing practices on peat forest and land fire management measures implemented in the respective country through country case studies.
Related projects are: (1) Financing Agreement for the ASEAN-EU Programme on Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA) Component 1 which was signed on 27 December 2016 with an indicative budget of EUR 24.5 million for the duration of 60 months. Programme implementation began in 2018; (2) Large Grant Agreement of the Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management in Southeast Asia (MAHFSA), a programme supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), amounting to USD 3.5 million for a duration of 60 months. The MAHFSA Large Agreement (LGA) has been countersigned by H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN on behalf of ASEAN on 26 February 2019; and H.E. Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on 29 April 2019.
Latest Activities:
- 4th Meeting of the ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands (ATFP4) and ASEAN-EU Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA) Inception Workshop, 13-16 February 2019; Yangon, Myanmar - Ms. Josephine Araojo (DENR Reg. 13) and Superintendent Dennis A. Molo (DILG-BFP)
- 3rd Meeting of the ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands (ATFP3), 10-11 April 2018; Brunei Darussalam - Ms. Joy Navarro (BMB)
- 2nd Meeting of the ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands (ATFP2) and the Regional Peatland Governance Workshop on the Implementation of ASEAN Programme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems (APMSPE) 2014-2020, 13-15 February 2017; Putrajaya, Malaysia - Ms. Carmen Castelo (DILG-BFP), Ms. Joy Navarro, Ms. Zoisane Geam Lumbres (BMB)
Next Steps:
- Creation of policy/guidelines for the sustainable development planning and management of peatland in the country
- Preparation of concept note or proposal to SUPA Component 1 for possible technical assistance on peatland management particularly on peatland assessment and capacity building of DENR personnel
- Review and updating of the National Action Plan for Sustainable Use and Protection for Philippine Peatlands in line with the conclusion of APMS 2016-2020 and updating into APMS 2020-2030
- Creation of an inter-agency technical working group that will assist in the monitoring and evaluation and the implementation of the National Action Plan on Peatlands (NAPP) as well as to recommend appropriate and sustainable use strategies in its effective implementation. The said working group will also assist in reviewing and updating of Philippines' NAPP and oversee implementation of incoming peatland related projects.
This Page was updated on 26 December 2019 and will be updated on 10 December 2020