Transboundary Haze Pollution
During the dry season between July and October 2002, there was significant increase in the number of hotspots in fire-prone areas of the region, which resulted in periodic occurrences of moderate to thick haze. As of the end of February 2003, the Singapore-based ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre reported that current predictions anticipate the El Niño to weaken gradually and weather conditions to return to normal by June 2003. While there is a low chance for the occurrence of a prolonged widespread smoke haze episode, there may be occasional increase in fires and hotspots that may cause moderate smoke haze during the dry season between July and October 2003 in Sumatra and Borneo.
The ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution was signed by all ASEAN Member Countries in June 2002. At the 10th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Haze, held in Siem Reap on 4 March 2003, the Ministers agreed to work towards ensuring that the Agreement enters into force by June 2003 after the deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. The Ministers also resolved to remain vigilant and agreed to further enhance long-term preventive measures to tackle transboundary haze pollution. The Agreement contains provisions on monitoring, assessment and prevention, technical co-operation and scientific research, mechanisms for coordination, lines of communication, and simplified customs and immigration procedures for disaster relief. The Agreement provides for the establishment of an ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control.
Pending the entry into force of the Agreement, interim arrangements have been put in place to implement the provisions of the Agreement, including institutional mechanisms using existing institutions and resources. A sub-regional Standard Operating Procedure has been developed to further enhance regional preparedness for coordination, communication and disaster relief. A table-top exercise will be conducted in Indonesia to test and refine the SOP. The actual simulation exercise is scheduled to be held during the dry season i.e. July/August 2003. An inventory is also being done to determine resources available in member countries that could be shared in situations where such need arises.
Cooperation has been intensified in the implementation of the three key components of the Regional Haze Action Plan (RHAP) - prevention, monitoring, and mitigation. Immediate Action Plans, designed to help the local authorities and communities in developing and implementing fire suppression mobilization plans are being implemented. Sub-regional firefighting arrangements (SRFAs) for Sumatra and Borneo (comprising Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) have been particularly active. Development of SRFAs for other regions of ASEAN are being planned.
ASEAN continued to convene dialogue sessions with plantation companies and timber concessionaires to promote the zero-burn policy that the Environment Ministers adopted in 1999. ASEAN has developed and published the guidelines for implementing the zero burn policy based on best practices on zero burning techniques. Member countries have been encouraged to use the guidelines based on national circumstances and wherever applicable. The Environment Ministers also recognized the need for guidelines on controlled burning, where zero-burn techniques could not be practiced, especially by smallholders, farmers and shifting cultivators. The controlled-burning guidelines are currently being developed.
The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre continues to play a leading role in long-range climate forecasting, early warning activities, and detection and monitoring of fires and haze in the region. The ASEAN Secretariat’s RHAP-Coordination and Support Unit continuously monitors the haze situation and related reports on a regular basis and publicizes the information through its website, the ASEAN Haze Action Online (www.haze-online.or.id).
A training course for investigators and prosecutors of ASEAN member countries was conducted on 30 July to 2 August 2002 in Malaysia with funding from the GEF through UNEP. This training course aimed to provide knowledge and skills on effective enforcement against open burning, and procedures for investigation and prosecution.
A Geographic Information System database for Sumatra, Kalimantan and Malaysia has been developed with funding from the GEF through UNEP. The development of the database strengthens the capacity of member countries in using spatial data layers for land and forest fire prevention, planning, early warning, monitoring and assessment.
The ASEAN Secretariat, in collaboration with USDA Forest Service and IUCN-WWF Project Firefight Southeast Asia, is now developing a concept for a regional information clearinghouse that will consist of a database of fire-and haze activities in Southeast Asia; an inventory of publications and reports on fire and haze produced; and a facility to support information exchange and networking among individuals and agencies working on fire and haze issues in Southeast Asia.
The Environment Ministers recognized the need to take concerted preventive actions on fire prone areas such as peatlands. For this purpose, an ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative has been developed in collaboration with the Global Environment Centre to enhance cooperation among ASEAN member countries, build capacity, share best practices on peatland management, and develop a regional strategy to sustainably manage peatlands, including reducing the incidences of peatland fires.
A feasibility study is being conducted for the establishment and operationalization of an ASEAN Emergency Response and Strategic Response Institute for Environmental Disasters. The study which is funded by Japan aims to strengthen further member countries’ capability and collective action to address environmental disasters in the region including forest fires and transboundary haze pollution
Nature Conservation and Biodiversity
The ASEAN Regional Center for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC), an ASEAN flagship project supported by the EU, continued to implement projects on strengthening biodiversity conservation, through institutional networking, research, database and information management, and training and technical assistance. A mid-term review of the activities of the Center provided a positive assessment of the implementation and relevance of the activities undertaken so far, and recommended, among others, an emphasis on policy-relevant work in the future. A sustainability mission to draw up a sustainability plan and future work programme for the Center, and an identification and appraisal mission for continued EU support is currently being undertaken.
A Study Tour to Europe by the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment was undertaken to enable ASEAN policy makers to make direct contact and exchange information on the European Union’s experience in the development and use of common policies to address biodiversity conservation and other environmental issues at the regional level.
ARCBC continued to facilitate training in four thematic areas: (i) taxonomy/para-taxonomy, (ii) biodiversity assessment and management, (iii) biodiversity awareness, and (iv) information management. Two training courses on Taxonomy were conducted in Bogor, Indonesia, one on Invertebrate Taxonomy and the other on Plant Taxonomy. Ten outstanding participants from the training course earned scholarships to study for a Masters Degree at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.
A Workshop on Identification of Standards for Protected Area Occupations in ASEAN produced a set of draft occupational standards for generic protected area management occupations based on the collective experience of ASEAN countries.
ARCBC has published “100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Species” to celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity. A Guidebook of Biodiversity Principles for Developers and Planners, Marine Protected Areas and an Illustrated Map of Protected Areas are among the most recent materials published by ARCBC. The ARCBC website, www.arcbc.org.ph, continues to feature metadatabase and web-based information sharing system (BISS or Biodiversity Information Sharing System).
Fifty-three research projects have been granted funding, three of which have been completed. The projects cover Biodiversity Uses and Values, Taxonomy and Systematics, and Ecological Restoration. All research projects are expected to end by December 2003 and an ASEAN Research Conference will be organized to share the results of the research grant programme.
ASEAN continued to implement the 5-year project Restoration of Degraded Forest Ecosystem in the Southeast Asia Tropical Region, which started in July 2000, with funding from the Republic of Korea. Major activities undertaken include research, training, and masters level education.
ASEAN further intensified collaboration on biosafety. As a follow-up to the two workshops held in 2000 and 2001, ASEAN organized a workshop, in collaboration with the United Nations University, which examined the implications of developments in biotechnology, the Biosafety Protocol, and international trade.
Integrated Water Resources Management
ASEAN has established a Working Group on Water Resources Management to undertake the following activities: (i) promote networking, collaboration, and coordination of programs towards the practical implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM); (ii) promote and facilitate the exchange of relevant information, expertise, technology and know-how among water resource agencies of AMCs for more effective and efficient water management; and (iii) provide or make arrangements for relevant training, education and awareness-raising campaigns towards the effective and efficient implementation of integrated water resources management.
The Working Group has drawn up a Long Term Strategic Plan for Water Resources Management as a guide for developing and implementing a regional framework on integrated water resources management and for national level implementation based on member country’s economic and social realities.
Coastal and Marine Environment
ASEAN has adopted the Marine Water Quality Criteria for the ASEAN Region, the ASEAN Criteria for National Marine Protected Areas, and the ASEAN Criteria for Marine Heritage Areas. The Marine Water Quality Criteria sets values for an initial set of 17 parameters for the protection of aquatic life and human health, while the Criteria for National Marine Protected Areas and ASEAN Marine Heritage Areas contains criteria for designation and management of existing and new protected areas. These Criteria would ensure concerted national level action to protect the shared marine waters of ASEAN.
ASEAN has established an information exchange mechanism among the member countries on seven subject areas: coral reef, sea grass and mangroves; tanker sludge and ballast water; solid, liquid and hazardous waste management; coastal erosion; eco-tourism; and coastal wetlands, including protected marine areas; and clean technology. Additional information on ASEAN cooperation on coastal and marine environment can be found at http://www.aseansec.org/14541.htm.
Global Environmental Issues
ASEAN continued to promote common points of understanding in the negotiations and meetings of the various multilateral environmental agreements, including seeking opportunities for selection of candidates from member countries in the bodies established under these Agreements.
ASEAN is collaborating with the United Nations University and the United Nations Environment Program in promoting synergies and inter-linkages in the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). An ASEAN case study on the implementation of MEAs have been completed which looks at the institutional and legal frameworks, information management, monitoring and reporting requirements, capacity and funding constraints, public awareness and education. Considering the limited resources available to deal with the ever-increasing MEAs, ASEAN is exploring capacity development based on cross-cutting functional areas such as information management, institutional and regulatory frameworks, and funding and resource requirements.
Other Environmental Activities
ASEAN conducted a mid-term review of the implementation of the ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan 2000-2005, in collaboration with the government of Viet Nam, Hanns Seidel Foundation and UNEP. Most of the member countries have made significant progress in the four target areas, namely (a) formal education, (b) non-formal education, (c) manpower capacity building, and (d) networking/ collaboration/ communication. An interactive electronic database of environmental education resources has been set up. The database provides comprehensive information on environmental education resources, including formal and non-formal education, institutions, and people involved in the region. The database facilitates sharing of information and resources among ASEAN member countries and other collaborative partners.
The year 2003 has been designated as the ASEAN Environment Year (AEY) with the theme: “Together Towards Sustainable Development.” The event was officially launched by the Rt. Honorable Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, within the Angkor Wat Temple complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The AEY celebrations are held once every three years to showcase ASEAN’s achievements in, and commitments to environmental protection, and to promote public awareness of environmental issues in general. The previous AEY celebration was launched by Brunei Darussalam in 2000. To commemorate the ASEAN Environment Year, activities such as youth camps, tree-planting exercises, debates, conferences and exhibitions will be held in each member country. A publication entitled “ASEAN Marine Protected Areas” and an illustrated Map of the Protected Areas of ASEAN, published by the ASEAN Regional Center on Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC) has been launched.
ASEAN is currently conducting a feasibility study to establish a Center/Network for environmentally sound technologies (EST) in ASEAN. A review of all relevant EST activities and initiatives of government agencies, universities and other relevant national/ regional institutions in the region is being carried out to explore the best option for the establishment of this Center.
ASEAN actively contributed to the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 26 August - 4 September 2002 and the preparatory process leading to the Summit. The ASEAN Ministers at their 7th Informal Meeting in Lao PDR discussed the follow-up activities pertaining to the implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and agreed to further intensify cooperation in the ten priority areas, namely (i) global environmental issues; (ii) land and forest fires and transboundary haze pollution; (iii) coastal and marine environment; (iv) sustainable forest management; (v) sustainable management of natural parks and protected areas; (vi) fresh water resources; (vii) public awareness and environmental education; (viii) promotion of environmentally-sound technologies and cleaner production; (ix) urban environmental management and governance; (x) sustainable development, monitoring and reporting/ database harmonization. The Ministers also agreed that each member country would take a lead in implementing programs/ activities in a particular area of interest to them, in order to further enhance regional cooperation. In this respect, the Ministers supported Singapore’s offer to play a lead role in spearheading regional programmes on urban environment management and governance, particularly on sustainable cities.
Environment Ministers from ASEAN member countries and China, Japan and Republic of Korea had their inaugural meeting in November 2002 in the context of ASEAN+3 Cooperation. The Ministers exchanged views on environmental initiatives at the national and regional level, and agreed to foster closer collaboration in the ten priority areas identified above.
