Grant Agreement Nr. WGP2-20 GPI 51

Agreement holder:
Chee Tong Yiew
Global Environment Centre
2^nd floor, Wisma Hing, No. 78, Jalan SS2/72
47300, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603-79572007
Fax: +603-79577003
tychee@genet.po.my

Country/region: South East Asia

Activity period: October 2002 - December 2003

Documentation and products available:

• Final report with Finance Report
• Technical outputs:

1. ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative endorsed by 10 ASEAN Governments
2. APMI Poster; APMI leaflet
3. Narathiwat Statement on Wise Use and Sustainable Management of Peatlands 2003
4. Bogor Statement on Best Management Practices for Peatlands 2003
5. Report from the APMI Meeting in Bogor 2003
6. Draft framework for regional action plan
7. List of on-going projects related to peatlands in the region
8. Directory of Peat Experts

• Web-site based outputs:

1. www.peat-portal.net
2. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sea-peat/

Background:

Peatlands in Southeast Asia are facing many problems as a result of land clearing, drainage, over harvesting and fires. Much of the previous efforts and actions towards conservation and management of peatlands in the region have been country based and stand-alone activities. While there have been several collaborative efforts, these projects or activities have usually been limited to specific countries or areas, with little dissemination or sharing of information and experience learnt from these projects with other countries in the region. As the region shares similarities in many aspects, there is considerable advantage in developing an regional initiative that promotes participation and bring the different actors together in a broader framework, in order to widen the knowledge base and opinion, increase understanding of major issues within and between different groups, facilitate exchange of important and critical information on peatland management in the region and increase coverage in action programmes through expansion of networks.

Obj. 1. Strengthen partnership and exchange between agencies and individuals working on peatland in the region

Activities:

1. Establish and further develop PEAT-PORTAL
2. Strengthen and expand the SEA-Peat Network
3. Develop information and awareness materials
4. Produce a directory of peat experts and activities in the region
5. Encourage exchange and partnership through meetings and development of joint projects
6. Additional activities

Obj. 2: Develop a regional Peatland Action through the ASEAN framework

Activities:

1. Collate existing proposals for management of peatlands
2. Organise consultations in main ASEAN countries with peatland resources (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand & Vietnam) to identify experiences and lessons learned in peatland management and future needs.
3. Develop an draft framework for the action plan
4. Organise consultative workshops and internet-based dialogues to formulate the plan
5. Finalise plan and facilitate endorsement by ASEAN governments
6. Additional activities
7. ^*Additional activities

Obj. 3: Promote the implementation of the plan through demonstration activities and capacity building in the region

1. Identify potential demonstration sites in various countries and compile information on ongoing and proposed demonstration activities.
2. Strengthen linkages and exchange between activities at different sites.
3. Undertake preliminary assessments of additional demonstration sites identified by governments or other partners.
4. Promote sustainable livelihood for community in peatland
5. Provide small grants for assessment or planning processes
6. Assist countries and agencies in identifying funding resources for peatland work
7. ^*Additional activities

All activities within objective 1 have been achieved

1. The PEAT-PORTAL developed and operating with 150 members currently, as a tool in information dissemination a clearing house for peat related news and articles. A User manual has been developed (Item 1).
2. SEA-Peat Network expanded from 200 to 353 members to date. An average of 8 messages was posted to all members monthly.
3. Peatland poster on peatland and climate change (Item 2)
4. A directory of peatland related experts compiled (Item 3)
5. The APMI Meeting in Bogor (October 2004) had brought together major peatland stakeholders in the Southeast Asia region. A list of on-going peatland related activities had been compiled and circulated to all participants (Annex 1). Development of joint project in still underway.
6. Two study tours were conducted for both the Indonesian delegates and the Vietnamese delegates in April and June 2003 respectively

Activities within objective 2 have been partially achieved.

1. Compilation of materials for production of handbook on silviculture and rehabilitation for Indonesia (Item 4)
2. Consultation to gather information and experience of countries successfully carried through an APMI meeting. All countries present submitted a country report indicating status, management and key issues related to peatlands (Annex 1). A workshop on peatland Management in Vietnam was organised with the Vietnam Environment Protection Agency & CARE in Hanoi, Sept. 2003.
3. The APMI workshop in October resulted in an agreement to develop an ASEAN Peatland Strategy. A draft framework developed (Annex 1)
4. Workshop was organised in Indonesia in October 2003 to agree on the framework for the regional strategy
5. Yet to get all stakeholder to meeting
6. The ASEAN governments endorsed the initiative (29-02-'03. The initiative was highlighted at the Ministerial level meeting by AMMH in March 2003, in Seam Reap, Cambodia.
7. Initial workplan of the APMI achieved and further refined in October 2003 for actions to be taken

Activities within objective 3 had been partially achieved.

1. Partially done. Potential sites for demonstration were identified in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Information on on-going activities was also compiled (Annex 1)
2. Linkages strengthened through project workshops and dialogues. Various stakeholders gathered during the Wise Use and Sustainable Management Seminar in Narathiwat (Annex 2) and the Best Peatland Management Practise Workshop in Bogor (Annex 3). Project leaders and coordinators from around the region attended those meetings.
3. Preliminary assessment done in U Minh Thuong National Park, Vietnam, June 2003
4. Promotion of sustainable livelihood for peatland community had been carried out through the CCFPI project
5. Not done
6. Had made attempt to assist Vietnam in sourcing money from Keindanren Nature Conservation Agency but failed
7. APMI leaflets were designed and printed for circulation (Item 5). Special APMI posters were designed and printed for presentation in the 3rd International Wildland Fire Conference and Exhibition in Sydney, October 2003 (Item 6).

The project is considered a success and met its objectives and achieved its desired outputs. The endorsement of the regional Initiative on Peatland Management (APMI) is not only a proud achievement but it has become a stepping stone to further initiate future projects and works on peatlands in the region of South-east Asia.