Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA)
Enhancing the capacity among the Non-State Actors (NSA) across Southeast Asia in sustainable peatland management, changing public perception that peatland is a wasteland, and ultimately eliminating the practice of land clearing by burning.
Aim
The Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA), funded by the European Union, aims to support ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) through collective actions and enhanced cooperation among Non-State Actors (NSA) to improve sustainable peatland management. The initiative also aims to mitigate the impacts of climate change, manage the risk of wildfires, and reduce trans-boundary regional haze while sustaining local livelihoods. This project is implemented by a consortium led by WRI Indonesia, The Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre, and Inisiatif Dagang Hijau.
Where
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Lao PDR, and Myanmar
Why
With an approximate total area of 25 million hectares, Southeast Asia is home to the largest tropical peatland in the world, the majority of which are present in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam. Despite acting as a major carbon sink, this fragile ecosystem is often regarded as a wasteland, thus becoming an object of rapid development growth over the past decade. Peatlands are often drained and cleared using fire to make ways for agricultural land. These actions turn the massive carbon storage to carbon emitter, greatly worsening the climate crisis. Additionally, peat fires also cause haze, which endanger the communities and biodiversity around the peatland and those in other countries.
Realizing the importance of peatland, the ASEAN Member States (AMS) have developed the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy as a guideline to manage peatland in the region. However, due to the complexity of the issue, sustainable peatland management requires a holistic approach that involves both State and Non-State Actors (NSAs). The latter will be able to help transform peatland management practices to become more sustainable through scientific and economic approaches.
This project then aims to increase the capacity of NSAs so they can play a larger role in sustainable peatland management, including managing the risk of wildfires, reducing transboundary haze, and ultimately mitigating the impact of climate crisis.
How
The Consortium aims to achieve the objectives by increasing the NSA’s understanding of peatland, including in sustainable peatland management. The consortium will then use the collective knowledge to shift the NSA’s perception, from peatland is a wasteland to the perception that peatland has economic and environmental value. Finally, the consortium will communicate the knowledge on peatland and its economic benefits through a locally-driven narrative to increase awareness and mobilize changes at the community and policy level.
Partner
The Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA) is funded by the European Union and implemented by WRI Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre, and Inisiatif Dagang Hijau.