BANGKOK POST – ASEAN aims for haze-free peatlands by 2030

The Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Plant Protection (DNP) aims to make peatland areas in the ASEAN region haze-free by 2030.

Athabole Saronshunza, Director General of TNP recently chaired the 9th meeting of the ASEAN Working Group.

Officials from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Timor-Leste and representatives of various organizations attended the event held in Bangkok on 15 August.

Mr Atabol said Thailand is committed to working with ASEAN members on peatland areas by exchanging information on addressing transboundary haze pollution and reviewing progress reports on establishing ASEAN as a haze-free region.

He commended the joint efforts under the 2nd ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy, including the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework, the 2nd ASEAN Cooperation Program on Transboundary Haze Pollution Control, and the ASEAN Investment Framework for Sustainable Haze-Free Management.

He said these initiatives would strengthen peatland management, address transboundary haze issues and reduce haze during the dry season.

Mr Athabole said the TNP has intensified conservation, prevention and peatland restoration efforts, particularly integrated forest fire prevention and control activities with the participation of civil society and private sector organizations.

These efforts include setting up lookout points, patrolling, public communication, water management, and using satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle technology to track, monitor, and plan wildfire responses. TNP has set a target to reduce burnt areas.