MEDIA RELEASE

ASEAN LAUNCHES BOOKS ON ENVIRONMENT AND HAZE

ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta (14 August 2001) – Three books outlining regional actions and strategies to promote sustainable development and to protect the environment were launched at a ceremony at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta today. The three books are the Second ASEAN State of the Environment Report 2000, the Fire, Smoke and Haze – The ASEAN Response Strategy, and the ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan 2000-2005. The ASEAN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Rodolfo C. Severino, Jr., launched these three environment-related books together with Indonesia’s newly appointed State Minister of Environment, H.E. Mr. Nabiel Makarim, MPA, MSM.

 The first book, the Second ASEAN State of the Environment Report 2000, is the second in the series, the first of which was released in 1997. Since the first Report was published, ASEAN has encountered a number of environmental challenges. The first was the economic crisis and its impact on environmental management; second, the proliferation of regional and global environmental agreements and international codes of conduct; third, ensuring adequate responses to emerging regional environmental problems such as forest fires and haze; and fourth the challenge of achieving the aspirations of ASEAN Vision 2020. The Report focuses on ASEAN’s responses to these challenges.

The Report also highlights what ASEAN has done to protect the environment and to promote sustainable development. It offers a glimpse of the prospects and challenges facing the region. At the same time it serves as an authoritative manual for all who are engaged in environmental planning and intervention. It should help them to review these initiatives in terms of their impact and lessons learnt.

Chapter 2 of the Report describes the geographical influence on the nature and characteristics of environmental issues in each country, and concludes that, despite the diversity, many national and regional environmental problems are best addressed at the regional level. Chapter 3, on People and Demography, notes that the continued population growth and rapid urbanisation, despite a general trend in declining rates of population growth, could have a significant environmental impact unless adequately addressed. Chapter 4, on economic development, shows that expenditures on environmental protection have not recovered to pre-crisis levels. Chapter 5, on social development, notes that the quality of the life of people has improved for most of ASEAN people, while highlighting that income inequality continues to be a serious problem. These poor people are especially vulnerable to health hazards and natural disasters arising from environmental degradation.

Chapter 6 through 8 document the richness and diversity of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and show how economic growth and basic human needs continue to outpace efforts to protect these resources.

Chapters 9 and 10 demonstrate how events external to ASEAN could greatly affect development aspirations. ASEAN members are highly vulnerable, for example, to predicted climate change; continued growth in trade and tourism depends on changing policies and consumer preferences in many developed countries.

Chapter 11 summarises the institutional and policy framework and key regional activities of ASEAN to assist member countries in effectively addressing a broad range of environmental concerns. Despite progress on many fronts, socio-economic development in ASEAN will not be sustainable if land continues to be degraded and deforested, inequality and poverty persist, and the terms of trade deteriorated. The final chapter looks at efforts ASEAN member countries are undertaking to shift more sustainable development paths.

The second book, the Fire, Smoke and Haze – The ASEAN Response Strategy is a joint publication effort of ASEAN and ADB. The book brings together the current knowledge about land and forest fires, examines the causes and impacts with particular reference to Southeast Asia, and suggests what could happen in the future. It assesses ASEAN’s response to the haze phenomenon and suggests national, regional and global action to deal with the challenge.

The book is organised into two main parts, the PREMISE and the PROGRAMME. Part I, the Premise, containing Chapters 1 to 3, presents background information relating to land and forest fires and haze, comparing global responses and initiatives to address the problems and ASEAN’s situation.

Chapter 1 focuses on the increasing incidence and intensity of forest fires and haze in recent years, analysing the major causes and developments in fire science and technology to address these problems. There is also a brief account of international action to address forest fires and haze.

Chapter 2 goes into some details on the fires and haze that have affected the ASEAN region, providing analysis on the causes, and the constraints that have exacerbated these causes. Forestland conversion involving uncontrolled use of fire in land preparation is identified as a major source of fires, the environmental, economic, and social aspects of which are examined.

Chapter 3 discusses the responses at several levels to the recent forest fires and haze in the ASEAN region, particularly the occurrences of 1997-1998. It also provides an analysis of recent trends in donor assistance.

Part II, the PROGRAMME, containing Chapters 4 to 6, discusses the programmes being implemented in the ASEAN region to enhance regional preparedness to tackle future forest fires and haze.

Chapter 4 details ADB’s two-pronged approach to address transboundary atmospheric pollution in the region through its advisory technical assistance grant to Indonesia and regional technical assistance grant to ASEAN. It describes the catalytic role intended, objectives and details of activities, as well as the results achieved and lessons learned.

Chapter 5 explains the ORHAP and how it is closely linked to, and supportive of, actions at subregional, national, and local levels in ASEAN.

Chapter 6 looks at the important actions required to consolidate the initiatives undertaken so far and to promote and implement appropriate forest fire management in the region, to support rational land use and development.

A bibliography and six Appendixes follow, providing a glossary of local and technical terms, ongoing assistance programmes and activities of the RHAP, procedures for formulating and implementing a Fire Suppression Mobilisation Plan, fire danger rating systems, funding agencies’ collaboration to combat fires and haze, and an outline of the ASEAN Haze Action Online.

The book is intended as a reference source and general guide for fire and haze management in the ASEAN region, with primary targets of policymakers and professionals at the regional level as well as in other donor countries and agencies. The book should also be of great interests to the media and the general public at large.

The third book is about the ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan, which was adopted by the Environment Ministers of ASEAN in October 2000. Through formal and non-formal education, people can acquire the necessary values and skills to enable them to participate in the development of an ecologically sustainable community. The Plan integrates all the aspirations of ASEAN and puts in place a coherent strategy to invigorate environmental education in the region, building upon national, regional and international efforts.

The Plan serves not only as a collaborative framework for ASEAN cooperation, but also as a reference guide for other regional and international organisations to work together in environmental education. It recommends strategies and actions to enhance environmental knowledge and awareness in the region and outlines priority activities that can be undertaken at the regional and national levels. It includes mechanisms to promote and establish effective networking arrangements among ASEAN member countries.

After the launching and press conference, the ASEAN Secretariat also organised special presentations on the relevant experiences of some agencies and institutions in the region in addressing transboundary haze pollution issues. Provincial governments of Riau and West Kalimantan gave their presentations on their experiences in managing fire-and-haze and their recent activities with ASEAN. There were also presentations on the community-based approach in fire management by the Project FireFight South East Asia, haze and peat swamps by EU Forest Fire Prevention and Control Project, and discussions on the involvement of private sector in addressing transboundary haze pollution problem by the Haze Prevention Group.

A number of international development partners (bilateral and multilateral), many of which have provided direct support to the implementation of ASEAN’s Regional Haze Action Plan, participated in the event. Some private sectors investors in natural resources development, consisting timber and plantation concessionaires, representatives from traditional community, NGOs and other concerned agencies, ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment, and embassies of ASEAN and development partners also participated in the launching and discussions.

This event was part of ASEAN’s efforts to publicise its regional environmental activities, and for the relevant parties to be informed and to partake in enhancing regional co-operation on the environment.

The ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment recently met on 3-4 August 2001 in Bandar Seri Begawan to review developments relating to environmental cooperation in the ASEAN region, and discuss implementation of cooperative activities based on the Ha Noi Plan of Action and Strategic Plan of Action on the Environment. The areas of cooperation include transboundary haze pollution, nature conservation and biodiversity, multilateral environmental agreements, coastal and marine environment, and various other environmental activities. Having noted the difficulties in implementing the zero burning policy at the field level, particularly for the local communities, the Senior Officials agreed to work towards banning all forms of open burning as a long-term strategy within the period of southwesterly monsoon, especially during the months of July to September. As a short-to-medium term strategy, the Senior Officials agreed to continue the current efforts on public awareness programmes and development of guidelines and techniques for controlled burning method. There has been considerable progress made with regard to the formulation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. The Senior Officials are committed to ensure that the Agreement would be signed during the ASEAN Summit in November 2001 in Brunei Darussalam.