Background
The ASEAN Secretariat, in partnership with CIFOR under the Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management in Southeast Asia (MAHFSA) Programme, is organizing a field visit on 10 and 11 February 2025 in Riau province, Indonesia. This visit will focus on examining issues related to community engagement and restoration in the sustainable management and use of peatlands, while ensuring the well-being of local livelihoods.
The event will provide an opportunity for representatives from the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (COM AATHP) and the ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands (ATFP) to hear directly from stakeholders involved in sustainable peatland management and restoration activities in Riau, Indonesia, with a particular focus on community engagement.
Field visit overview
The field visit will showcase examples of peatland management and restoration that integrate the livelihoods of local communities, including visits to a private company collaborating with the government.
As the Southeast Asian country with the largest peatland area, Indonesia offers valuable experience and knowledge in sustainable peatland management. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from Indonesia’s extensive experience in peatland restoration and fire management, with the goal of enhancing sustainable peatland management across the region. This will include sharing best practices, innovative restoration techniques, multistakeholder engagement strategies, and success stories.
The visit also aims to address knowledge exchange and capacity-building gaps in peatland restoration and rehabilitation, as highlighted in the MAHFSA Capacity Development, Needs, and Gaps Assessment (CDNGA) by nine ASEAN Member States (AMS). These gaps are vital to the successful implementation of the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) and the Second Roadmap.
Further information: Swetha Peteru, Scientist and MAHFSA Lead, CIFOR-ICRAF
