Southeast Asia is grappling with recurring and devastating fire and haze events that pose significant environmental, health, and economic challenges. The causes of these fires vary across the region, with peatland fires being a major concern in some countries while agricultural practices contribute to fires in other parts of the region. Despite these differences, the impacts are uniformly severe, affecting air quality, biodiversity, and human health. Thus, the region’s pursuit of sustainable development and climate resilience is critical, as climate change exacerbates these issues by altering weather patterns, leading to prolonged droughts and increased fire risks.
In response to these challenges, the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), signed in 2002, has provided a foundational framework for regional cooperation. This agreement aims to prevent, monitor, and mitigate land and forest fires that lead to transboundary haze pollution through concerted national efforts and international cooperation. Additionally, ASEAN has developed strategic plans, including the Second Haze-Free ASEAN Roadmap (2023-2030), which builds on the first Haze-Free Roadmap (2016-2020) and emphasizes enhanced cooperation and the establishment of regional standards to address the root causes of haze pollution.
As a part of the policy dialogue and closing event, the successes and outcomes achieved over the course of the programme will be highlighted, showcasing the continuous efforts of ASEAN Member States in preventing fire and haze across the region. One of the key achievements of MAHFSA Programme is the revamped ASEAN Fire Alert Phone App Tool (Fire Alert Tool), which features enhanced capabilities to support haze management within the region. The enhanced Fire Alert Tool integrates data from ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) and Malaysia Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia), providing users with easy access to near- real-time information via mobile devices. Furthermore, the ASEAN Investment Framework on Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management (AIF-HFSLM) 2023-2030, developed under the programme, aims to leverage USD 1.5 billion in funding. These initiatives are designed to help ASEAN Member States by promoting improved land management practices and effective fire prevention measures. Over time, the programme’s efforts are expected to lead to enhanced air quality and significant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ultimately benefiting up to 50 million people across Southeast Asia.
About MAHFSA
The Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management (MAHFSA) Programme is a five-year joint initiative (2019–2025) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program is implemented in collaboration with key partners, including the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the Global Environment Centre (GEC). MAHFSA aims to address the persistent challenge of transboundary haze pollution in Southeast Asia by promoting sustainable peatland and land management practices.
As the programme concludes, a final policy dialogue and closing event is being organized to showcase its achievements and acknowledge the ongoing efforts of ASEAN Member States in addressing fire and transboundary haze issues. This will be followed by the Final Programme Steering Committee Meeting (PSC).
The event will highlight the successes and outcomes of the MAHFSA programme and reaffirm ASEAN Member States’ commitment to mitigating fire and haze impacts across the region.
Objectives
- To share best practices, discuss policy reforms, and explore innovative solutions on building climate resilience and sustainable development
- To reflect and share MAHFSA Programme’s achievements, lesson learned, and way forward in tackling fire and transboundary issues in the region
In person registration: Please RSVP by 14 March 2025
Further information: Swetha Peteru, Scientist and MAHFSA Lead, CIFOR-ICRAF
