Environment ministers fromBrunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand gathered atthe 16th meeting of the Sub-regional Ministerial Steering Committee(MSC) on Transboundary Haze Pollution, which was held on April 2 inBrunei .
Participants agreed that MSC countriesshould work out supplementary measures against forest fires at a timewhen the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) forecastlower-than-average rainfalls in most parts of the southern region untilearly October.
Additionally, the El Ninophenomenon could develop in the second half of 2014, which will worsendry weather conditions, resulting in more hotspots that run a high riskof wildfires, attendees said.
They also stressed thesignificance of cross-border cooperation in putting the situation undercontrol, particularly in sharing experience in improving national andregional mechanism to mitigate forest fires due to dry weather.
Indonesia was hailed for its efforts to carry out an action plandealing with trans-boundary haze pollution, as well as the country’scommitment to accelerating the process of ratifying the ASEAN Agreementon the field.
The meeting also reviewed the progressof implementing the Rehabilitation and Sustainable Use of PeatlandForests in Southeast Asia project and the SEApeat project piloted inIndonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
They took note of the encouraging outcomes in realising the ASEANprogramme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems 2014-2020,and confirmed sustainable management of fire prone areas, especiallypeatlands, remains a top priority for fires and smoke haze prevention aswell as the mitigation of climate change impacts.-VNA