Overview

During the1980s and 1990s, ASEAN experienced major episodes of fire and transboundary haze pollution. One of the most damaging haze pollutions in recorded history happened between 1997-1998. It affected Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and is estimated to cost the region more than USD 9 billion in economic, social and environmental losses. Environmentally, it released an estimated 1-2 billion tonnes of carbon[1]. 

One of the major contributors to the transboundary haze pollution in ASEAN region is peatland fire. ASEAN is home to 56% of global tropical peatlands but more than 3 million hectares of peatlands area in Southeast Asia have been destroyed by the fire. Over 70% of total peatland areas in Southeast Asia are in Indonesia, while the remaining are found in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam[2].

Peatland fires has negatively impacted human health, food production and biodiversity as well as contributed to global climate change. Peatlands of the region are thought to store up to 5% of all carbon stored on the world’s land surface[3]. The practice of draining and land clearing have caused the fragile ecosystems of the region’s peatlands to turn from carbon storage to carbon emitter.