Regional South East Asia Wildland Fire Network

Background and Rationale

At the beginning of the 21stCentury the application of fire in land-use systems and wildfires in forests and other vegetation in the South East Asian region are still contributing to the degradation of the environment and the atmosphere, jeopardizing thesustainability of land-use systems, and threatening human populations, especially human health. Countries members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the international community have increased their efforts to reduce the occurrence and negative impacts of fires. In conjunction with the World Conference on Land and Forest Fire Hazards (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 10-13 June 2002) and the 9th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Haze (11June 2002) it was decided that the ASEAN countries, based on their long-term efforts and agreements to cooperate in the field of fire and smoke pollution management, join the global network of Regional Wildland Fire Networks under the auspices of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC).

International Conference on World Land and Forest Fire Hazards (2002)

The international conference World Land and Forest Fire Hazards: Reviewing Global Perspectives and Seeking Strategies for Future Challenges was convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 10-12 June 2002, with the following objectives:

To provide a forum for exchange of information and experiences on land and forest fire hazards that have affected various regions around the world
To bring international fire experts, senior government officials, researchers, industries, community leaders, international organizations, individuals and practitioners from around the world to deliberate on issues of land and forest fire hazards
To develop approaches and strategies to minimize or overcome the hazards associated with land and forest fires including the resulting transboundary air pollution; and
To recommend areas of cooperation between countries, international organizations, industries, and communities to meet future challenges of land and forest fire hazards.

The recommendations were presented to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, September 2002.

Conference Introduction and Agenda (PDF)
Conference Handbook (PDF)
Conference Contribution by GFMC (PDF)
Conference Contribution by ITTO (PDF)
Conference Statement presented at WSSD (PDF)

ASEAN Ministers responsible for environment met on 10 June 2002 and signed the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution:

ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (detailed information on the GFMC repository)
ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (original signed document)
ASEAN Press Release (PDF)
Report in IFFN No. 39 (PDF)

Ceremony of signing the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
Source: GFMC.

Follow-up with ASEAN

In 2001 the report Fire, Smoke, and Haze: The ASEAN Response Strategy (edited by S. Tahir Qadri) was published, a major effort supported by GFMC:

Fire, Smoke, and Haze: The ASEAN Response Strategy (PDF)

At the Eleventh Joint Meeting of the ASEAN Working Groups on Sub-Regional Fire Fighting Arrangements (SRFAs) for Sumatra and Borneo (Singapore, 12-13 August 2002) it was decided that ASEAN will join the Global Wildland Fire Network. This decision was made following a proposal by the GFMC / ISDR Working Group on Wildland Fire Proposal to the Ministerial Meeting on Haze (11 June 2002). See:

GFMC / Working Group on Wildland Fire Proposal (PDF, 58 KB)
Extracts of 11th Joint SRFA Meeting Report (PDF,8 KB)

21st Meeting of ASOEN Haze Technical Task Force (2004)

GFMC contributed to the 21st Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) Haze Technical Task Force (8-9 November 2004, Hanoi, Viet Nam).

21st Meeting of the ASOEN Haze Technical Task Force: The Task Force Members.
Photo: GFMC.

Conference on Promoting Partnerships for the Implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (2006)

The Conference on Promoting Partnerships for the Implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution was held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 11-12 May 2006. The conference aimed at promoting and strengthening partnerships between ASEAN Member Countries and relevant regional and international organizations, donor communities and other partners/ supporters for the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. Particular focus was given on securing partnership and support for sustainable management of peatlands in Southeast Asia, which are the major source of fires and transboundary haze pollution.

Regional Round Table and Consultation Enhancing Regional Cooperation in Fire Management in South East Asia (2018)

The Regional Round Table and Consultation Enhancing Regional Cooperation in Fire Management in South East Asia, organized by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia, the Regional Fire Management Resource Center South East Asia (RFMRC-SEA) and GFMC at Manggala Wanabhakti, Jakarta, and RFMRC-SEA, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia, 6-7 June 2018:

https://rfmrc-sea.org/
RFMRC-SEA Bulletin No. 1 (2017) (PDF, 9 MB)
Concept Note and Agenda (PDF, 0.5 MB)

Participants of the Regional Round Table and Consultation from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam as well as from GFMC presented the lessons learned and challenges ahead in fire management in Southeast Asia (middle photo). On the second day the international continued its discussion at the premises of RFMRC-SEA in Bogor. Photos: RFMRC-SEA.