Chapter 26
National Strategies on Responsible
Management of Tropical Peatland
in Malaysia
Faizal Parish, Siew Yan (Serena) Lew, and Aida Hayati Mohd Hassan
Abstract Peatland is the most extensive wetland ecosystem in Malaysia covering
approximately 2.5 million ha or 7.5% of total land area of the country (Department
of Environment (DOE), Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in implementing peat
fire prevention program to combat haze in Malaysia, 2019; DOE, Draft Master Plan
for Management of Fire Prone Peatlands in Malaysia 2021–2030, 2019). This
ecosystem is of critical value for conservation of biodiversity, regulation of climate
change and water resources, and support for socio-economy of the population. The
management of this unique wetland type has been a challenge due to its complex
nature and the fact that it is prone to fire and subsidence when over-drained. The
majority of peatland is managed for forestry and agriculture purposes. There is a
specific National Action Plan for Peatlands (NAPP) developed and endorsed by the
Malaysian Cabinet in 2011 for its implementation till 2020. The NAPP has been
guided by the regional ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
(AATHP) which Malaysia signed in 2002 and ratified in 2003 and the associated
ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) 2006–2020. Malaysia has been
actively involved and participated in negotiations and discussions within the
national, regional and international platforms in tackling peatland and smoke haze
related issues and challenges. Malaysia has also been responsive on the internal and
external transboundary haze matters and taking action to establish and implement a
national programme on peatland fire prevention and management since 2009. The
national programme has been focusing to provide financial and technical support to
seven peatland fire prone states within the country. Rehabilitation of degraded
peatland area has been included as one of key indicators for the National Policy on
Biological Diversity 2016–2025. A National Peatland Working Committee (NPWC)
and a National Peatland Steering Committee (NPSC) have been established to
F. Parish
Global Environment Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor D.E., Malaysia
e-mail: fparish@gec.org.my
S. Y. Lew (*) · A. H. Mohd Hassan
Peatland Programme, Global Environment Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor D.E., Malaysia
e-mail: serena@gec.org.my; aidahayati@gec.org.my
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Osaki et al. (eds.), Tropical Peatland Eco-management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4654-3_26
677
National Strategies on Responsible
Management of Tropical Peatland
in Malaysia
Faizal Parish, Siew Yan (Serena) Lew, and Aida Hayati Mohd Hassan
Abstract Peatland is the most extensive wetland ecosystem in Malaysia covering
approximately 2.5 million ha or 7.5% of total land area of the country (Department
of Environment (DOE), Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in implementing peat
fire prevention program to combat haze in Malaysia, 2019; DOE, Draft Master Plan
for Management of Fire Prone Peatlands in Malaysia 2021–2030, 2019). This
ecosystem is of critical value for conservation of biodiversity, regulation of climate
change and water resources, and support for socio-economy of the population. The
management of this unique wetland type has been a challenge due to its complex
nature and the fact that it is prone to fire and subsidence when over-drained. The
majority of peatland is managed for forestry and agriculture purposes. There is a
specific National Action Plan for Peatlands (NAPP) developed and endorsed by the
Malaysian Cabinet in 2011 for its implementation till 2020. The NAPP has been
guided by the regional ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
(AATHP) which Malaysia signed in 2002 and ratified in 2003 and the associated
ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) 2006–2020. Malaysia has been
actively involved and participated in negotiations and discussions within the
national, regional and international platforms in tackling peatland and smoke haze
related issues and challenges. Malaysia has also been responsive on the internal and
external transboundary haze matters and taking action to establish and implement a
national programme on peatland fire prevention and management since 2009. The
national programme has been focusing to provide financial and technical support to
seven peatland fire prone states within the country. Rehabilitation of degraded
peatland area has been included as one of key indicators for the National Policy on
Biological Diversity 2016–2025. A National Peatland Working Committee (NPWC)
and a National Peatland Steering Committee (NPSC) have been established to
F. Parish
Global Environment Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor D.E., Malaysia
e-mail: fparish@gec.org.my
S. Y. Lew (*) · A. H. Mohd Hassan
Peatland Programme, Global Environment Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor D.E., Malaysia
e-mail: serena@gec.org.my; aidahayati@gec.org.my
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Osaki et al. (eds.), Tropical Peatland Eco-management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4654-3_26
677