APFP & SEApeat Phase II Planning Meeting

On the 8th and 9th of September 2013,  delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam came together in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia to discuss the future of peatlands in Southeast Asia. Led by Dr Raman Letchumanan, Director of the ASEAN Environment Division, the meeting was also joined by GEC as the project RPEA and representatives from the European Union. Ms Kim Sunae represented IFAD in an online interview via Skype.

At the meeting, each country presented the progress that was achieved through the current APFP and SEApeat programmes; and discussed actions that are necessary beyond the current project span. To further demonstrate the progress that has been achieved in Malaysia, a field visit was held on Tuesday, 10th September for the visiting participants.
 The meeting was successful in gathering the necessary input to put forward a proposal for project continuation, so that peatland conservation may continue unhindered in this corner of the world.

FREDA granted Honorary Certificate

Congratulations to our SEApeat project partner in Myanmar, FREDA, for their recognition by the Myanmar Union Government. An excerpt from their email follows. 

"It is a great honour to inform that the President of the Republic of

the Union of Myanmar had honoured Forest Resource Environment

Conservation and Development Association (FREDA) with a Honorary

Certificate for its collaboration and participation with the Union

Government in conservation of forests, extending mangrove forests

rehabilitation, protecting the habitats of biodiversity, reducing the

natural disasters and rehabilitating the degraded ecosystems.

FREDA heartily appreciates to all INGOs, LNGOs, departmental staff,

local authorities and communities for their kind technical, financial

supports and invaluable cooperation in successful implementation of

above mentioned activities.

FREDA hopes that more environmental conservation works and

community development activities would be done with your continuous

cooperation in the future."

       

Selangor Crown Prince visits Rehabilitation Site in Raja Muda Forest Reserve

28th August 2013, Wednesday - The Crown Prince of Selangor State, DYTM Tengku Amir Shah ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, visited the peatland forest rehabilitation site at Raja Musa Forest Reserve today.

The event involved two hundred volunteers from various organisations including the Sahabat Hutan Gambut, Peatland Forest Rangers, the Australian International School and others who planted 600 trees in the pilot site.

The tenggek burung trees (Euodia sp.) is a pioneer species which should help to ease the way for other species to grow in the site.