ID :
58214
Wed, 04/29/2009 - 20:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/58214
The shortlink copeid
ASEAN TO STEP UP VIGILANCE AGAINST HAZE From Jackson Sawatan
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 29 (Bernama) -- Asean ministers have agreed to step up vigilance against haze in the wake of an anticipated dry season between June and September this year.
Malaysian Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Uggah
Embas said they also agreed to share haze pollutant data for regular reporting
by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC).
"A slightly-below normal rainfall is expected between June and September
and this can cause an increase in hotspot activities in the region, with the
possibility of transboundary smoke haze during the more persistent dry
period."
Uggah was speaking to reporters here after chairing the 7th Meeting of the
Sub-regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution,
here, Wednesday.
Malaysia is the current chair of the sub-regional committee which also
comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand -- the countries affected
most by the recurring haze problem.
For the May period, Uggah said, the ASMC reported that there would be
occasional showers interspersed with short dry spells which could cause brief
surges in hotspot activities.
On the sharing of haze pollutant data, he said the move was to enable
monitoring of the dispersion and impact of transboundary haze, in addition to
reporting on the weather outlook and number of hotspots.
Asked how bad the haze would be this year, Uggah said it would not be as
bad as the 2006 haze owing to the numerous measures taken by member countries.
"We have taken note and expressed appreciation on the efforts by Indonesia
in implementing its plan of action to deal with the issue and urged that the
efforts be sustained," he said.
A media release issued at the end of the meeting said among the measures
taken by Indonesia -- the country often blamed for the haze caused by forest and
peat fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra -- was to issue early notice to the
stakeholders, asking them to be on the alert to prevent land and forest fires.
The country had also mobilised teams to conduct ground checking in Riau
apart from implementing good agricultural practices in West Kalimantan.
It also launched a zero-burn campaign and provided machinery for land
clearing, among other things.
Uggah said collaborative efforts between Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia
had also shown progress in checking transboundary haze.
"The haze prevention programme implemented by Malaysia and Indonesia in
Riau, including the installation of an air quality monitoring station in Bagan
Siapi-api will be in full operation next month.
"A fire and haze prevention programme through improved management of
peatlands in the Rokan Hilir Regency in Riau is also being implemented," he
said.
Singapore and Indonesia had also initiated an action plan to reduce peat
fires through mitigative water management and conservation methods in Jambi
province, he added.
-- BERNAMA
Malaysian Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Uggah
Embas said they also agreed to share haze pollutant data for regular reporting
by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC).
"A slightly-below normal rainfall is expected between June and September
and this can cause an increase in hotspot activities in the region, with the
possibility of transboundary smoke haze during the more persistent dry
period."
Uggah was speaking to reporters here after chairing the 7th Meeting of the
Sub-regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution,
here, Wednesday.
Malaysia is the current chair of the sub-regional committee which also
comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand -- the countries affected
most by the recurring haze problem.
For the May period, Uggah said, the ASMC reported that there would be
occasional showers interspersed with short dry spells which could cause brief
surges in hotspot activities.
On the sharing of haze pollutant data, he said the move was to enable
monitoring of the dispersion and impact of transboundary haze, in addition to
reporting on the weather outlook and number of hotspots.
Asked how bad the haze would be this year, Uggah said it would not be as
bad as the 2006 haze owing to the numerous measures taken by member countries.
"We have taken note and expressed appreciation on the efforts by Indonesia
in implementing its plan of action to deal with the issue and urged that the
efforts be sustained," he said.
A media release issued at the end of the meeting said among the measures
taken by Indonesia -- the country often blamed for the haze caused by forest and
peat fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra -- was to issue early notice to the
stakeholders, asking them to be on the alert to prevent land and forest fires.
The country had also mobilised teams to conduct ground checking in Riau
apart from implementing good agricultural practices in West Kalimantan.
It also launched a zero-burn campaign and provided machinery for land
clearing, among other things.
Uggah said collaborative efforts between Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia
had also shown progress in checking transboundary haze.
"The haze prevention programme implemented by Malaysia and Indonesia in
Riau, including the installation of an air quality monitoring station in Bagan
Siapi-api will be in full operation next month.
"A fire and haze prevention programme through improved management of
peatlands in the Rokan Hilir Regency in Riau is also being implemented," he
said.
Singapore and Indonesia had also initiated an action plan to reduce peat
fires through mitigative water management and conservation methods in Jambi
province, he added.
-- BERNAMA
