Environment ministers sign haze
action plan
South China Morning Post. Dec
24, 1997.
BARRY PORTER in Singapore
SOUTHEAST Asian environment ministers have drawn up measures aimed
at preventing a repeat of the haze that blanketed the region earlier this
year.
The ministers, gathered for a special Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit, yesterday signed a regional haze action plan which sets out for the first time a co-operative and definitive programme to prevent and control land and forest fires in the region.
"Asean ministers believe that economic development need not be at the expense of our precious environment," said Yeo Cheow Tong, Singapore's Health and Environment Minister.
"We must send a clear signal to the outside world that we are serious about preventing a recurrence of the haze problems."
There will be a three-pronged approach with Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, the countries hardest hit by this year's crisis, responsible for spearheading different areas of work.
Other Asean member countries will be expected to provide practical support and the Asian Development Bank has offered technical assistance.
Indonesia, which has accepted blame for the disaster, has been made responsible for putting in place better co-operative measures to strengthen the region's forest fire-fighting capability.
It has also promised to upgrade its own meteorological centre and to implement more stringent regulations on forest burning.
Malaysia will be in charge of drawing up a programme to encourage better management policies, enforcement and education of farmers and foresters of alternative farming methods to the traditional slash-and-burn.
Ministers also agreed to co-operate in analysing the long-term health effects from the three-month haze, which affected millions of people.
There will also be a regional review of existing policies and legislation regarding sustainable land-use practices.
Indonesian Environment Minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said police were still investigating a number of companies in the country for alleged infringements of land-clearing regulations during the summer's fires.
One company had been prosecuted, another three were due to appear in court and 40 were still under investigation.
Published in the South China Morning Post. Dec 24, 1997