Regional Initiatives

An Integrated Assessment of Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability in Watershed Areas and Communities in Southeast Asia

This project assesses the impacts of climate change and associated land use and cover change on water resources, forest ecosystems, and social systems of watersheds in Southeast Asia. It is conducted by Rodel Lasco from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños College of Forestry and Natural Resources. Studies are conducted in selected watersheds of the Philippines and Indonesia while providing training and technical assistance to scientists from Indo-China on research methods to be implemented in their watersheds. Future climate scenarios are developed, downscaled and used with a climate-vegetation model to predict future land use and cover change. The impacts of climate and land use/cover change are assessed with measures of change in biodiversity, carbon and water budgets, livelihood, health, demographic shifts, and changes in social structure resulting from climate and land use/cover change. Integrated vulnerability assessments of natural and social systems in the watershed are conducted and adaptation strategies are evaluated. Research findings and policy implications will be presented to policy makers and development workers. The countries involved are: Philippines, Indonesia, and Indo-China (Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia).  Further information under this link

Southeast Asia Regional Vulnerability to Changing Water Resource and Extreme Hydrological Events due to Climate Change

This initiative project is conducted by Anond Snidvongs of the Southeast Asia START Regional Center, Thailand. This project uses high-resolution climate and hydrological scenarios for assessing vulnerability of social and economic sectors in the Mekong river basin to changing water regimes due to climate and land cover changes. This is done by an assessment team together with a workshop series. The outcome of the third workshop will be compiled and translated into 4 major Southeast Asian languages in the lower Mekong river basin to provide access to policy makers across the region. The countries involved are: Cambodia, Laos PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam.  Further information under this link.

ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative (APMI)

APMI was developed as the result of the 9th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Haze (AMMH) for determining action to be taken for fire prevention and control in peatlands. It was developed with various partners and adopted by the ASOEN-Haze Technical Task Force (HTTF) in February 2003. The goal is to promote sustainable management of peatlands in the ASEAN region through collective actions and enhanced cooperation to support and sustain local livelihoods, reduce risk of fire and associated regional haze and contribute to global environmental management. It is a long-term initiative which will work through the existing ASEAN structure and is coordinated by the ASOEN-HTTF and ASEAN Secretariat. Further information under this link.