Context
The economy in South-East Asia is growing rapidly; however, not all of the population is reaping the benefits. At the same time, natural resources are suffering more and more from overexploitation and the effects of climate change. If the region fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare itself better to deal with the increasing impacts of climate change, this trend will threaten livelihoods, especially those of the rural poor. As a more vulnerable section of society, women are particularly affected.
As part of their vision of a common market, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) wish to promote sustainable and climate-conscious agriculture and forestry. However, improved technical and administrative capabilities and more efficient cooperation among the Member States will be required if ASEAN and its regional institutions are to work more effectively together and achieve a common positioning. This also applies to their joint efforts to develop agriculture and forestry sectors that are competitive and sustainable, even in the context of climate change.
Objective
ASEAN has improved the cooperation and common positioning of its Member States on key issues relating to climate change in the areas of agriculture and forestry.
Approach
The regional project supports the Member States and ASEAN specialised bodies in improving the regional and national frameworks for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade). A second focus of the project involves supporting ASEAN and its Member States in disseminating within the region agricultural practices that have proven to be more resilient to the effects of climate change. This approach will facilitate the emergence of agricultural and forestry value chains that will continue to function even in the face of new circumstances due to climate change.
The project staff advise the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN specialised bodies. They also provide advisory services in cooperation with other German programmes to partner institutions in Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Viet Nam.