LANGKAWI, Malaysia – A new regional conservation project called Enhancing Conservation and Restoration of Wetlands and Peatlands in ASEAN as Effective Sinks and Reservoirs of Greenhouse Gases (EnCORE Wetlands) was officially launched alongside the 27th ACB Governing Board and the 36th ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN) and Related Meetings on 28 July 2025.
The EnCORE Wetlands Project is being implemented by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) in partnership with the Global Environment Centre (GEC) and is supported by funding from the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (ASEAN-UK-GTF). The project aims to create science-based and practical methods to protect carbon-rich ecosystems such as wetlands and peatlands, to protect biodiversity in the region.
Representatives from project partners share inputs during the launch of EnCORE Wetlands Project.
The project launch was attended by Mr. S. Siva Kumar, Undersecretary of Biodiversity & Forestry Management Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Malaysia; Atty. Jonas R. Leones, Undersecretary of Policy, Planning and International Affairs, Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines and ACB Governing Board and ASOEN Chair; Ms. Anila Khan, Socio-Cultural Counsellor, UK Mission to ASEAN; H.E. San Lwin Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community; Dr. Jerome Montemayor, ACB Executive Director; the ACB Governing Board/ASOEN National Focal Points, representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, the ACB, GEC, and The Palladium Group as delivery partner of ASEAN-UK GTF.
The launch of the EnCORE Wetlands Project took place during the sidelines of the 27th Meeting of the Governing Board of the ACB, the 36th Meeting of the ASOEN, and Related Meetings. Photo courtesy of NRES Malaysia.
ASOEN Chair Atty. Jonas R. Leones, expressed the Philippines’ strong support for the project saying, “We are proud to support the EnCORE Wetlands Project and its vision to highlight these often-ignored carbon-rich ecosystems that could reverse the impacts of climate change and support the livelihoods of our communities. It must be emphasised that policies need to include wetlands and peatlands as part of our regional conservation agenda,’ he said.
Two pilot sites have been selected for the project; the Maludam National Park in Malaysia and the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, an ASEAN Heritage Park in the Philippines. These were chosen as two of the most critical yet important peatlands in the region that demonstrate the biodiversity and climate change nexus.
‘’This exciting regional initiative is a multi-stakeholder partnership designed to address the increasing pressures on the region’s wetlands, which are critical for biodiversity, carbon sinks, flood control, and local livelihoods. This is the first project of the ACB on peatlands and I am personally thankful to our partners for having a shared vision and aspiration for inclusive and sustainable development in the ASEAN region,’ said Dr. Jerome L. Montemayor, ACB executive director and peatland expert.
Southeast Asia is considered a global hotspot for peatland conservation. According to the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy 2023-2030, the region contains 23 to 30 million hectares of tropical peatlands. This vast area represents 40-60% of the world’s total, making the region crucial for global peatland conservation. However, recent trends reveal that peatlands in the ASEAN region have suffered rapid and severe destruction over the years, with more than half of peat swamp forests lost in recent decades. From 2000 to 2010, tropical peatland forest in the region was deforested at a rate of 2.2% annually, two to three times higher than for other forest types during the same period.
“The UK is proud to support the EnCORE Wetlands Project through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund. This initiative reflects our shared commitment to advancing ASEAN’s climate and biodiversity goals, including the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality and the Sustainable Development Goals. We look forward to working closely with our ASEAN partners to protect vital ecosystems and build a more sustainable future for the region,” said Anila Khan, Socio-Cultural Counsellor, UK Mission to ASEAN.”
The ACB has been promoting the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands and peatlands primarily through the ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme and the ASEAN Flyway Network. With the addition of the EnCORE Wetlands Project, the ACB enhances its portfolio of regional initiatives to accelerate actions to climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration. All these efforts are aligned with regional frameworks and policies for wetland and peatland management such as the ASEAN Biodiversity Plan, ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy 2023-2030, the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, and the ASEAN Investment Framework for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management. – END
To learn more about the partners, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/p/UK-Mission-to-ASEAN-61556493664204
https://www.instagram.com/ukmissionasean
https://www.linkedin.com/company/uk-pact
