On the 8th and 9th of March 2024, GIZ’s Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA/REPEAT) project welcomed a group of delegates from the German Parliament to the pilot site in Pahang to gain insights into the preservation of the pristine Southeast Pahang Peat Swamp Forest (SEPPSF), the largest undisturbed peat forest in Peninsular Malaysia, as well as the potential threats to this vital ecosystem. The delegates also learned about the ongoing conservation efforts, mitigation strategies, and community support initiatives spearheaded by SUPA and its partners.

Day One: Engagement and Exploration

The delegation spent their first day in Kuala Lumpur with a visit to the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) settlement, one of the world’s largest palm oil trading companies. Joining the trip were nine members from the German Embassy Kuala Lumpur, led by Ambassador Dr Peter Blomeyer, and from the German Parliament, led by Gabriele Katzmarek (Social Democratic Party of Germany, SPD), together with Peter Aumer (Christian Social Union in Bavaria, CSU), Kai Gehring (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Gerold Otten (Alternative for Germany, AfD), and Frank Müller-Rosentritt (Free Democratic Party, FDP).

The delegation later continued to Pekan, in Pahang, where they were graciously received by His Royal Highness Tengku Mahkota Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah ibni Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, the Crown Prince of Pahang.

Afterwards, a comprehensive briefing session conducted by Berthold Haasler, SUPA Facilitator (and former SUPA director), shed light on the challenges in peatland management, the progress of the SUPA/REPEAT project in ASEAN and, in greater detail, in Malaysia. A video was screened to showcase the current activities emphasising the research of the SEPPSF through various monitoring activities around the landscape and social activities with the indigenous community. The involvement of various stakeholders is a driving force in improving the peatland forest. Enggang Holdings Sdn. Bhd, provided the participants with another visual walk through SEPPSF as a precursor to heading into the peat swamp forest the next day.

Day Two: Immersive Field Visit

The second day started with an exploratory visit to the SEPPSF complex at the Black Water Jewel Jetty in RPS Runchang. Bakhtiar Talhah, Head of Government Relation and Public Affairs, from Enggang Holdings Sdn. Bhd., provided a captivating biodiversity tour, supported by the Pahang Forestry Department, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and SUPA/REPEAT.

The delegates also actively joined in the tree-planting activity, contributing to the ecosystem with native forest trees provided by the Pahang Forestry Department (JPNP) as part of their ‘Penghijauan Malaysia’ (Greening Malaysia) programme. The final stop was the indigenous villages of RPS Runchang, where delegates gained insights into local community dynamics and listened to their feedback about the challenges and successes of living in a peatland landscape.

During the return journey to KL and as a result of the knowledge acquired during the visit, the ambassador expressed the wish to see enhanced academic exchange programmes, specifically supporting Master’s and PhD initiatives. Additionally, he encouraged the establishment of a scientific network involving universities and research centres in Malaysia, to facilitate knowledge exchange among various projects and academia.

The SUPA, benefiting from the backing of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV), is facilitated through GIZ. This initiative places a strong focus on promoting the sustainable management of peatlands within the ASEAN region, including Malaysia and Thailand. SUPA/REPEAT aims to generate pilot experiences in the Malaysian landscape. With SEPPSF selected as the pilot site, that landscape can be rehabilitated through implementation of sustainable peatland management practices. This project started in January 2023 and is expected to end by December 2024.