Southeast Asia region faces environmental and instability challenges, induced by the impact of climate change and environment degradation that are closely linked to the region’s socio-political landscape. The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, extreme weather events, and unsustainable land and water management practices heighten the potential for resource-based disputes, escalating tensions and conflict among stakeholders. Rapid deforestation driven largely by agriculture, illegal logging, and large-scale land acquisitions, has drastically degraded ecosystems, diminished biodiversity and reduced ecological resilience. Moreover, the region’s escalated heightened vulnerability to extreme weather events, such as typhoons and droughts, deepens socio-economic disparities and amplifies the risks of conflict, as communities face increased competition over scarce resources and struggle to recover from climate-induced disruptions.
Countries with extensive coastlines, like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia, are especially vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea levels due to the climate change, which threatens coastal cities and low-lying areas, leading to land loss, community displacement, and increased flood risk. The Mekong River, vital to the livelihoods of 70 million people and home to 1200 freshwater species, faces severe threats from hydroelectric dams, overfishing, plastic pollution, and climate change. These pressures disrupt water flows, reduce fish populations, and increase the risks of flooding and droughts, particularly endangering the Mekong Delta and its surrounding regions.
Environmental degradation in the region is further intensified by a range of socio-political factors, including ethnic tensions, political instability, and resource-driven disputes. These challenges, coupled with mismanagement of natural resources, exacerbate existing inequalities, and contribute to regional instability, threatening both ecological sustainability and long-term peace.
In addressing the nexus between land, peace and security, linked with climate security in the region the UNCCD’s Global Mechanism in partnership with the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), co-organized a consultation workshop within the scope of Peace Forest Initiative (PFI) for ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste on September 11-13, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand.
The three-day workshop brought together participants from the relevant ministries of nine ASEAN countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam) and Timor-Leste, as well as representatives from civil society organizations, regional, and international organizations focused on environmental conservation and restoration, resource management, and disaster risk management. The workshop provided a platform to identify common interests, and potential entry points and thematic priorities for joint actions under the PFI, ultimately contributing to delivering ASEAN’s vision of regional peace and security.
The workshop highlighted critical issues in land use and environmental management, emphasizing the weak enforcement of existing policies and the absence of a unified policy on land use both on the national and regional levels. Participants emphasized the need for regional cooperation, particularly in water management, biodiversity, and forest restoration. Capacity building for sustainable forest management and the active involvement of local communities were identified as essential cornerstones for achieving environmental sustainability and resilience.
The workshop participants identified areas of collaboration focused on five key thematic pillars: agriculture, agroforestry, biodiversity conservation, mangrove restoration, and value chain development. These pillars will form the foundation for future collaboration on terrestrial ecosystem restoration in the region, highlighting cross-border cooperation and connectivity at all levels. The workshop outcomes underscore the importance of an environmental restoration that can strengthen the social and economic fabric of Southeast Asia.
Prepared by the UNCCD and AFoCO
