Located in the Mentaya River and Katingan River Peatland Hydrological Area
(BRG 2017), PT RMU divides the restoration intervention management into two
areas, i.e., (1) KMP Project Area (KMP-PA) and (2) KMP Project Zone (KMP-PZ),
see Fig. 13.1. The KMP project area is in fact a combination of two concession areas
granted by MoEF in 2013 and 2016 to PT RMU. In terms of forest function status,
the status of KMP-PA is a production forest, which means the forest is designated for
timber extraction either by logging concession or timber plantation. In KMP-PZ, the
status of forest area is a combination of production forest, convertible production
forest, and private land.
The restoration activities in KMP-PA mainly related to the peat swamp forest
restoration such as revegetation, rewetting, biodiversity enhancement, and habitat
protection. The long-term goal for the restoration intervention in KMP-PA is to
restore the degraded peat swamp forest into its original state. However, several
studies reported that it would need more than 100 years to restore the heavily
degraded peatland ecosystem to the original state (Cole et al. 2015; Hapsari et al.
2018). It means that the concession timeline might be not enough for restoring the
degraded peatland ecosystem to the original state. Therefore, with careful planning
PT RMU can facilitate the degraded peatland ecosystem back on track to its historic
ecological trajectory to reach self-sustainable peatland ecosystems.
KMP-PZ is the extended intervention management to the surrounding area
outside the concession area. The peatland condition in KMP-PZ has been heavily
degraded. Many peatland areas in KMP-PZ have been converted into poor productivity agricultural land, undeveloped peatland (grassland dominated with shrubs and
ferns), and secondary peat swamp forest. The long-term goal in KMP-PZ is to
develop a decent and sustainable livelihood for the local communities who live in
KMP-PZ. The restoration activities in KMP-PZ, e.g., community-based fire prevention, agroecological farming school, climate smart agriculture practice, and community nursery, are mainly conducted in collaboration with the local stakeholders
(village governments, community member groups, and local governments).
To bring the restoration efforts more manageable and measurable in our time
horizon, the KMP management has set the restoration goals as follows: (1) to reduce
the greenhouse emission from degraded peatland and forest deforestation, (2) to
develop sustainable livelihood, and (3) to maintain and enhance the peatland ecosystem biodiversity. In this chapter, we elaborate on KMP’s multi-discipline, ongoing efforts in peatland ecosystem restoration in order to achieve the goals. PT RMU
and KMP will hereinafter be used interchangeably in the subsequent part of this
article to refer to the same institution.
13 Management Practice and Restoration of the Peat Swamp Forest in. . .
383
(BRG 2017), PT RMU divides the restoration intervention management into two
areas, i.e., (1) KMP Project Area (KMP-PA) and (2) KMP Project Zone (KMP-PZ),
see Fig. 13.1. The KMP project area is in fact a combination of two concession areas
granted by MoEF in 2013 and 2016 to PT RMU. In terms of forest function status,
the status of KMP-PA is a production forest, which means the forest is designated for
timber extraction either by logging concession or timber plantation. In KMP-PZ, the
status of forest area is a combination of production forest, convertible production
forest, and private land.
The restoration activities in KMP-PA mainly related to the peat swamp forest
restoration such as revegetation, rewetting, biodiversity enhancement, and habitat
protection. The long-term goal for the restoration intervention in KMP-PA is to
restore the degraded peat swamp forest into its original state. However, several
studies reported that it would need more than 100 years to restore the heavily
degraded peatland ecosystem to the original state (Cole et al. 2015; Hapsari et al.
2018). It means that the concession timeline might be not enough for restoring the
degraded peatland ecosystem to the original state. Therefore, with careful planning
PT RMU can facilitate the degraded peatland ecosystem back on track to its historic
ecological trajectory to reach self-sustainable peatland ecosystems.
KMP-PZ is the extended intervention management to the surrounding area
outside the concession area. The peatland condition in KMP-PZ has been heavily
degraded. Many peatland areas in KMP-PZ have been converted into poor productivity agricultural land, undeveloped peatland (grassland dominated with shrubs and
ferns), and secondary peat swamp forest. The long-term goal in KMP-PZ is to
develop a decent and sustainable livelihood for the local communities who live in
KMP-PZ. The restoration activities in KMP-PZ, e.g., community-based fire prevention, agroecological farming school, climate smart agriculture practice, and community nursery, are mainly conducted in collaboration with the local stakeholders
(village governments, community member groups, and local governments).
To bring the restoration efforts more manageable and measurable in our time
horizon, the KMP management has set the restoration goals as follows: (1) to reduce
the greenhouse emission from degraded peatland and forest deforestation, (2) to
develop sustainable livelihood, and (3) to maintain and enhance the peatland ecosystem biodiversity. In this chapter, we elaborate on KMP’s multi-discipline, ongoing efforts in peatland ecosystem restoration in order to achieve the goals. PT RMU
and KMP will hereinafter be used interchangeably in the subsequent part of this
article to refer to the same institution.
13 Management Practice and Restoration of the Peat Swamp Forest in. . .
383