In the Indonesia reporting for FREL, the GHGs emission from peatlands were
calculated from deforestation, forest degradation, and peat decomposition components. The deforestation on peatlands included conversion of peat swamp forest
cover (both primary and secondary) to other land cover categories that occurred once
in the area, while forest degradation on peatlands was simply change of primary peat
swamp forest class to secondary peat swamp forest class (MoEF 2016). The carbon
pools included in the FREL were aboveground biomass and soil organic carbon.
Aboveground biomass was included for all strata, while soil organic carbon was
included only for deforestation or forest degradation occurring on peatlands. Belowground biomass, litter, and deadwood were not included. Soil organic carbon on any
soils except peatlands was also not included. The emission factors used for deforestation and forest degradation were generated from National Forest Inventory data
assuming all forest carbon stocks were released to the atmosphere due to deforestation event, while for forest degradation the amount of carbon released simply from
the carbon stock change of primary peat swamp forest to secondary peat swamp
forest. GHGs emission from peat decomposition were calculated in the area where
forest degradation and/or deforestation has occurred assuming the deforested and
degraded peatlands have been drained. Emission factors for peat decomposition
were taken from the IPCC Wetlands Supplement (IPCC 2014). GHGs emission
from peatland were calculated not only at the time of deforestation or forest
degradation occurred, but it was assumed to continue over longer periods until
organic contents of peats are fully decomposed. Only CO 2 emission was reported;
non-CO 2 emission which could be resulted from the disturbance events in the
drained peatlands were not included. Although burning is the major source of
GHGs emission in tropical peatlands, the report also did not include emission
from peatland fires due to limited data availability and high uncertainties of the
estimations. There are a number of areas with opportunities for improvement for
future reporting.
15.4 Toward a Robust MRV System
15.4.1 The Need for Improved Management of Tropical
Peatlands
The orientation of peatland management in Indonesia has generally changed, particularly after 2015 (Fig. 15.2). The protection and restoration efforts are the main
trends in forest and peatland management in Indonesia, particularly after massive
fires in 2015 with huge damages on forests and peatlands. The government has
launched a set of regulations including postponement of granting of new concessions
(moratorium) on peatlands, protection and sustainable management of peatland
ecosystem, and revocation of existing concessions’ peatlands that are burnt, to be
restored.
452
H. Krisnawati et al.
calculated from deforestation, forest degradation, and peat decomposition components. The deforestation on peatlands included conversion of peat swamp forest
cover (both primary and secondary) to other land cover categories that occurred once
in the area, while forest degradation on peatlands was simply change of primary peat
swamp forest class to secondary peat swamp forest class (MoEF 2016). The carbon
pools included in the FREL were aboveground biomass and soil organic carbon.
Aboveground biomass was included for all strata, while soil organic carbon was
included only for deforestation or forest degradation occurring on peatlands. Belowground biomass, litter, and deadwood were not included. Soil organic carbon on any
soils except peatlands was also not included. The emission factors used for deforestation and forest degradation were generated from National Forest Inventory data
assuming all forest carbon stocks were released to the atmosphere due to deforestation event, while for forest degradation the amount of carbon released simply from
the carbon stock change of primary peat swamp forest to secondary peat swamp
forest. GHGs emission from peat decomposition were calculated in the area where
forest degradation and/or deforestation has occurred assuming the deforested and
degraded peatlands have been drained. Emission factors for peat decomposition
were taken from the IPCC Wetlands Supplement (IPCC 2014). GHGs emission
from peatland were calculated not only at the time of deforestation or forest
degradation occurred, but it was assumed to continue over longer periods until
organic contents of peats are fully decomposed. Only CO 2 emission was reported;
non-CO 2 emission which could be resulted from the disturbance events in the
drained peatlands were not included. Although burning is the major source of
GHGs emission in tropical peatlands, the report also did not include emission
from peatland fires due to limited data availability and high uncertainties of the
estimations. There are a number of areas with opportunities for improvement for
future reporting.
15.4 Toward a Robust MRV System
15.4.1 The Need for Improved Management of Tropical
Peatlands
The orientation of peatland management in Indonesia has generally changed, particularly after 2015 (Fig. 15.2). The protection and restoration efforts are the main
trends in forest and peatland management in Indonesia, particularly after massive
fires in 2015 with huge damages on forests and peatlands. The government has
launched a set of regulations including postponement of granting of new concessions
(moratorium) on peatlands, protection and sustainable management of peatland
ecosystem, and revocation of existing concessions’ peatlands that are burnt, to be
restored.
452
H. Krisnawati et al.