2017a, b). Several non-governmental organizations, research institutions, private
sector, conservation agencies, and governmental organizations have started peatland
hydrological restoration for the last two decades. It should be noted, however, that
the hydrological restoration efforts carried out by those parties were mainly perceived as project testing cases rather than an integrated and holistic approach.
Initially, peatland hydrological restoration was introduced mainly in the provinces of Central Kalimantan, Jambi, South Sumatra, and Riau in the early 2000s
(Dohong et al. 2018). For instance, three conservation NGOs, namely Wetlands
International, Indonesia, Wildlife Habitat, Canada, and Global Environment Centre
under the auspice of Climate Change, Forests and Peatland in Indonesia (CCFPI)
pioneered the hydrological restoration by closing artificial drainage canals built
through EMRP project and small ditches dug by illegal loggers in Muara Puning,
Central Kalimantan as well as illegal logger channels in South Sumatra in
2003–2005 (Suryadiputra et al. 2018; Dohong 2016). Effort put in by the three
organizations was recognized as the first ever rewetting program in Indonesia and
even in the tropical peatland region (Ritzema et al. 2014).
In addition to this first effort, another initiative to scale up the hydrological
restoration in Central Kalimantan includes the construction of canal blockings within
EMRP and Sebangau National Park by Wetlands International, Indonesia, and
WWF, respectively, through the scheme of Central Kalimantan Peatland Project
(CKPP) funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) in 2007–2008.
Hydrological restoration through canal blocking was also conducted in Block C
of the EMRP in 2005 under the project called the Keys for Securing Tropical Peat
Carbon (KEYTROP) and the EU Funded Project called Restoration of Tropical
Peatland for Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Resources (RESTOPEAT)
(Jauhiainen et al. 2008; Limin et al. 2007; Ritzema et al. 2014). Additionally,
World Wildlife Fund of Indonesia also implemented hydrological restoration
through the construction of canal blocking in Sebangau National Park in 2005 as
well as between 2005 and 2007 (Dohong 2016). Orangutan Tropical Peatland
Project (OuTrop) also implemented hydrological restoration by blocking some
illegal logger channels in the Peat Swamp Forest Natural Laboratory in Sebangau
(OuTrop 2010). Additionally, in Riau province, the hydrological restoration through
canal blocking for artificial channels was initiated by Greenpeace in Kampar Peninsula in 2009 (Lisa 2009).
In recent years, government of Indonesia has put in serious effort to restore
degraded peatland in the country. This serious effort was realized via the establishment of Peatland Restoration Agency or in Indonesian known as Badan Restorasi
Gambut (BRG) in 2016 by President H. E. Joko Widodo (Jokowi). The ad hoc
govermental agency is tasked to coordinate and facilitate peatland restoration in
seven provinces, namely Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South
Kalimantan, Central Kalimatan, and Papua covering a total 2 Mha of restoration
area within the years of 2016–2020 (Dohong et al. 2017b). In implementing its task
to restore degraded peatland, BRG employs three principal approaches called 3R
approach which stands for Rewetting, Revegetation, and Revitalization of local
livelihoods. In terms of hydrological restoration, BRG has constructed thousands
20 Hydrological Management Practices
571
sector, conservation agencies, and governmental organizations have started peatland
hydrological restoration for the last two decades. It should be noted, however, that
the hydrological restoration efforts carried out by those parties were mainly perceived as project testing cases rather than an integrated and holistic approach.
Initially, peatland hydrological restoration was introduced mainly in the provinces of Central Kalimantan, Jambi, South Sumatra, and Riau in the early 2000s
(Dohong et al. 2018). For instance, three conservation NGOs, namely Wetlands
International, Indonesia, Wildlife Habitat, Canada, and Global Environment Centre
under the auspice of Climate Change, Forests and Peatland in Indonesia (CCFPI)
pioneered the hydrological restoration by closing artificial drainage canals built
through EMRP project and small ditches dug by illegal loggers in Muara Puning,
Central Kalimantan as well as illegal logger channels in South Sumatra in
2003–2005 (Suryadiputra et al. 2018; Dohong 2016). Effort put in by the three
organizations was recognized as the first ever rewetting program in Indonesia and
even in the tropical peatland region (Ritzema et al. 2014).
In addition to this first effort, another initiative to scale up the hydrological
restoration in Central Kalimantan includes the construction of canal blockings within
EMRP and Sebangau National Park by Wetlands International, Indonesia, and
WWF, respectively, through the scheme of Central Kalimantan Peatland Project
(CKPP) funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) in 2007–2008.
Hydrological restoration through canal blocking was also conducted in Block C
of the EMRP in 2005 under the project called the Keys for Securing Tropical Peat
Carbon (KEYTROP) and the EU Funded Project called Restoration of Tropical
Peatland for Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Resources (RESTOPEAT)
(Jauhiainen et al. 2008; Limin et al. 2007; Ritzema et al. 2014). Additionally,
World Wildlife Fund of Indonesia also implemented hydrological restoration
through the construction of canal blocking in Sebangau National Park in 2005 as
well as between 2005 and 2007 (Dohong 2016). Orangutan Tropical Peatland
Project (OuTrop) also implemented hydrological restoration by blocking some
illegal logger channels in the Peat Swamp Forest Natural Laboratory in Sebangau
(OuTrop 2010). Additionally, in Riau province, the hydrological restoration through
canal blocking for artificial channels was initiated by Greenpeace in Kampar Peninsula in 2009 (Lisa 2009).
In recent years, government of Indonesia has put in serious effort to restore
degraded peatland in the country. This serious effort was realized via the establishment of Peatland Restoration Agency or in Indonesian known as Badan Restorasi
Gambut (BRG) in 2016 by President H. E. Joko Widodo (Jokowi). The ad hoc
govermental agency is tasked to coordinate and facilitate peatland restoration in
seven provinces, namely Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South
Kalimantan, Central Kalimatan, and Papua covering a total 2 Mha of restoration
area within the years of 2016–2020 (Dohong et al. 2017b). In implementing its task
to restore degraded peatland, BRG employs three principal approaches called 3R
approach which stands for Rewetting, Revegetation, and Revitalization of local
livelihoods. In terms of hydrological restoration, BRG has constructed thousands
20 Hydrological Management Practices
571