28.1.3 Peatland Restoration Measures in Tropical Peatlands
of Indonesia
After three decades of peat degradation, the government of Indonesia (GOI) has
currently reversed peatland management. Peatland Restoration Agency of the
Republic of Indonesia, here and after referred to as BRG RI, was established in
January 2016 to restore 2 Mha of peatland. In total, 3–4 Mha of peatlands have been
drained (Miettinen et al. 2012a, b, 2016; Uda et al. 2017). The restoration areas could
reach 66% of all drained and converted peatlands, which may have significant
impacts on improving the sustainability of peatland management. The directly
targeted areas for peatland restoration by BRG RI are community’s peatland areas
(non-concession), conservation areas, and protected areas. Meanwhile, restoring
peatlands in concession areas is the responsibility of license holders under the
supervision of BRG RI and/or the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF).
The implemented strategies of peatland restoration include rewetting, revegetation, and revitalization of the local economy by promoting the principle of
paludiculture. In terms of rewetting, BRG RI has built 11,796 deep wells, 5857
canal blockings, and 143 canal backfilling points in various restoration target areas.
These technical measures entangle social measures including local community
education and participation. Action research projects have been conducted to find
optimized options for peatland restoration.
28.2 Method: Action Research and Restoration Plots
This paper aims to discuss the lessons learned from some plots of peatland restoration. From 2017 to 2019, the Deputy of Research and Development of BRG RI
facilitated 112 action research projects in six out of seven prioritized provinces in
Indonesia. They are Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. Action research plots comprise strategies of peatland
restoration (rewetting, revegetation, and revitalization, and the integration of the
three measures).
From the 112 action research projects, we selected and observed potential plots as
well as local practices (approaches existed before BRG RI intervened). Action
research had been endorsed to partnering universities and research institutions, and
the study areas depended on their choice. We then mapped the chosen study areas
into peat hydrological units. After that, we selected plots that are eligible for show
windows or plot models, as well as acquired the lessons learned from those practices.
From this point, we decided to discuss three plots including: (1) a plot in Tanjung
Leban Village in Bengkalis District, Riau Province; (2) a plot in protected peat forest
in Londerang, located in Parit Culun II village, East Tanjung Jabung District, Jambi
Province; and (3) a plot in Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan. These three plots are
comparable in terms of employing revegetation as the core of the approach. To some
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H. Gunawan et al.
of Indonesia
After three decades of peat degradation, the government of Indonesia (GOI) has
currently reversed peatland management. Peatland Restoration Agency of the
Republic of Indonesia, here and after referred to as BRG RI, was established in
January 2016 to restore 2 Mha of peatland. In total, 3–4 Mha of peatlands have been
drained (Miettinen et al. 2012a, b, 2016; Uda et al. 2017). The restoration areas could
reach 66% of all drained and converted peatlands, which may have significant
impacts on improving the sustainability of peatland management. The directly
targeted areas for peatland restoration by BRG RI are community’s peatland areas
(non-concession), conservation areas, and protected areas. Meanwhile, restoring
peatlands in concession areas is the responsibility of license holders under the
supervision of BRG RI and/or the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF).
The implemented strategies of peatland restoration include rewetting, revegetation, and revitalization of the local economy by promoting the principle of
paludiculture. In terms of rewetting, BRG RI has built 11,796 deep wells, 5857
canal blockings, and 143 canal backfilling points in various restoration target areas.
These technical measures entangle social measures including local community
education and participation. Action research projects have been conducted to find
optimized options for peatland restoration.
28.2 Method: Action Research and Restoration Plots
This paper aims to discuss the lessons learned from some plots of peatland restoration. From 2017 to 2019, the Deputy of Research and Development of BRG RI
facilitated 112 action research projects in six out of seven prioritized provinces in
Indonesia. They are Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. Action research plots comprise strategies of peatland
restoration (rewetting, revegetation, and revitalization, and the integration of the
three measures).
From the 112 action research projects, we selected and observed potential plots as
well as local practices (approaches existed before BRG RI intervened). Action
research had been endorsed to partnering universities and research institutions, and
the study areas depended on their choice. We then mapped the chosen study areas
into peat hydrological units. After that, we selected plots that are eligible for show
windows or plot models, as well as acquired the lessons learned from those practices.
From this point, we decided to discuss three plots including: (1) a plot in Tanjung
Leban Village in Bengkalis District, Riau Province; (2) a plot in protected peat forest
in Londerang, located in Parit Culun II village, East Tanjung Jabung District, Jambi
Province; and (3) a plot in Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan. These three plots are
comparable in terms of employing revegetation as the core of the approach. To some
754
H. Gunawan et al.