BRIN and YKAN Joint Research for Peatland Restoration in West Kalimantan

Tropical peatlands in Indonesia, covering an area of 13.4 million hectares, store 57 Giga tons of carbon—or 55 percent of the world's total tropical peat carbon. Based on the results of a study of natural climate solutions or Natural Climate Solutions, peat ecosystems also have tremendous potential in efforts to mitigate climate change in Indonesia compared to mangrove ecosystems and dry land, which is 74 percent (YKAN, 2022). Therefore, protecting and restoring peat plays a role in achieving national climate targets and mitigating and adapting to climate change globally.

The availability of research results and scientific studies is needed for decision-making to deal with climate change. For this reason, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) is collaborating with Pusat Riset Ekologi dan Etnobiologi (PREE), Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN).

This collaboration was confirmed by the signing of a cooperation agreement carried out by the Head of the Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology Research at BRIN, Anang Setiawan Achmadi, and Executive Director of YKAN, Herlina Hartanto, on Friday, 4 August 2023.

Through this cooperation agreement, YKAN and BRIN will carry out joint research activities to support the Government of Indonesia's efforts to achieve emission reduction targets and improve the community's economy through a peat ecosystem restoration program in West Kalimantan.

"BRIN, as a government research institution, has an important role in providing accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date data and information regarding the mitigation potential of peat restoration based on the results of scientific studies. Not only to produce knowledge but research at BRIN is also directed to benefit the community. The research collaboration between PREE, BRIN, and YKAN for peatland restoration in West Kalimantan is a form of action research to address various problems that often occur in peat restoration comprehensively, taking into account scientific, technical, biophysical, to socio-economic aspects of the community," explained the Head of PREE-BRIN Anang Setiawan Achmadi.

"With its 1.6 million hectares of peatland cover and mitigation potential, West Kalimantan is one of the priority provinces for implementing YKAN's natural climate solutions. In this province, we are assessing the impact of peat restoration on emission reductions and supporting ongoing efforts to protect peat from degradation and deforestation involving all parties," added YKAN Executive Director Herlina Hartanto.

A series of studies that will be carried out include: 1) Technical and socio-economic studies related to optimizing the construction of canal blockings in an effort to manage the peat water table as part of the peatland re-wetting process; 2) evaluation of the impact of re-wetting of degraded peatlands on greenhouse gas emissions and aquatic carbon exports; and 3) implementing sustainable agricultural practices to increase economic opportunities and community welfare with sustainable business models on degraded peatlands.

According to YKAN's Senior Manager of Forest Carbon and Climate, Nisa Novita, re-wetting peat areas is one of the most cost-effective efforts to achieve the national carbon emission reduction target. "Efforts to re-wet peatlands, through constructing canal blocks in oil palm plantations at research sites in West Kalimantan, can reduce one-third of carbon dioxide emissions and do not affect methane emissions compared to areas that are not re-wetted. On a national scale, peat re-wetting can contribute 34 percent to the national emission reduction target from the forest and other land uses (FOLU) sector," explained Nisa.

The results of this research will support the creation of policies, the implementation of best practices, evidence-based planning, and the development of various development implementation instruments. Of course, this scientific study is also integrated with public awareness and community capacity building.