It's been almost a year since President Joko Widodo established the Peat Restoration Agency (BRG). Under Presidential Decree No. 1 of 2016, this agency is tasked with restoring two million hectares of peatland in seven priority provinces: Riau, South Sumatra, Jambi, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and Papua.

In the first year, BRG's work target was to restore 30% of the area, with four priority areas being Pulang Pisau (Central Kalimantan), Ogan Komering Ilir and Musi Banyuasin (South Sumatra), and the Meranti Islands (Riau). What were the results by the end of the year, and what are the work plans for next year?

Burned peatland in Central Kalimantan was used for oil palm planting. Improved management, including the BRG (Reforestation and Reforestation Agency), is expected to address this chaos in the future. Photo: Sapariah Saturi

In Jakarta on Friday (December 30, 2016), Head of the Peatland Restoration Agency (BPRG), Nazir Foead, stated that various efforts have been made over the past year. The BRG has implemented various peatland restoration interventions, including peatland restoration planning, the preparation of indicative restoration maps, and the construction of rewetting and revegetation projects. It has also implemented social interventions in peatland villages and assigned restoration projects to concession holders.

The BRG has conducted indicative mapping of 2,492,527 hectares of peatland restoration priorities. Of that area, peatland ecosystem restoration plans cover 470,424 hectares in Pulang Pisau. LiDAR mapping has already covered 606,000 hectares.

"We're mapping again in greater detail and at a higher scale. The mapping will be completed in January, March, and April. We're mapping five peat hydrological units in four districts," he said.

Another thing that has been done is social intervention through community preparation in 104 villages in four priority districts covering an area of ​​806,312 hectares.

Social intervention, he said, is crucial to ensure a community consultation process and consensus on where canal barriers and boreholes will be built. Currently, 634 canal barriers have been built.

This year, regional BRG teams have been formed in Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Riau, South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan.

They have tried land clearing without burning, and the construction of drilled wells is thought to be able to extinguish fires in the dry season before a larger aid team arrives.

Land clearing without burning, he said, can be done using microbes, burning in drums, or using company excavators if the location is adjacent to a community. "We require companies to help farmers. Farmers have been willing to burn because they want the ash to reduce acid levels. Perhaps we could use the burning in drums method. Using microbes is a new technology. If it's successful, many will follow," he said.

Using specific microbes, he said, land clearing can take two to three weeks. This technique is actually much easier and cheaper. It costs only Rp 200,000 per application and has been tested in South Kalimantan. In early 2017, trials were conducted in Central Kalimantan.

"We've been training in drilling wells in four districts from August to November. We've drilled 433 wells in Riau, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. Local governments and companies are also involved in building the wells. In Central Kalimantan, the local government built 1,600 wells. Our company provides technical guidance."

BRG has assigned 36 concession-holding companies in South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Riau, and Jambi to carry out peat restoration in an area of ​​650,389 hectares, or 26% of the peat restoration area.

This figure, he said, will continue to grow as the team continues mapping and verification. He estimates it will reach 1.4 million hectares.

"We have assigned each permit holder a task. Previously, we verified with the companies that the areas were accurate as per the map. Verification is ongoing. To date, more than 90,000 hectares have been verified by four companies. We have set a deadline to complete the verification by June 2017," said Nazir.

Verification takes a considerable amount of time, given the vast area covered. He said verification requires fieldwork and cannot be based solely on company data. During restoration, concessionaires also receive technical guidance from the BRG. Monitoring includes water levels and humidity. One method, water loggers, can provide real-time data on water levels in the area.

"Twenty water loggers have been installed. Nine in Central Kalimantan, one in West Kalimantan, one in Jambi, four in South Sumatra, and four in Riau. This is the result of a collaboration with the BPPT (Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology) and Japan. The devices can report water level levels every hour," he said.

The installation of water loggers will continue to increase and we hope to have hundreds.

BRG Deputy for Education, Socialization, Participation and Partnership, Myrna Safitri, said that BRG interventions take various forms, including planning, canal blocking mapping, and social activities.

The public, he said, often interprets Presidential Decree 1 of 2016 differently. It clearly states that approximately two million hectares will be restored, with a target of 30% in the first year. "It's often assumed that 30% will be completed in the first year."

Actually, Myrna said, the Presidential Decree doesn't read that way. It's impossible for peatland restoration efforts to be completed in a matter of months. The BRG has begun work and interventions on 30% of the target. "When will we see the results? Well, maybe not this year," she said.

Myrna said that success depends on the peatland restoration criteria set by the Minister of Environment and Forestry.

To implement the Peatland Regulation, the Minister of Environment and Forestry is currently drafting a ministerial regulation to determine the criteria for restoration. "So, that's what we'll use as a reference. The level of restoration success can be measured once the regulation is issued."

Myrna said the first year of the BRG program focused more on planning and mapping, including setting up the BRG institution. "Only after that will debt collection be carried out in 2017, particularly for hydrological restoration," she said.

Residents block a canal in Sebangau National Park, Central Kalimantan. Photo: Sapariah Saturi

What are your plans for 2017?

Once planning is complete, the target will be met in 2017. "Once planning is complete, restoration can proceed at full speed," Nazir said at the International Peatland Symposium in Jakarta.

One of the plans involved detailed laser-based mapping (LiDAR). Since last October, it has been underway in four districts, with a target date of November 2016. Delays have been caused by persistent rain.

Haris Gunawan, Deputy for Research and Development, stated that BRG will conduct more field implementation next year. This year, BRG completed an indicative restoration map, planning several sites, and mapping donor agencies.

The BRG carried out the assignment in collaboration with the business community. The assignment letter included an indicative map and restoration plan.

The BRG is also mapping the protection of intact peat domes within concessions, with 485,000 hectares agreed upon, and 910,000 hectares for hydrological restoration/revegetation. This figure will continue to grow.

"We (approach) through assignment letters, on a case-by-case basis, with verification for permit holders," said Budi Wardana, Deputy for Planning and Cooperation at BRG.

The verification deadline is one month. Afterward, restoration plans for each management unit will be developed and approved by the BRG. For implementation, the BRG will provide restoration guidance for preparation, planning, and evaluation.

This restoration plan is known as the Peat Ecosystem Management and Protection Plan (RPPEG). This process will last until June 2017, with only three companies currently verified.

Restoration, Haris said, doesn't necessarily mean returning land to its natural state. "This serves as a reminder that this process will continue and provides a strong foundation for the program's sustainability," he said.

Deep peatland in the PT MBH concession that burned last year. Photo: Lovina S

Funding

In 2017, the BRG received Rp865 billion in state budget funding. Furthermore, the BRG also utilized budgets from relevant ministries, such as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, and the Ministry of Villages.

"We hope support from friendly countries will continue to grow," said Haris. The BRG is targeting restoration funding sources to exceed grant aid. Regarding donor funding, he said he has collaborated with various countries, both new and existing, for peatland restoration. These include Norway, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and South Korea, with a total value of approximately US$125 million.

"We hope to see more collaborations with other donors next year. There's still room for more. New countries like Canada and the Netherlands are also on the way. I'm confident there will be more new commitments, reducing the reliance on the state budget."

Nazir believes it's understandable that many countries are interested in helping restore Indonesia's peatlands, as it will benefit the world. During forest and land fires, Indonesia emits over one gigaton of emissions. If this is addressed by peatland restoration, the world will benefit.

"I estimate the 2017 funding was about two to one. So, one-third from donors, almost two-thirds from the state budget. I hope it will be more balanced in 2018." Echoing Nazir, Budi said that restoration alone wouldn't be sufficient with state budget funds. "We hope it can be met through collaboration with development partners."

To date, he said, collaborations have been agreed upon, including 440,000 hectares from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Pulan Pisau, Central Kalimantan; 90,000 hectares from the Millennium Challenge Account-Indonesia; 445,000 hectares from the UK Climate Change Unit in Musi Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra; and 606,000 hectares from Norway through KHG mapping in four priority BRG districts.

Not only that, it also invites investors in restoration, through public and private sectors, to support ecosystem restoration.

The BRG investment policy package utilizes a Norwegian business model development consultant. "There are several types of restoration, primarily in protected areas and concessions," said Budi. The BRG funding model emphasizes grants over investment.

In conservation and protected areas, the BRG emphasizes grants, unless there's an indication of a carbon-benefit business model. Meanwhile, utilization patterns involve funding through investment, for example, physical, technical, and institutional investments.

This institution is a key factor in ensuring all restoration planning remains sustainable. Furthermore, restoration for alternative commodities, such as investments in infrastructure and market improvements, also exists.

Peat forests remain intact in Kalimantan. With improved governance, including the BRG, it is hoped that the remaining peatlands will be preserved. Photo: Rhett A.

ButlerCommunity readiness

Within the institution, the BRG also conducts village-based community participation mapping. More than 1,280 villages across seven provinces are included in the 2.4 million-hectare restoration map. "We're implementing various models, including improving the village development index, addressing environmental issues, village spatial planning, and establishing village-owned or inter-village enterprises," said Budi.

The incentive and disincentive model is also strengthened for each investment. Currently, the BRG is conducting outreach and collaborating on land use mapping, as villages are still based on district spatial planning.

The BRG also supports restoration through social forestry schemes. They are currently mapping BRG's map with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's social forestry program. "If the location is the same as the peat restoration program, it will be combined," Nazir said.

BRG's work area in this scheme focuses more on water management and assisting with silvicultural planting. The goal is to optimize crop production on peatlands. Grand design development

The establishment of the BRG (Regional Greenhouse Gas Regulatory Agency) is one of the government's commitments to achieving a haze-free Indonesia. Along with restoring peatlands, the government is also preventing them by creating a grand design for forest, land, and plantation fire prevention from 2017 to 2020.

Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of National Development Planning, acknowledged the crucial importance of fire prevention, particularly in peatlands. Bappenas will integrate forest and land fire control and peatland restoration into the 2017 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and the Government Work Plan (RKP).

"Peatlands are vulnerable to changes in land use, fires and the impacts of climate change," he said.

The economic losses are enormous, amounting to approximately Rp 221 trillion (approximately US$17.7 billion). This is not only the loss, but also the disruption to economic activity and the health of the population. "Last year, half a million people in six provinces suffered from acute respiratory infections."

This grand design, he said, prioritizes fire-prone areas in eight provinces: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and Papua. However, he said, the legal form of this grand design has not yet been determined. "If implemented, it could reduce fires by 50%," said Herry Purnomo, a researcher at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). He participated in the formulation of this grand design.

The approaches used are both site-based and non-site-based. The site-based approach involves strengthening the role of village communities and providing incentives and disincentives. The non-site-based approach focuses on strengthening the legal framework.

The main points of the policy address incentives and disincentives and strengthen the role of village communities. These include law enforcement, improved forest fire information systems, and infrastructure development.

"Standards are being developed, including standards for fire-free villages and standards for canal barriers," he said, adding that 731 villages were involved in the mapping.

The implementation of this plan will cost Rp39 trillion, including the preparedness phase. The funding source, whether from the government or donor countries, has not yet been allocated.

The grand design involved 17 ministries and institutions, including the BRG, and coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Lapan).

Commitment gap

Teguh Surya of the Madani Foundation welcomed the Indonesian government's steps throughout 2016 to reduce emissions in peatlands, from the establishment of the Peatland Reforestation Agency (BPRG) in early 2016 to the issuance of the revised Gambur Government Regulation in early December.

However, he said, they observed that peat protection and restoration efforts still face various major challenges, including gaps in commitment and capacity between institutions and between government institutions at the national and sub-national levels.

Not only that, the public monitoring function is weak because access to public documents and other documents is minimal even though they should be open to the public.

Teguh said that protecting and restoring peat ecosystems should be a collective effort supported by all elements of society. For one thing, the public needs to carry out monitoring functions, including holding the government accountable for its commitment to peat protection and restoration.

To enable such monitoring, he said, the public needs to know what's happening on the ground and the progress of the government's commitments. Therefore, a platform containing information on the government's promises regarding peat restoration and protection is needed.

This platform can also empower civil society organizations, communities, and the media to hold the government accountable for its commitments to prevent fires and reduce emissions and restore peatlands.

The Madani Foundation, he said, fully supports the government in fulfilling and strengthening its commitments on environmental issues, including regularly monitoring the progress of the government's commitments.

"Analysis of peatland management and restoration, as well as sharing experiences regarding peatland management and restoration based on the latest science and technology as well as local wisdom."

Poor governance is one of the causes of fires. The government will restore peatlands to remedy the current poor governance. Photo: Sapariah Saturi

Mongabay Indonesia, December 31, 2016

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