THREE YEARS OF

PEATLAND RESTORATION
IN INDONESIA
REPORT

BADAN RESTORASI GAMBUT REPUBLIK INDONESIA

(THE PEATLAND RESTORATION AGENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA)
JANUARY 2019
 Peatland restoration is one of the commitments of the Indonesian Government
to prevent forest and land fire and suppress green house gas emissions. In the last
three years, President Joko Widodo has demonstrated a strong commitment to save
the peatland ecosystem. The amendment and formulation of the new policy
regarding the protection and management of peatland ecosystem is an obvious
indicator of such a commitment. It then became the essential orientation in the
implementation of the restoration.

A lot of efforts had been carried out with regards to the implementation of the
peatland restoration program. This report records the development and the status of
the peatland restoration implementation from 2016 to 2018.

We realize that the implementation of the peatland restoration demanded an

effective coordination and a solid collaboration between the ministries/agencies,
regional governments, and other parties, including community, NGOs, scholars,
business partners, as well as international partners, in the perspective of Peatland
Hydrological Unit (KHG).

We would like to express our gratitude to the Minister of Environment and

Forestry, who always provided guidances on the program, and all parties who
supported the implementation of the peatland restoration. The essential philosophy
we learned from the implementation in the last three years is that it is important to
rely on the spirit of mutual cooperation in safeguarding the peatland. May God
always bless our endeavors to keep the peatland ecosystem in Indonesia intact.

Jakarta, 24 January 2019

Chief of the Peatland Restoration Agency of the Republic of Indonesia

NAZIR FOEAD
FOREWORD ................................................................................................................ ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... iii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................... iv
LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................... v
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................ vi
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1
2. THE DESCRIPTION OF TASKS AND FUNCTIONS IN BRG’s ACTIVITIES............. 3
2.1 Tasks and Functions............................................................................... 3
2.2 Working Area and Target ....................................................................... 4
2.3 Working Units and Activity Description ................................................ 6
2.4 Approach and Framework ................................................................... 11
3. PERFORMANCE STATUS OF THE THREE-YEAR PEATLAND RESTORATION .... 14
3.1 Work Criteria and Indicator ...................................................................... 14
3.2 Peatland Restoration Performance in 2016-2018 ................................... 16
3.3 Performance Status of the Three-Year Peatland Restoration ..................23
4. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY ............................................................30
4.1 The Support of Local Government and Villages.................................... 30
4.2 The Integration of Peatland Restoration into Village & Regional
Development .............................................................................................. 30
4.3 The Presence of Grass Root Cadres ......................................................... 32
4.4 Partnership with NGO and Universities ................................................... 33
4.5 International Support................................................................................34
4.6 Comprehensive and Systematic Peatland Restoration ........................ 35
5. ORIENTATION FOR STRENGTHENING ............................................................. 37
5.1 Institutional Strengthening ................................................................. 37
5.2 Cooperation between All Parties .............................................................. 37
5.3 Involving Companies ........................................................................... 38
5.4 Medium and Long-Term Planning ........................................................ 38

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA iii

BRG : Badan Restorasi Gambut (Peatland Restoration Agency)
BUMDes : Badan Usaha Milik Desa (Village-Owned Enterprise)
HGU : Hak Guna Usaha (Right of Exploitation)
HPHD : Hak Pengelolaan Hutan Desa (Village Forest Management Right)
IUPHHK : Izin Usaha Pemanfaatan Hasil Hutan Kayu (Forest Timber Product Exploitation Permit)
IUPHKm : Izin Usaha Pemanfaatan Hutan Kemasyarakatan (Community Forest Utilization Permit)
IUPHTR : Izin Usaha Pemanfaatan Hutan Tanaman Rakyat (Permit to Utilize Community Timber Forestry)
KHG : Kesatuan Hidrologis Gambut (Peatland Hydrological Unit)
KPH : Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan (Forest Management Unit)
Perdes : Peraturan Desa (Village Regulation)
PIPG : Pembangunan Infrastruktur Pembasahan Gambut (Peatland Rewetting Infrastructure Construction)
PIR : Peta Indikatif Restorasi (Restoration Indicative Map)
RKPDes : Rencana Kerja Pemerintahan Desa (Village Government Work Plan)
RPJMD : Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Daerah (Medium-term Regional Development Plan)
RPJMDes : Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Desa (Medium-term Village Development Plan)
RREG : Rencana Restorasi Ekosistem Gambut (Peatland Ecosystem Restoration Plan)
RTT : Rencana Tindak Tahunan (Annual Action Plan)

SIPALAGA : Sistem Pemantauan Air Lahan Gambut (Peatland Water Monitoring System)
SLRG : Satuan Lahan Restorasi Gambut (Peat Restoration Land Unit)
TMA : Tinggi Muka Air Gambut (Peatland Water Level)
TP : Tugas Pembantuan (Assistance Task)
TRGD : Tim Restorasi Gambut Daerah (Regional Peatland Restoration Team)

iv THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

Tabel 1. Details for the activities of each working unit of BRG based on the
tasks and functions .................................................................................. 7
Tabel 2. Model of the Peatland Restoration Hierarchy Adopting the
Comprehensive-Systematic Approach .............................................. 15
Tabel 3. Peatland Restoration facilitated by the APBN of 2017–2018 ................ 25
Tabel 4. Peatland Restoration coordinated with BRG’s development
partners................................................................................................... 25

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA v

 Figure 1. The implementation of peatland restoration in Indonesia .............. 5
Figure 2. The area and distribution of the peatland restoration in seven
provinces ....................................................................................... 5
Figure 3. The working units of the Peatland Restoration Agency ..................... 6
Figure 4. Succession trajectory of peatland forest ecosystem ......................... 11
Figure 5. Peatland restoration by replanting ................................................... 12
Figure 6. Performance Criteria and Indicators .................................................. 14
Figure 7. BRG collaborated with the Banjar Baru Environmental and Forestry
Research and Development Agency to conduct revegetation on the
burn scar area in KHDTK Tumbang Nusa at the 1st Tropical Peatland
Roundtable 2017 ......................................................................... 17
Figure 8. The Development of the 2017 Annual Action Plan (RTT) ............... 18
Figure 9. Peatland fishery as one of the economic revitalization efforts...... 19
Figure 10. Water level monitoring device ......................................................... 20
Figure 11. BRG and its partners have built the peatland rewetting
infrastructure, such as canal blockings .............................................. 21
Figure 12. Stakeholder perception index on peatland ecosystem restoration. 22
Figure 13. BRG, in cooperation with the community group, is constructing
the deep well, one of the rewetting infrastructures .........................24
Figure 14. BRG’s peatland restoration milestones in 2017-2018 ....................... 26

vi THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

Figure 15. The number of Peat Care Village....................................................... 27
Figure 16. Elementary school teachers’ teaching and learning activities in
the peat care village ........................................................................... 28
Figure 17. Field school programs on peat care village ................................. 28
Figure 18. Water level monitoring device......................................................... 29
Figure 19. Workshop on product development and training on rattan
weaving in BRG's peat care village ............................................... 30
Figure 20. BRG with Javara are holding a training on processing food
materials found on peatland into healthy food ............................ 31
Figure 21. One of the community groups’ economic revitalization activities
is swamp buffalo cultivation ............................................................ 32
Figure 22. Community involvement in peatland restoration program for
2017-2018 .................................................................................. 33
Figure 23. One of the 1st Tropical Peatland Roundtable activities,
conducted in 2017 and attended by 69 peat observers from
9 (nine) countries. ............................................................................ 34
Figure 24. President of the International Peatland Society (IPS), Gerald
Schmilewski, is testing a deep well in Central Kalimantan
in 2017 ............................................................................................... 34
Figure 25. International support towards peatland restoration ....................... 35
Figure 26. The training of Bhabinkamtibmas (community police officer) for
the integrated community involvement in the peat care village
to support the implementation of peatland restoration ................ 36
Figure 27. Chief of the Peatland Restoration Agency, together with the
partners and community members, are carrying out the rewetting
process by using the deep well .........................................................38

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA vii

 1

T
he establishment of BRG was motivated by the massive forest and land fires in
2015. That year was the worst period in the history of forest and land fire in
Indonesia during the last 18 years. The fire occurring from June to November
had burned 2.6 million hectares of land and resulted in thick smoke and haze.
According to the World Bank’s record, Indonesia experienced an estimated loss of
IDR 221 trillion.1 Nevertheless, such number has not taken into account the losses in
health and education. 37% out of 2.6 million hectares of land burned in 2015 was
peatland. In fact, peatland serves as a reservoir that can contain a huge amount of
carbon.

One of the factors which triggered the fire is the practice of draining, causing the
peatland to be more prone to fire, particularly during the dry season. However, a
further analysis on the peatland fire indicated a rather complex and systematic
problem situation, while the data and knowledge on the characteristics of the peat
ecosystem and the safe appropriate technology to manage the peatland were still too
limited.

To prevent and reduce the risk of recurring fire, the Indonesia Government issued
a number of policies, among which are the Government Regulation on protection and
management of peatland ecosystem and the Presidential Regulation on the Peatland
Restoration Agency. The Government Regulation regulates the protection and
management of the peatland ecosystem, including the revitalization of the peatland
ecosystem. In the meantime, by virtue of the Presidential Regulation, BRG
1 World Bank, 2016. The Cost of Fire: An economic analysis of Indonesia’s 2015 Fire Crisis. Indonesia Sustainable
Landscapes Knowledge Note 1. Jakarta: World Bank.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 1

was mandated to carry out the emergency and immediate action with the focus on
the priority locations while preparing a solid foundation for more systematic
revitalization of peatland ecosystem in a wider scale, under the protection and
management of peatland ecosystem as set forth in the Government Regulation.

The Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) was established by virtue of the

Presidential Regulation No. 1 of 2016 on the Peatland Restoration Agency, which was
signed by President Joko Widodo on 6 January 2016. BRG operates under and reports
to the President. BRG is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the peatland
restoration in seven priority provinces, namely Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West
Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and Papua. BRG’s target of
peatland restoration is set to two million hectares, which must be accomplished
within the working period, starting from 6 January 2016 to 31 December 2020.
THE DESCRIPTION OF
TASKS AND FUNCTIONS
IN BRG’S ACTIVITIES

2.1 TASKS AND FUNCTIONS

The Presidential Regulation No. 1 of 2016 on the Peatland Restoration Agency
states that BRG is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the peatland
restoration in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan,
South Kalimantan, and Papua. In this regard, the coordinating and facilitating tasks
are directed to the execution of the nine functions of BRG, which are: (1)
Strengthening of the peatland restoration policies; (2) Planning, controlling &
collaborating on peatland restoration; (3) Mapping out of the peatland hydrological
units (KHGs); (4) Establishing the protection and cultivation zones; (5) Constructing
peat rewetting infrastructure and its supporting devices; (6) Restructuring the burn
scar areas; (7) Disseminating information and organizing education activities on
peatland restoration; (8) Overseeing the activities of construction, operation, and
maintenance within the concession areas; and (9) other functions given by the
President.
The execution of the coordinating and facilitating tasks relies on the collaboration
between BRG and other government agencies as well as other parties responsible for
the peatland restoration efforts/activities. Other government agencies referred to in
this context are the central and regional government agencies with the authority,
duty, and function relevant to the 9 (nine) functions of BRG, as set forth in the
Presidential Regulation No. 1 of 2016. Meanwhile, the parties responsible for the
peatland restoration are the regional permit holders/ concessionaires of the forest
and land whose working areas expand across BRG’s peatland restoration target area.
Therefore, other government agencies and parties responsible for the peatland
restoration are the main targets of BRG’s coordinating and facilitating tasks.
THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 3
 In executing its tasks and functions, BRG is required to report the implementation to
the President via the Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK). The report is
carried out regularly every month or every three months, depending on the intensity
of the field activities, or whenever necessary.

2.2 WORKING AREA AND TARGET

In executing its tasks and functions, BRG arranges the plan and implementation
of the peatland ecosystem restoration for five-year time frame. The total area of the
peatland ecosystem expanding over the seven priority provinces reaches 12.9 million
hectares. 2.49 million hectares of the area is set to be the peatland restoration target.

BRG selected the priority areas based on 3 (three) criteria, which are (1) Burn scar
areas, which were burned during 2015; (2) Peat dome with canals; and (3) Shallow
Peatland for Cultivation. 2.49 million hectares of peatland restoration priority area,
or 19.26% of the total peatland area in the 7 (seven) provinces, was found to match
the three criteria. Such area is then set as the target of the restoration by virtue of
the Decree of the Head of BRG, SK.05/BRG/Kpts/2016 concerning Peatland
Restoration Indicative Map (PIR), which was issued on 14 September 2016.

The target of the peatland restoration expands across 104 Peatland Hydrological
Units (KHGs) in 57 districts. According to the regional spatial planning, the peatland
restoration target is spread across 684,638 hectares of conservation area, 1,410,926
hectares of cultivation area with permit, and 396,945 hectares of cultivation area
without permit.

The implementation of the peatland restoration is carried out with respect to the
task, function, and responsibility of the relevant parties. The restoration in
conservation area is implemented by the stakeholders of such area, as assigned by
the Minister of Environment and Forestry. Regional stakeholders can establish a
partnership with NGOs. In the Non-Forest Estate and production forest estate which
do not subject to permit, and protected forest, the restoration is implemented by the
regional government with the scheme of Assistance Task (TP)-community- NGOs. In
the meantime, the concessionaires are responsible for implementing the restoration
in their own concession areas.

4 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

 Figure 1. The implementation of peatland restoration in Indonesia

The Presidential Regulation No. 1 of 2016 has set the annual targets to be
achieved by BRG. The target for 2016 is 30%, 20% for 2017, 20% for 2018, 20% for
2019, and finally for 2020, it is 10% of the total target. It implies that BRG was
demanded to work hard and effectively during the early period of its establishment.
At the same time, BRG had to organize its system and institution, assess the target
locations, plan the activities, arrange the budget, as well as identify and collaborate
with other related parties. BRG considers this situation a challenge, rather than a
problem.

Figure 2. The area and distribution of the peatland restoration in seven provinces.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 5

 2.3 WORKING UNITS AND ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
To accomplish the tasks and functions with respect to the aforementioned target,
BRG is equipped with the following organizational structure: Chief of BRG; Secretariat
of BRG; Deputy for Planning and Cooperation, Deputy for Construction, Operation,
Maintenance; Deputy for Education, Socialization, Participation, and Partnership; and
Deputy for Research and Development on Peatland Restoration. BRG is also
supported by the Technical Steering Team and Expert Team. The members of the
Technical Steering Team include the governors of the participating provinces and 20
related agencies/ministries. The members of the Expert Team are from universities,
research institutes, professionals, and community members. To support the
accomplishment of the task and function at the regional level, the Regional Peatland
Restoration Team (TRGD) was appointed and formed by virtue of the Governor’s
Decree.

Figure 3. The working units of the Peatland Restoration Agency

Organizational development is continuously carried out by BRG, especially to

complete the organizational structure and meet the need for human resources. Up
to 2018, BRG has employed 199 officials from different employment status, level of
education, and gender, which are distributed throughout 5 Deputy and Secretariat
working units.

The details for the activities of each working unit of BRG based on the tasks and
functions are as follows:

6 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

 Table 1. Details for the activities of each working unit of BRG based on the tasks and functions
Task
FUNction
COORDINATION AND FACILITATION OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN 7 PROVINCES
THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

DETAILS FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF EACH WORKING UNIT OF BRG

deputy for deputy for
Secretariat of BRG deputy for p&c2 deputy for eidpp4
com3 r&d
Strengthening of Establishing the Providing Arranging the Providing recommen- Conducting
the peatland organizational structure of recommendations for technical dations for the regulation research on the
restoration BRG and forming the redefining the function of guidelines and the on the supervision of the policies relevant
policies Regional Peatland peatland ecosystem within standard cost for peatland restoration in to peatland
Restoration Team peatland concession areas restoration
BRG working area
Allocating budget through rewetting
the state budget (APBN) Facilitating the
infrastructure
development of Village
Fulfilling the positions in
Regulation on peatland
BRG’s organizational restoration at village level
structure
Planning, Developing the Developing the Peatland Developing the Mainstreaming peatland Conducting
controlling, Peatland Restoration Ecosystem Restoration Plan Survey restoration into the Village Researches
and collaborating Strategic Plan of (RREG) for 7 provinces Investigation Development Plan Developing the
on peatland 2016-2020 Design (SID) and (RPJMDes) and the Village
Developing RREG for each Peatland Water
the Detailed Government Work Plan
restoration province Monitoring
Developing the Engineering Design (RKPDes) System
Peatland Restoration 2017 Contingency Plan (DED) for peatland
Establishing partnership (SIPALAGA) with
Government Work Plan Preparation rewetting
with national and local the Peatland
Developing the infrastructure Water Level
NGOs for empowering
Contingency Plan of 2017 the community living in (TMA) as the basis
Developing the Annual peatland village
Action Plan (RTT)
Establishing the national and
international partnership for
peatland restoration

2 Deputy for Planning and Cooperation

3 Deputy for Construction, Operation, and Maintenance
4 Deputy for Education, Information Dissemination, Participation, and Partnership
5 Deputy for Research and Development
7
 TASK
8
COORDINATION AND FACILITATION OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN 7 PROVINCES
FUNCTION
DETAILS FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF EACH WORKING UNIT OF BRG
deputy for deputy for
Secretariat of BRG deputy for p&c2 deputy for eidpp4
com3 r&d
Mapping out of Listing the peatland Mapping village peatland
ecosystem in 104 KHGs management area in the
the peatland
hydrological Mapping the result of the KHG
units inventory of the KHG
ecosystem
Remapping the KHGs
Establishing the Making recommendations Holding public
protection and for the zoning of 104 KHGs consultation on the
cultivation zones based on the peatland zoning
ecosystem inventory

Constructing Implementing peatland Planning the construction of Constructing Disseminating information Conducting
peat rewetting restoration in collabo- peatland rewetting Peatland (with early non- research on the
infrastructure ration with the Regional infrastructure in 7 Provinces compulsory notification) to construction of
THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

Rewetting
and its Government with Infrastructure introduce the construction the peatland
Assistance Task (TP) (PIPG) in of Peatland Rewetting rewetting
supporting
mechanism 1.1 million Infrastructure in the infrastructure
devices peatland within the village
Facilitating the provision of hectares of
peatland area. management area
technical resources for the
TP Setting up
revegetation
demonstration plot

Restructuring Mapping the 877,257 Conducting a village-based Conducting

the burn scar hectares of peatland area socio-economic analysis on research on the
areas burned by the fire the peatland policies relevant
to peatland
Providing recommendation
restoration
for the management
model of the peatland
 TASK
COORDINATION AND FACILITATION OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN 7 PROVINCES
FUNCTION
DETAILS FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF EACH WORKING UNIT OF BRG
THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

deputy for deputy for

Secretariat of BRG deputy for p&c2 deputy for eidpp4
com3 r&d
Disseminating Developing the restoration plan Revitalizing the Disseminating information at
the level of province, district,
information and livelihood of the
and international forum
organizing local community
education Disseminating information
activities on concerning peatland
restoration on printed, online,
peatland and electronic media
restoration
Providing training for
teachers, religious leaders
(da’i and pastor), paralegals,
village officials, and
women’s groups

Providing educational
teaching aids for elementary
schools/equivalent

Providing assistance and

empowerment for village
community through the
Peat Care program

Providing assistance in the

Farmer Field School and
craftsman group

Handling complaints about

the construction of the
peatland rewetting
infrastructure (PIPG) and
providing resolution for the
conflict
9
10

TASK
FUNCTION
COORDINATION AND FACILITATION OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN 7 PROVINCES

DETAILS FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF EACH WORKING UNIT OF BRG

Secretariat of BRG deputy for deputy for
deputy for p&c2 deputy for eidpp4
com3 r&d
Overseeing the Providing map and Integrating extra- Disseminating
activities of work plan concession information, providing
construction, activities technical guidance, and
operation & overseeing the peatland
maintenance restoration in the
within the concession area
concession areas

Other Developing paddy field model

functions given for the peatland through the
by the ‘public private partnership’
scheme
THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

President
2.4 approach and framework
In many cases, developmental activities, including land-based development
activities in peatland ecosystem, have to be carried out notwithstanding all the
unpreparedness. It also applies to peatland restoration, as a part of the development
activities. The implementation of peatland restoration is considered urgent and
should be carried out immediately, despite the limited data, knowledge, and
technology.

In a short term, the restoration is targeted to cover 2.49 million hectares of

peatland up to 2020. Nonetheless, in a long term, BRG will endeavor to establish a
solid foundation for more comprehensive and systematic revitalization of peatland
ecosystem in a wider scale after 2020. As a strategic measure, it is important that BRG
prepares more comprehensive and systematic work instruments and institutional
infrastructure for the revitalization by taking into account the existing ecological rules
and institutional systems.

The adequate understanding on the ecological restoration is supported by the

knowledge on ecosystem and succession. In the context of succession, the theory on
ecosystem is classified into two, namely classical and contemporary ecological
theories (Kimmins, 1997).6 The classical ecological theory states that ecosystem
stability is achieved through the process of succession, in which the ecosystem
undergoes a process to bring about dynamic equilibrium. This theory assumes that,
at the climax level, succession is closed in nature. On the contrary, the contemporary
theory suggests that the development of ecosystem can progress through a trajectory
which is not one way. The basic assumption of this theory is that ecosystem is open
in nature.

Figure 4. Succession trajectory of peatland forest ecosystem

6 Kimmins, J.P., 1997. Forest Ecology. University of British Columbia.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 11

 Succession is the change in the species composition and association of substrate
change over time. The change which is initiated by the condition of bare land and
lasts without catastrophic interference is called primary succession. If the change
occurs after a destructive interference, provided that such interference does not
completely destroy the biotic community of the ecosystem, secondary succession
takes place.
Succession and restoration are intrinsically linked because succession comprises
species and site change over time, and restoration is the purposeful manipulation of
that change (Walker et al., 2007).7
Succession has many possible trajectories and types of organismal change,
depending on the initial condition and the expected outcome. According to Aroson
et al. (1993),8 the sub-components of restoration are reclamation (any site
amelioration), rehabilitation (repair of ecosystem function), reallocation (alteration
to a new function), and bioremediation (reduction of site toxicity). The restoration of
peatland ecosystem can start from any of the method (reclamation, rehabilitation,
reallocation, or bioremediation), depending on the damage severity and the
restoration objectives.
Based on the framework, there are at least two key aspects to consider in taking
the approach and arranging the framework for the peatland ecosystem restoration:
(1) Peatland ecosystem restoration is management of succession, which entails

Figure 5. Peatland restoration by replanting

7 Walker, B. C. S. Holling, S. R. Carpenter, and A. Kinzig, 2004. “Resilience, adaptability and transformability in
social–ecological systems”. Ecology and Society 9(2): 5. HTTP://WWW.ECOLOGYANDSOCIETY.ORG/VOL9/ISS2/ART5.
8 Aroson et al., in Supriyadi, 2009. Ekologi Hutan. Yogyakarta: Te Faculty of Forestry, Gadjah Mada University.

12 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

long-term scenario because it will undergo the phases of succession; and (2) The
peatland restoration requires a relatively permanent institutional infrastructure, so
that the progress can be controlled and monitored in order to makes sure that the
succession trajectory matches the expectation.

Nevertheless, the implementation of the restoration, as directed by the ideal

concept restoration, succession, and ecosystem cannot be implemented and
accomplished in 5-year time frame (2016-2020). As a matter of fact, the Presidential
Regulation No. 1 of 2016 implies the urgency of the peatland restoration, particularly
because the damage was triggered by the recurring peatland fire which had caused
large-scale adversary impacts, even reached and caused problems for the
neighboring countries. Therefore, BRG has set two approaches in the implementation
of peatland restoration, namely quick response approach, and comprehensive-
systematic approach.

The quick response approach aims to reduce the risk of recurring fire at certain
parts of KHG through the construction of peatland rewetting infrastructure and
operation as well as community empowerment to reduce the risk of fire. Research
and development on the appropriate technology is also conducted for the effective
and efficient planning, utilization, and monitoring with regard to the peatland. In
the meantime, the comprehensive-systematic approach aims to set the benchmark
for comprehensive and systematic KHG-based revitalization of peatland ecosystem,
which can be mainstreamed systematically and in tiers into the planning and
development activities of the relevant government agencies and regional
governments and into the business/activity plans of the parties responsible for the
peatland restoration at site level. The comprehensive and systematic revitalization
of peatland ecosystem is expected to be the main business process in the peatland
revitalization efforts after 2020.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 13

 PERFORMANCE STATUS
OF THE THREE-YEAR
PEATLAND RESTORATION

3.1 Performance Criteria and Indicators

The outputs/outcomes in relation to the use of the budget with a measured
quantity and quality will point out the Peatland Restoration Agency’s performance in
the coordination and facilitation on peatland restoration programs. Based on the
implemented approach, there is a different performance standard of the
coordination and facilitation on peatland restoration between the quick response
approach and the comprehensive-systematic approach.

Objectives Reducing the Frequency and Causes of Recurring

Fire in the BRG Working Area

Criteria Physical Non-physical

A lot of parties
The number of burn Common causes Data, Knowledge, and
scar areas in the BRG show an active
of fire can be involvement in Policy on Peatland
working area show a have improved.
decline. prevented.
the program.

Activities Core Activity: Rewetting, Revegetation, Revitalization of Livelihood

Supporting Activities: Planning and Cooperation, Education,
Promotion, Participation and Partnership, Research and
Development, and Improvement.

Indicators •
• Peatland Rewetting
Infrastructure
Peatland Fire Trends
Community
Livelihoods
• Peat Care
Village
• Inventory
results and
KHG mapping
• Cooperation
• Revegetation on Peatland • RREG
Demonstration Plot
Restoration • Results of
Research on
Peatland
• PLTB (Non-Burning • Partnership Restoration
Land-Clearing) Program on
Demonstration Plot Peatland • MRV System
Restoration

Figure 6. Performance Criteria and Indicators

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

14
 From 2016 up to 2018, peatland restoration activities were carried out with the
quick response approach using the performance criteria and indicators derived from
the approach objectives as shown above in the figure. The quick response approach
will be applied until the end of 2020 to 2.4 million hectares of peatland ecosystem
which have been designated as the 2016-2020 BRG working area.

As shown in Chapter 2, the peatland restoration adopting the comprehensive-

systematic approach is aimed at obtaining a comprehensive and systematic
benchmark of KHG-based peatland ecosystem restoration which can be
mainstreamed systematically. The performance standards of the comprehensive-
systematic approach on peatland restoration are set up based on the criteria and
indicators derived from the following related objectives:
Table 2. Model of the Peatland Restoration Hierarchy Adopting the Comprehensive-
Systematic Approach

The comprehensive-systematic approach on peatland restoration should be able

to be mainstreamed systematically in tiers into the development plan and activities
of the relevant government agencies and regional government into the
business/activity plans of the parties responsible for the peatland restoration at site
level. Therefore, peatland restoration should be integrated with the village
development plan, RPJMN, RPJMD at the district/city/province level, and also with
the plan on forest and land management in any respective forest and land
management unit (KPH, IUPHHK, HGU, HPHD, IUPHKm, IUPHTR, etc.). The plan
contents on peatland ecosystem restoration mainstreamed in the plan of forest and
land management in any respective forest and land management unit should start
from a technical plan on peatland ecosystem restoration plan at the KHG level.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 15

 The implementation of peatland restoration adopting the comprehensive-
systematic approach will begin in 2019 on a model scale through several pilot projects in
the three selected KHG. The results of the implementation of this peatland ecosystem
restoration model will be the main content in the development of the business process
on peatland restoration which will be implemented after 2020.

3.2 Peatland Restoration Performance in 2016-2018

In 2016, BRG focused on the institutional set-up task through the institutional
structure development, strengthening the coordination between the central government
and local government, and completing the work program planning. The following are the
BRG achievements in 2016:

1. Developing the 2016-2020 BRG Strategic Plan in May 2016 with the support of Ministry
of National Development Planning of Republic of Indonesia (Bappenas).

2. By virtue of the Decision Letter of the Governor, building the Regional Peatland
Restoration Team (TRGD) in 7 (seven) provinces namely Jambi, South Sumatra, West
Kalimantan, Riau, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and Papua. TGRD involves
the local government, academics, local NGOs, private organizations, community, and
journalists.

3. Developing and strengthening BRG as an institution, stipulated in the Decision Letter

of Organization and Work Procedure of the Peatland Restoration Agency (Decision
Letter of the Chief of the Peatland Restoration Agency Number P.02/BRG-KB/2016
dated 31 October 2016) and the Presidential Regulation Number 69 of 2017 on
Financial Rights and Facilities for Chief, Secretary, Deputy, Working Groups, and
Expert Team of Peatland Restoration Agency dated 18 July 2017.

4. Providing an input in the regulation amendment, such as in the amendment process

of the Government Regulation Number 71 of 2014 to the Government Regulation
Number 57 of 2016 on Protection and Management of Peatland Ecosystem.

5. Setting up the peatland restoration indicative map by the virtue of the Decision Letter
of the Chief of Peatland Restoration Agency Number SK.05/BRG/Kpts/2016 dated 14
September 2016 regarding Peatland Restoration Indicative Map (PIR).

6. Collaborating with BRG partners to complete the construction of peatland rewetting

infrastructure, including 1,000 deep wells and 30 canal blockings.

7. Collaborating with BRG partners to implement revegetation in the burn scar area in South
Kalimantan.
8. Providing a number of guidelines and modules on restoration implementation
(construction of peatland rewetting infrastructure, plant nursery, and planting on the
peatland), social safeguards on peatland restoration, and community engagement
through the Peat Care Village Program.

16 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

 Figure 7. BRG collaborated with the Banjarbaru Environmental and Forestry
Research and Development Agency to conduct revegetation on the burn scar area in
KHDTK Tumbang Nusa at the 1st Tropical Peatland Roundtable 2017

9. Promoting and educating the community on peatland restoration, including

organizing the first peatland Community Jamboree in 2016 which was attended
by 1,000 farmers and community groups; promotion at the province level;
promotion at the Climate Change Summit in Marrakech, Morocco; and
presentation of the village data through social mapping.

10. Strengthening the coordination and cooperation with several relevant

Ministries/Agencies, permit holders, universities, and non-governmental
organizations to design and implement the initial stages of peatland restoration.

In 2017, BRG had expanded the scope of activities in its working practices. The
key factor of the 2017 implementation pattern of peatland restoration site activities
is the internal strength adopting a self-managed implementation pattern. Almost all
BRG technical staffs strove for a collaboration with the relevant community groups,
local universities, and in some areas, with several development partners. Some
planning activities agreed in a contract are carried out by the selected third parties.
The following are the BRG achievements in 2017:

1. Developed the RREG at the National Level and in 7 (seven) Priority Provinces at
36 KHG covering an area of 7,537,647 hectares.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 17

 Figure 8. The Development of the 2017 Annual Action Plan (RTT)

2. Developed the Annual Action Plan (RTT) on Peatland Restoration in 43 KHGs and the
inventory on peatland ecosystem characteristics of an area of 4,589,281 hectares.
3. Conducted peatland ecosystem mapping in a scale of 1:50,000 at 8 (eight) KHGs
covering 1,147,212 hectare area, including 650,777 hectare peatland. The 8 (eight)
KHGs include Sungai Lalan-Sungai Merang and Sungai Sugihan-Sungai Lumpur (South
Sumatra), Sungai Tapung Kiri-Sungai Kiyap (Riau), Sungai Ambawang-Sungai Kubu
(West Kalimantan), Sungai Utar-Sungai Serapat (Central Kalimantan/West
Kalimantan), as well as Sungai Barito-Sungai Alalak and Sungai Maluka-Sungai
Martapura (South Kalimantan).
4. Collaborated with 10 foreign governments and international institutions and signing a
Memorandum of Understanding with 13 Ministries/Institutions, 20 universities, and 7
domestic and foreign non-profit organizations.

5. Completed the construction of peatland rewetting infrastructure, including 5,900 deep

wells, 1,849 canal blockings, and 110 canal backfilling locations in Riau, Jambi, South
Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan, within the
APBN.

6. Collaborated with local BRG development partners to complete the construction of

peatland rewetting infrastructure, including 121 canal blockings and 99 retention basin
(embung).

18 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

7. Collaborated with 32 community groups in the construction of peatland rewetting
infrastructure and with 97 community groups to revitalize the community
livelihoods.

8. Facilitated the community through the Peat Care Village Program (Desa Peduli
Gambut/DPG) in 75 villages and kelurahan in 7 provinces to support the peatland
restoration targets. There are 11 villages in Riau Province, 10 villages in Jambi
Province, 15 villages in South Sumatra Province, 16 villages in West Kalimantan
Province, 10 villages in Central Kalimantan Province, 10 villages in South Kalimantan
Province, and 3 villages in Papua Province, which participate in the Peat Care Village
Program.

9. Provided trainings for elementary school teachers and granting the educational
teaching aids on peatland to elementary schools/equivalent at the DPG location.
10. Promoted peatland restoration at the district level and at the UN Climate Change
Summit forum in Bonn, Germany.

11. Provided training for village officials, women’s groups, and paralegals.

12. Facilitated the revitalization of the community livelihoods. A total of 101 community
groups were fostered to manage local commodities, beekeeping, cattle farming,
and fisheries.

Figure 9. Peatland fisheries as one of the economic revitalization efforts.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 19

 13. Installed 40 peat water level monitoring devices in five selected provinces, namely
in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan.

Figure 10. Water level monitoring device

14. Conducted 61 research packages on various themes on peatland restoration, in

collaboration with several universities and other scientific institutions.
In 2018, the Assisted Task (Tugas Pembantuan/TP) scheme had been approved
and implemented. The TP scheme had helped 7 (seven) local government at the
provincial level to be promoted to become the Task Force responsible for
implementing the TP on Peatland Restoration.
The dynamics in the implementation of peatland restoration activities through
the TP scheme was indeed quite high, both in terms of technical and administrative
tasks. Futhermore, lots of improvements were required in terms of the coordination
between the central government and local government. These problems certainly
have affected the performance in implementing peatland restoration activities.
However, the government involvement in the process is one of the long-term
investments to sustain peatland restoration. The following are the achievements of
BRG in 2018:
1. Developed the Annual Action Plan (RTT) on Peatland Restoration and the
inventory of peatland ecosystem characteristics at 7 KHGs.
2. Conducted peatland ecosystem mapping in a scale of 1:50,000 at 7 KHGs covering
an area of 1,137,726 hectares, including 650,777 hectares of peatland.

20 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

3. The seven KHGs are KHG of Pulau Rupat, KHG of Kiyap River-Kerumutan River, KHG
of Mendahara River-Batanghari River, KHG of Batanghari River-Air Hitam Laut
River, KHG of Ngirawan River- Sembilang River, KHG of Mempawah River-Peniti
River, and KHG of Kahayan River-Kapuas River.
4. Signed 10 Memorandum of Understandings with Ministries/Agencies and
Development Partners.
5. Completed the construction of peatland rewetting infrastructures in 7 (seven)
priority provinces, which include 3,326 canal blockings, 4,801 deep wells, and 33
canal backfillings using the APBN. The construction of 1,250 deep wells, 216 canal
blockings, and 33 canal backfilling locations in the conservation area was carried
out in collaboration with the local Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of the
Ministry of Environment and Forestry. In addition, the local government through
the TP mechanism has constructed the peatland rewetting infrastructures, which
comprise 3,551 deep wells and 3,110 canal blockings.

Figure 11. BRG and its partners have built the peatland rewetting infrastructure, such
as canal blockings.
6. Collaborated with BRG partners to complete the construction of peatland
rewetting infrastructures in 7 priority provinces, which include 95 deep wells, 604
canal blockings, and 42 retention basin (embung).
7. Collaborated with 254 community groups to complete the construction of
peatland rewetting infrastructure and with 194 community groups to revitalize
the community livelihoods.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 21

 8. The following activities were aimed at educating, promoting, encouraging involvement
and partnerships on peatland restoration:
a. The second Peatland Community Jamboree to encourage support to deal with the
dry season was carried out in South Kalimantan and attended by around 1,600
farmers.
b. Training on Peatland Restoration for Da’i (i.e. Moslem religious leaders) was
conducted in collaboration with the Indonesian Ulama Council (Majelis Ulama
Indonesia/ MUI) and Universitas Nasional, while the Peat Care Pastor program was
held in collaboration with the Communion of Churches in Indonesia.
c. Conducted The Peatland Farmer Field School which was participated by 274 cadres
and 2,090 members of the field demonstration plot management group and 127
demonstration plots on PLTB.
d. Promoted peatland restoration at the district level, international forum in Oslo, and
the UN Climate Change Summit in Poland.
e. Announced the peatland restoration on the radio, TV, newspapers, national and
local online media, and several exhibitions.
f. Provided training for 150 elementary school teachers and granted educational
teaching aids on peatland restoration to the elementary schools/equivalent in 75
villages. Since 2017, the training has been attended by 397 teachers.
g. Provided training for the village officials and members of the community to develop
Village Regulations on peatland restoration, integrating peatland restoration into
the Village RKP and RPJM, and developing BUMDes.
h. Appointed the paralegals. Since 2017, 326 people have joined as cadres.
i. Launched the Peat Care Village Program (Desa Peduli Gambut/DPG) in 75 villages
and kelurahan within the APBN scheme and in 112 villages in a collaboration with
national development partners.
j. Handled 114 complaints and conflict resolution cases.
k. Conducted a stakeholder perception survey on peatland restoration at 3,802
respondents in 10 districts/cities. In general, the stakeholders noticed that the
peatland restoration activities have been implemented smoothly with an index
score 76.72.

Figure 12. Stakeholder perception index on peatland ecosystem restoration

22 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

 l. Developing input for the guidelines on the implementation of construction
supervision, operation, and maintenance in the concession area; promoting,
carrying out tests and implementing pre-supervision towards 5 (five) companies
holding forestry and plantation permits covering an area of 143,477.77 hectares.

9. Conducted 61 research packages, employing various themes on peatland restoration, in

collaboration with several universities and other scientific institutions, conducting 42
thematic packages of research and development.
10. Peatland Restoration Monitoring System (PRIMS) has been successfully constructed and
will be effective in 2019. PRIMS manages the information on the location of the activity
and the condition of the output of the peatland restoration activities based on the data
on the planning, report from the implementer, and verification result. The verification
system is supported by a simple android-based application which can display the
geographic data with the visual data of the field. PRIMS is also capable of displaying real-
time data on the land cover activities carried out around the locations of restoration.
11. Installation of 102 unit of water level monitoring devices in the selected locations. 142
units of water level monitoring devices has been installed since 2017;
12. Developed Peatland Monitoring System Application (SIPALAGA), which provides the
information on the wetness level of the peatland and the fire danger rating based on
the peat water level. The peat water level monitoring devices for this system has been
installed in 142 locations out of the total 300 planned locations.

3.3 Performance Status of the Three-Year Peatland

Restoration
In terms of performance, the status of peatland restoration in the last three years is
as follows:
1. In general, the achieved milestones in terms of Planning and Cooperation are as
follows:
a. The target locations and the BRG’s peatland restoration plan in 7 provinces
were set in 2016.
b. Peatland restoration plan on pre-determined location for each province was
arranged in 2016 and 2017.
c. Contingency plan for the implementation of peatland restoration in 2017 were
arranged in 2017.
d. Process of listing and mapping the peatland ecosystem characteristics has been
carried out for 18 peatland hydrological units (KHG), up to 2018, out of 104
KHGs in total which are BRG’s working areas.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 23

 e. Annual Action Plan targeting 57 KHGs up to the end of 2018 has been arranged.
f. The monitoring of peatland restoration by the use of information
technology application and developed GIS.
g. Another task given by the President, which is to develop paddy field model on
the peatland area where the Mega Rice Project took place, has been carried
out for the area of 200 hectares in Pulang Pisau District through public private
partnership scheme.
2. In general, the achieved milestones in terms of Construction, Operation, and
Maintenance are as follows:
a. Up to 2018, BRG has constructed the rewetting infrastructures which
comprise 11,800 deep wells, 5,936 canal blockings, and 242 canal backfillings,
by using the fund from APBN or the support of the partner institutions. Most
of the constructions were carried out in collaboration with the community
groups, while a few others were carried out in collaboration with the
universities and in contracts with third parties. The estimated overall area
affected by the rewetting activities is 679,901 hectares or 62.9% of the total
target outside the 1,081,584 hectares of concession area.
b. Cooperation with 530 community groups for the construction of the
rewetting infrastructures and the revitalization of community’s livelihoods
activities. The members of the community groups are 7,950 people in total.

Figure 13. BRG, in cooperation with the community group, is constructing the deep
well, one of the peat rewetting infrastructures.

24 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

 c. 713 revegetation demonstration plots have been constructed across Riau,
Jambi, South Sumatra, South Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan;

Table 3. Peatland Restoration facilitated by the APBN of 2017–2018

2017 2018

PROVINCE R1 (unit) R2 R3 IMPACT R1 (unit) R2 R3 IMPACT

Deep ESTIMATION ESTIMATION
Canal Canal
(ha) (package)
Deep Well Canal Canal (ha) (package)
Well Blocking Back-
filling
(ha) Blocking Backfilling (ha)
RIAU 400 311 0 0 25 26,595 325 815 0 120 37 50,889
JAMBI 0 114 0 0 10 6,448 297 301 0 125 32 61,778

SOUTH SUMATRA 0 0 10 0 11 2,000 99 516 18 150 26 100,060

WEST KALIMANTAN 100 200 0 0 16 3,114 126 279 0 0 19 16,805

CENTRALKALIMANTAN 5,257 1,184 100 40 23 62,126 3,600 1,350 15 350 69 72,754

SOUTHKALIMANTAN 125 40 0 0 12 3,193 354 65 0 42 10 4,568

PAPUA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 1,100

TOTAL 5,900 1,849 110 0 97 103,476 4,801 3,326 33 787 204 307,953

Total area facilitated in 2017 & 2018: 411,429 hectares

Table 4. Peatland Restoration coordinated with BRG’s development partners

2016 2017

PROVINCE R1 R2 R3 IMPACT R1 R2 R3 IMPACT

Canal ESTIMATION Deep Canal ESTIMATION
Deep Canal (ha) (package) Retention (ha) (package)
Well Blocking Back- (ha) Well Blocking Basin (ha)
filling

RIAU 150 0 0 0 0 630 0 0 0 0 0 0

JAMBI 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 0 0 0 3,410
SOUTH SUMATRA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

WEST KALIMANTAN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CENTRALKALIMANTAN 800 30 0 40 0 1,924 0 90 99 40 0 91,809

SOUTHKALIMANTAN 50 0 0 0 0 157 0 0 0 0 0 0
PAPUA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 1,000 30 0 40 0 2,711 0 121 99 40 0 95,219

2018

PROVINCE R1 R2 R3 IMPACT
RETENTION ESTIMATION
Deep Canal (ha) (package)
(ha)
Well Blocking BASIN

RIAU 0 0 0 0 0 535

JAMBI 8 5 0 0 0 5,892
SOUTH SUMATRA 8 2 0 0 0 32

WEST KALIMANTAN 79 30 42 0 0 25,950

CENTRALKALIMANTAN 0 494 99 40 0 131,133

SOUTHKALIMANTAN 0 0 0 0 0 0
PAPUA 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 95 531 42 0 0 170,542

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 25

 Total coordinated in 2016+2017+2018= 268,472 hectares

Total facilitated and coordinated= 679,901 hectares

Notes:
R1 : Rewetting
R2 : Revegetation
R3 : Revitalization of Social-Economy
SB : Deep Well
SK : Canal Blocking
TK : Canal Backfilling

Figure 14. BRG’s peatland restoration milestones in 2017-2018

26 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

3. In general, the achieved milestones in terms of Education, Campaign, Participation,
and Partnership are as follows:

a. BRG and its partner has provided assistance for 262 villages and kelurahan
through Peat Care Village program. The indicative area of the entire village/
kelurahan is 3,261,257 hectares, while the peatland restoration target area in
the village/kelurahan is 871,043 hectares or 35% of the total restoration
target. The number of hotspot in the villages/kelurahan have decreased by
85% compared to the number in 2015. In general, Peat Care Village aims at
mainstreaming and institutionalizing peatland restoration into people’s lives
and village development.

Figure 15. The number of Peat Care Village

b. Education and promotion of peatland restoration through training and

campaign involved 20,950 people. They took part in the training, village
planning workshop, participatory mapping, and jamboree.
c. The restoration cadres at site level comprised 2,364 field school cadres, 326
paralegals, 397 elementary teachers, 173 peatland restoration da’is, 65 peat
care pastors, 176 Peat Care Village facilitators and 773 members of peat care
women’s group.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 27

 Figure 16. Elementary
school teachers’ teaching
and learning activities in
the Peat Care Village
program

Figure 17. Field

school programs on
Peat Care Village
program

28 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

 d. In 2018, the supervision activity or technical assistance was initiated for the
construction, operation, and maintenance of the infrastructure in the concession
area of 143,477.77 hectares. In 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding with the
Directorate General of Plantation has been signed in order to establish a
cooperation to implement the supervision activity or technical assistance in
plantation area. The implementation of the peatland restoration in concession area
is a part of the responsibility of the relevant parties in charge of the
business/activity. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has instructed 148
companies holding the forestry and plantation permit to implement the
revitalization. The companies are responsible for recovering the total of
2,498,266.84 hectares.2 Some of the area are situated in the peatland restoration
target area. Thus, in accordance with the mandate of the Presidential Regulations
No. 1 of 2016, BRG carries out the supervision function so that the hydrological
restoration activities on the concession land are implemented in line with the
Government provisions.
4. In general, the achieved milestones in terms of Peatland Restoration Research and
Development are as follows:
a. Research and Development has implemented 103 theme-based research
packages. The research and development were conducted in a collaboration with
national and foreign universities, research and development of the relevant
Ministries/Agencies, and the other scientific institutions.
b. BRG has installed 142 units of Water Level monitoring device in the peatland
ecosystem. The purpose of this installation is to determine the level of peatland
wetness which can be further developed to analyze the fire danger ratings and
the rewetting infrastructure effectiveness.

Figure 18. Water level monitoring device

2 Presentation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry in the Working Meeting with the Indonesian Parliament, January 2019.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 29

4.1 The Support of the Regional Government and Villages
BRG collaborates with seven regional governments, including the governments in
Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and
Papua provinces in completing the peatland restoration programs. The seven provinces
are BRG’s priority for the period of 2016-2020. Additionally, collaboration with 57 district
or municipal governments in the seven provinces is also established. BRG, along with its
partner, has facilitated 262 villages and kelurahan across the provinces.

4.2 The Integration of Peatland Restoration into

Village & Regional Development

As a strategy to maintain the sustainability of the economic revitalization in the

community, the establishment and development of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes)
is facilitated. BUMDes has become the media for all community

in BRG's Peat Care Village Program

activities which has been formed collectively by the village government and the
community for the well-being of the villages’ communities. BRG encourages BUMDes
to run business units that have no negative impacts on the peatland.

To ensure the sustainability of the peatland restoration at village level, BRG has
has facilitated the village governments to integrate several peatland protection
activities into the village planning documents (Village RPJM or Village RKP). In
addition, the villages are encouraged to establish regulations at village level to
protect the peatland ecosystems. Up to the end of 2018, 190 village-level legal
products, 44 BUMDes, and 69 RPJMDes/RKPDes have been facilitated. The activities
incorporated in the village planning are, among all, fire prevention, non-burning land
management, BUMDes equity participation, and so on.

The involvement of the village government in peatland restoration program has

significant impacts in supporting BRG. In the stakeholder perception survey
conducted in the second half of 2018, it was found that village officials are considered
one of the most experienced and credible parties to deliver the Peatland Restoration
program. Some other district governments also expressed their readiness to integrate
peatland restoration activities into their development plans.

Figure 20. BRG, together with Javara, is holding a training on processing food materials found
on peatland into healthy food

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 31

 4.3 The Presence of Grass Root Cadres
Strengthening community groups has become one of the major concerns of BRG.
Up to 2018, 291 Community Groups have conducted freshwater fisheries, livestock
farming, beekeeping, etc. BRG also facilitated 286 community groups to build deep
wells and canal blockings.

Figure 21. One of the community groups’ economic revitalization activities is

swamp buffalo cultivation

The other cadres at site level include 2,364 field school cadres, 326 paralegals,
397 elementary school teachers, 173 peatland restoration da’is, 65 peat care pastors,
176 Peat Care Village facilitators, 773 members of peat care women’s group, and
7,950 members of Community Groups who involved in Rewetting Infrastructure
construction and economic revitalization activities. All of them have roles in
resonating the messages and activities on peatland restoration at site level.

32 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

 Figure 22. Community involvement in peatland restoration program for 2017-2018

4.4 Partnership with NGO and Universities

In addition to working with universities, BRG also establishes cooperations with a
number of domestic and foreign NGOs. BRG collaborates with 15 universities in Indonesia,
namely Sriwijawa University (Palembang), Jambi University (Jambi), Riau University (Riau),
Lambung Mangkurat University (Banjarmasin), Tanjungpura University (Pontianak),
Palangka Raya Univerity (Palangka Raya), Mulawarman University (Samarinda), Gadjah
Mada University (Yogyakarta), Bogor Agricultural Institute (Bogor), Sebelas Maret
University (Surakarta), Cenderawasih University (Jayapura), Bandung Institute of
Technology (Bandung), Jenderal Soedirman University (Purwokerto), Palangkaraya
Christian University, and Muhammadiyah University in Palangkaraya. In addition, BRG also
collaborates with six foreign research institutions/universities, namely Kyoto University
and Hokkaido University from Japan, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature/RIHN
(Japanese government research institutions), Queensland University (Australia), Finnish
University, and Leicester University (England).

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 33

 Figure 23. One of the 1st Tropical Peatland Roundtable activities, conducted in 2017
and attended by 69 peat observers from 9 (nine) countries

4.5 International Support

Former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore (1993-2001), at the World
Economic Annual Meeting in Davos, Swiss, 23-26 January 2018, appreciated
Indonesia’s efforts in restoring forests and peat ecosystem. Norwegian Prime
Minister Erna Solberg also expressed her appreciation to President Joko Widodo at
the opening of Oslo Tropical Forest Forum in June 2018. PM Solberg appreciated
Indonesia’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the moratorium with
regards to the natural forest and peat ecosystems and the safeguarding of the
peatland ecosystem.

Figure 24. The president of the International Peatland Society (IPS), Gerald Schmilewski, is
testing a deep well in Central Kalimantan in 2017

34 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA

 The world leaders showed their appreciation and also provided financial support,
such as grants, received directly by BRG, and indirect benefit, BRG as a beneficiary. In the
period of 2016-2020, the Government of Indonesia through BRG has received a total
grant of US $ 92 million from the Kingdom of Norway with the amount of US $ 66.2
million, MCA-Indonesia with the amount of US $ 22.2 million, Republic of South Korea
with the amount of US $ 3 million, the Japanese Government with the amount of US $
551,000, the German Federal Government through GIZ with the amount of US $
300,000, and CLUA with the amount of US $ 332,000.

In addition, BRG also received indirect benefits from the peatland projects carried
out by USAID for US $ 216,000, the United Kingdom for US $ 8 million, and Australia
for US $ 4.7 million. ASEAN-EU have also committed to support sustainable peatland
management of US $ 6 million.

Based on BRG calculations, the total funding needs for the coordination and
facilitation program for the peatland ecosystem restoration in seven provinces during
the period of 2016-2020 reached IDR 10.6 trillion.

Figure 25. International support towards peatland restoration

4.6 Comprehensive and Systematic Peatland Restoration

The concept of post-2020 peat restoration implementation is being prepared
through modeling on several KHG. The comprehensive-systematic approach on
peatland restoration will be more flexibly mainstreamed in tiers into the
development planning and activities of the government agencies, the relevant
regional governments, and village governments and into the business/activity plans
of the parties responsible for the peatland restoration at site level. The synergy
between the government institutions and the other parties will be one of the
strengths in this approach.

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 35

 Figure 26. The training of Bhabinkamtibmas (community police officer) for the
integrated community involvement in the Peat Care Village program to
support the implementation of peatland restoration.
The capacity building for human resources in the management of peatland
ecosystem is being prepared at the level of local government, private sector, and
community by involving the experts from universities.
ORIENTATION FOR
STRENGTHENING

T
he peatland restoration program is proven to be effective in reducing the
occurrences of forest and land fire and in suppressing the emission resulted
from the land sector. It surely is a good achievement and the
proof for Indonesia’s determination to control climate change. For more effective and
sustainable peatland restoration, a number of steps need to be taken.

5.1 Institutional Strengthening

Institutional strengthening is essential, both for theoretical reason regarding
peatland ecosystem restoration and institutional complexity reason in uniting all
elements for more effective peatland restoration. One important aspect in this regard
is to give authority to manage the budget autonomously.

5.2 Cooperation between All Parties

Cooperation between all parties is necessary to bring about sustainable peatland
management. The cooperation between Ministries/Agencies at central and regional
level as well as development partners needs to be established. The coordinative tasks
highly depend on the cooperation. In executing its tasks, BRG involves almost 20
ministries and government agencies as well as seven governors. If the peatland
restoration only ends up as temporary revitalization, the next BRG or other
restoration activities will be required. Moreover, the prevention of peatland fire

THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA 37

 Figure 27. Chief of the Peatland Restoration Agency, together with the partners and
community members, is carrying out the rewetting process by using the deep well.

should be a sustainable effort, not just a program which applies for one-year period.

5.3 Involving Companies

It is necessary to involve the companies in the implementation of peatland
restoration. About 1.4 million hectares of peatland set as the restoration target is
situated within the areas with permit and held by the forestry and plantation sectors.
The supervision on the concessionaires, as a technical assistance to enforce the
Government Regulation No. 5 of 2016 on Protection and Management of Peatland
Ecosystem, should be carried out effectively with the supports of all
Ministries/Agencies and regional governments.

5.4 Medium and Long-Term Planning

Considering that the total peatland area to be restored is beyond the targeted
2.4 million hectares, it is necessary to arrange a medium and long-term plan for more
extensive peatland restoration. The 2.4 million hectares are only the priority target
for five-year time frame, while the total peatland area in the seven provinces reaches
12.9 million hectares, 55 percent of which has been cleared and drained. This portion
of land needs to be restored gradually and continuously in the next phase. Peatland
ecosystem is connected to the authority of various development sectors or fields.
Therefore, a National Action Plan on Peatland Ecosystem Revitalization must be
prepared as the main material to be mainstreamed as a Cross-Field Program in the
RPJMN of 2020-2024.

38 THREE YEARS OF PEATLAND RESTORATION IN INDONESIA