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Utilization of Peatlands Based on Local Wisdom and Community Welfare in

Riau Province, Indonesia

Article in International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning · November 2020

DOI: 10.18280/ijsdp.150716

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 International Journal of Sustainable Development and
Planning
Vol. 15, No. 7, November, 2020, pp. 1119-1126
Journal homepage: http://iieta.org/journals/ijsdp

Utilization of Peatlands Based on Local Wisdom and Community Welfare in Riau Province,
Indonesia
Almasdi Syahza1*, Suwondo2, Djaimi Bakce3, Besri Nasrul3, Riyadi Mustofa4
1
Institute of Research and Community Services (LPPM), Riau University, Pekanbaru 28293, Indonesia
2
Biology Education Program, Riau University, Pekanbaru 28293, Indonesia
3
Faculty of Agriculture, Riau University, Pekanbaru 28293, Indonesia
4
Center for Environmental Studies, Riau University, Pekanbaru 28293, Indonesia

Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]

https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.150716 ABSTRACT

Received: 29 July 2020 The majority of regions in Riau Province are coastal areas and many communities live on land
Accepted: 2 October 2020 that is dominated by peat. Peat ecosystems have unique characteristics, as they are classified
as wetland areas, while also possessing regions of terrestrial land. Poor maintenance of these
Keywords: ecosystems can cause a variety of issues such as forest fires, drought, flooding, biodiversity
multiplier effect, wetland, major loss, increasing emissions, climate change, and social community changes. The purpose of this
commodities, peatland management paper is to formulate a model of peatland utilization based on local wisdom and community
welfare, in an effort to support the sustainable management of peat ecosystems in Riau
Province. The main commodities of the coastal community are agriculture, coconut, rubber,
oil palm, sago, coffee, cocoa, areca nut. Therefore, an understanding of the use of peatlands is
needed. This is to prevent damage to the peatland ecosystem, maintain biodiversity, store
carbon, produce oxygen, and manage water. Policies and strategies for managing the peat
ecosystem are carried out through the development of socio-economic and community culture
to realize people's welfare based on local wisdom. The management and use of peatlands have
contributed to the economy, even as the main source of livelihood for coastal communities.
Utilization of peatlands based on local wisdom can maintain a sustainable peat ecosystem.

1. INTRODUCTION significant benefits on both a local and a global scale. For some
local communities, especially for small farmers, these
Based on global wetland data tahun 2019, Indonesia has the ecosystems offer a significant source of income and many
second largest peatland ecosystem in the world, with an area sustainable livelihood options [4].
of 22.5 million hectares (ha). The province with the largest The ecological function of peatlands in maintaining
area is Papua, with an area covering 6.3 million ha. This is biodiversity and environmental balance is influenced by the
followed by Central Kalimantan (2.7 million ha), Riau (2.2 ecosystem’s characteristics. Areas of peat are characterized by
million ha), West Kalimantan (1.8 million ha) and South an acidic pH, poor nutrients, thick organic material and regions
Sumatra (1.7 million ha). Furthermore, West Papua has 1.3 that are permanently submerged by water. This means that
million ha of peatland, East Kalimantan has 0.9 million ha and these ecosystems have a unique biodiversity and only support
North Kalimantan, North Sumatra and South Kalimantan the existence of certain flora and fauna. Although peatlands
possess 0.6 million ha each [1]. provide many benefits, poor management can lead to problems
Peat ecosystems have unique characteristics because they such as forest fires, drought, flooding, subsidence, sea water
are part wetland and part terrestrial. They also provide intrusion, coastal aberration, impacts on social society, loss of
complex ecological functions, for example harboring natural biodiversity, increasing emissions and climate change.
resources such as germplasm and wood commodities, Peat ecosystem management is a systematic effort
providing habitats for fish, and as a carbon storehouse that acts undertaken to preserve the function of peat ecosystems and
as a climate counterweight. Law Number 32 of 2009, prevent ecological damage. Strategies include planning,
concerning environmental protection and management, states utilization, control, maintenance, supervision, and law
that peat ecosystems are an important part of the environment enforcement. Planning is an important component of
and that they need to be protected and properly managed. protection and management. The results of research by Uda et
Another study was conducted by Sutikno et al., [2] explain that al., [5] state that a lack of discussion about the regulations and
peatlands are fragile ecosystems formed over thousands of methods of peatland management is an important cause of
years by the accumulation of dense, wet plant material. State non-compliance with regulations, exacerbated by a lack of
that not only do they offer a direct life support function by field monitoring and law enforcement. Research related to
providing areas for agricultural purposes, but they also provide peatland management has been widely carried out and
benefits such as flooding and global climate control [3]. includes studies such as Dommain et al., [6] peatlands have
Furthermore, state that Indonesia's peat swamp forest provides been recognized as carbon sinks that are globally important in

1119
a long period of time which results in a global cooling effect The objective of this paper is to formulate a model of
on climate. However, little is known about the role of tropical peatland utilization based on local wisdom and community
peatlands in the global carbon cycle. Carbon storage and welfare, in an effort to support sustainable management of peat
release levels in Indonesian peatlands in Kalimantan and ecosystems in coastal areas. In order to achieve these
Sumatra, the largest global concentration of tropical peatlands. objectives, research that was carried out included the
The restoration of degraded peatlands start reforestation. The assessment of peat ecosystem functions through an overlay of
channel blocking strategy is a potential means to achieve this. thematic maps, followed by the delineation of the peat
Changes in peatland topography caused by drainage need to hydrological unit (PHU) map and a map of ecosystem
be better understood to further refine the hydrological functions. Additionally, the social, economic and cultural
restoration strategy of degraded peatlands in Indonesia. Within conditions of people living in peat ecosystems was analyzed.
peat ecosystems, many community activities are carried out,
especially those that are related to the social economy [7].
Regarding land conservation and management, research that 2. RESEARCH METHOD
has been carried out includes studies by Syahza and Asmit [8],
the development of palm oil plantations results in land Research aiming to support the management of peat
conversion, posing potential erosion. In anticipating ecosystems was carried out through the following stages.
environmental damage, the Government of Indonesia imposes Firstly, an inventory of peat ecosystems was created. Next, the
the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) policy. Related ecological functions of peat ecosystems were categorized and,
research has also been carried out by researchers [9-12]. finally, an inventory of local wisdom and community welfare
Peat ecosystem management strategies require several was created. The materials needed for creating peatland
components to ensure success. Firstly, rigorous planning is utilization models included data on the use of peat ecosystems,
needed at a national level and at a district level. Maintenance the maintenance of ecosystem functions and data on how best
and the protection of ecosystem functions is another key aspect, to control, monitor and conserve peat habitats. The variables
along with methods that control and monitor the utilization of that needed to be considered in the model include diversity of
peat ecosystems. Additionally, efforts that help mitigate of ecological characteristics and functions, distribution of
climate change cannot be overlooked. The management of population / socio-economic community, distribution of
peat ecosystems is strongly influenced by stakeholders, natural resource potential, local wisdom, community
especially in regards to the environmental, social and aspirations, climate change and use of superior commodities.
economic aspects of protected areas. To improve management, Collected data and information were then analyzed. Three
stakeholders need to support government steps to improve fire analysis groups needed to be performed in the preparation of
prevention and the destruction of peatland habitats [13]. the models, namely a function analysis through thematic map
Peatland management policies and information are urgently overlay and gap analysis, an analysis of the physical and
needed by the community, these programs must provide ecological functions, and an analysis of the socioeconomic and
policies that guarantee increased income and welfare, and cultural conditions of people living in peat ecosystems.
create awareness of the long-term benefits of peatland Function analysis through overlay thematic maps:
restoration [14]. Function analysis was performed by integrating (overlaying)
The management of the peat ecosystem model is part of the various thematic maps needed to determine the function of
environmental protection and management plan. The diversity peat ecosystems. This included a peatland characteristic map,
of ecological functions, population distribution, distribution of an ecological function map, a map of peatland distribution,
potential natural resources, local culture, community maps of land cover / land utilization, a moratorium map, a
aspirations, climate change, and regional spatial plans are all surface contour/land relief map, a hydrological network map,
aspects that need to be considered in peatland management. In a burned area map, a concession area/land utilization permit
terms of local culture (Sanders et al), Land use change is often map, a river flow map, an area administration map, a base map
the result of negotiations between different interests. Often the (earth map), a Provincial RTRW map and Regency / City
use of peatlands is based on negotiation practices between RDTR map and a forest area map (TGHK / Padu Serasi).
communities and owners of capital. Especially for plantation Analysis of Peat Land Use and Utilization Analysis:
development [15]. Restoration of degraded peatlands usually Physical and biological data and information in Riau
starts with restoring the water table to wet the surface to Province's peat ecosystems were studied using several
control fires and initiating reforestation. Making canal blocks analyses. This included an analysis of provincial spatial
on peatlands is proven to retain moisture and reduce fire planning and land cover conditions, an analysis of forest area
prevalence in peatlands [7]. Annual losses of carbon from peat functions and land cover conditions, and an analysis of peat
drainage and fires are on average 28 times higher than the pre- ecosystem functions.
disturbance rate of uptake implying that this carbon reservoir Analysis of Socio-Economic and Cultural Conditions:
has recently switched from being a net carbon sink to a Socio-economic and cultural analysis of people living on
significant source of atmospheric carbon and is currently in peatlands was perfored by conducting a survey in selected
danger of eradication [6]. Management of tropical peatlands as locations. Required information included population density,
a carbon source reserve [11]. population distribution according to livelihood, degree of local
Research related to peatland management has been widely wisdom and community aspirations. Data and information
carried out and includes studies [16-18]. Within peat were obtained from the community using the Rapid Rural
ecosystems, many community activities are carried out, Appraisal / RRA approach [24, 25]. A participatory approach
especially those that are related to the social economy. Related was carried out to obtain general information and assessment
research results were carried out [14, 15, 19-23]. Regarding in the field over a short time period. Information with the RRA
land conservation and management, research that has been method was limited to the data needed in accordance with the
carried out include studies [9-12]. research objectives, but was carried out in more depth by

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tracing the information sources, to ensure that complete both for agricultural purposes and other needs during the dry
information was obtained. After data collection, tabulation and season.
descriptive analysis was carried out. Multiplier effect analysis Based on the function of peat areas in one peat hydrological
and a health index were conducted in order to determine the unit, there are peat dome protected areas and peat cultivation
contribution of peat ecosystems to the socio-economic areas. Peat dome protected areas is located at the top of the
community. peat dome and covers an area of 2,376,389.24 ha, or 47.80%.
From the descriptive analysis results, the peatland This serves to protect the water system in the surrounding area.
utilization model was made based on a matrix or flow diagram. The Peat Hydrological Units area by district/city in Riau
The next stage involved coordination with stakeholders, Province is presented in Table 1.
formulation and a public consultation. Development of the The Peat Hydrological Unit was obtained from the
peatland utilization model was carried out through interpretation by Citra Landsat from 2015-2017 and supported
coordination, consultation and discussion with various related by field surveys. The PHU number in Riau Province was 59
institutions, both at provincial and district levels. Academics, regions with 4,971,204.06 ha of land area. In the regency/city
non-governmental organizations (LSM), and the community area, the PHU number was 43, in the cross-regency/city area
were included to support the study results. The purpose of it was 14 and in the cross-provincial region it was 2. The peat
these activities was to determine the aspirations and goals of hydrological unit of Riau Province is presented in Figure 1.
various parties in the protection and management of peat Figure 2 presents land cover of peat hydrological unit in
ecosystems, based on local wisdom and community welfare. Riau Province. Overall secondary swamp forest cover has the
largest percentage, at 18.55% of the total area. Plantation lands
and swamp shrub cover 16.65% and 16.24% respectively.
3. RESULT Protected peat hydrological units areas have been widely used
by the community for plantation land, industrial timber
3.1 Distribution of peat ecosystems plantations, agriculture and ponds. These areas cover
1,040,872.94 ha – 42.19% of the total peat hydrological unit.
Areas of peat (especially the peat dome) play an important This is something that needs attention in future. As stated by
role as a reservoir, storing and controlling rainwater and Sanders et al. [15], the use of peatlands is mostly carried out
surface flow, therefore minimizing the danger of flooding by investors for the benefit of plantation development,
around areas during the rainy season. The water in the especially oil palm. The use of peatlands to become productive
reservoir is then released slowly so that enough is available land is aimed at the welfare of the surrounding community and
a source of state income.

Figure 1. Peat hydrological unit of Riau province

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 Table 1. Area of peat hydrological units, peat protected areas, and peat cultivation areas by regency / city

Protection Function of Peat Ecosystem Cultivation Functions of Peat Ecosystem Total

No. Regency
Area (Ha) (%) Area (Ha) (%) Area (Ha) (%)
1 Bengkalis 351,278.88 7.07 326,003.37 6.56 677,282.26 13.62
2 Indragiri Hilir 472,400.80 9.50 697,041.69 14.02 1,169,442.49 23.52
3 Indragiri Hulu 138,137.19 2,78 128,001.48 2.57 266,138.67 5.35
4 Kampar 73,968.17 1.49 151,866.53 3.05 225,834.70 4.54
5 Meranti Island 189,026.61 3.80 172,698.41 3.47 361,725.03 7.28
6 Pelalawan 445,202.03 8.96 339,654.59 6.83 784,856.62 15.79
7 Rokan Hilir 266,734.55 5.37 357,240.60 7.19 623,975.16 12.55
8 Rokan Hulu 49,749.07 1.00 68,387.40 1.38 118.136,47 2.38
9 Siak 286,250.25 5.76 268,144.54 5.39 554,394.79 11.15
10 DumaiCity 101,714.10 2.05 79,678.67 1.60 181,392.77 3.65
11 Pekanbaru City 1,927.59 0.04 6,097.53 0.12 8,025.12 0.16
Total of Riau 2<376,389.24 47.80 2,594,814.82 52.20 4,971,204.06 100.00
Source: Apendixes of SK No. SK.130/MENLHK/SETJEN/PKL.0/2/2017 is analyzed

Figure 2. Peat hydrological unit land cover of Riau province

3.2 Peatland utilization peatlands, which will ultimately contribute to sustainable

livelihoods for local communities and reduce impacts on
Considering the importance of peatlands to Riau Province, regional climate [16].
both economically and ecologically, their management and The peat area in Riau Province is used by various groups,
utilization need to be carried out carefully, in a way that such as individuals in the community and companies doing
optimizes community benefits while maintaining ecological business in forestry and related sectors. The community uses
functions. Sustainable management will provide many peatlands as plantations, for agriculture, for housing and for
benefits to community welfare in Riau and at a national level, traditional business activities. Companies use the area for
as well as supporting international interests in sustainable forestry businesses, both forest entrepreneur rights and
development. Peatland management outside the peat dome industrial forest, and also for plantations. From the results of
area is carried out with the aim of water management and the peat hydrological unit map overlay with Provincial Spatial
habitat restoration. Baqiroh [26] states that the government Planning (RTRWP), the area of protected forest covers
gave obligations to all permit holders (industrial forest 2,376,389.24 ha and the cultivation area covers 2,594,814.82
concessions and plantations) to secure the peat dome peak, ha. The peat hydrological unit region spatial plan of Riau
permitting the utilization of areas outside the peat dome area Province is presented in detail in Table 2. In line with the
as long as water management is maintained. Policymakers results of the study, Uda et al., [27] showed that most of
must carry out long-term monitoring, such as rewetting, Indonesia's peatlands have been converted for agricultural and
revegetation, and revitalization programs for Indonesian plantation purposes. These areas have the potential to become

1122
 affected by droughts and forest fires, therefore increasing the unique places that play important roles in their lives. In rural
risk of releasing more CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. The areas, for example, peat habitats provide easy access to
sustainable use of peat ecosystems contributes to the income freshwater sources which are used for everyday needs and
of local communities. For example, the welfare index in rural agricultural irrigation. With aims of supporting ecosystem
areas has increased through community-based plantation restoration, results from Budiman et al., [33] indicate that re-
development [28]. vegetation of peat habitats often produces ineffective results.
Furthermore, there are trade-offs between restoration methods
Table 2. Function of spatial planning peat hydrological unit and the need to provide short-term economic benefits for local
at Riau province communities through horticultural practices, therefore
strategies that try to combine these two activities are often
No RTRWP Function
Peat Ecosystem Function(ha) ineffective.
Protection Cultivation
1 Water area 125.00 17,723.19 3.4 Policies and strategies for socio-economic and local
2 Directions for Other Use 616,017.22 1,135,926.30 wisdom development
3 Protected forest 22,356.39 123.20
4 Production forest 1,052,527.81 714,143.00
5 Conversion Production Forest 239,936.07 431,154.28
Strategies for developing the socio-economic situations of
6 Limited production forest 212,487.89 293,068.67 communities aim to improve welfare, especially for people
Nature Reserve Area or living on peatlands. To do this, there are several targets that
7 232,938.86 2,676.19 need to be achieved. These include increasing life expectancy,
Nature conservation area
Total 2,376,389.24 2,594,814.82 decreasing population growth and crude mortality rate,
Source: Appendix of SK No. SK.130/MENLHK/SETJEN/PKL.0/2/2017 is increasing social and cultural resilience, and increasing the
analyzed position and role of women in the community. Additionally,
further targets include increasing the active participation of
3.3 Peat ecological function young people, increasing cultural and sporting achievements,
improving the local economy, education levels and health,
One of the vital functions of peat swamps is their ability to encouraging better family planning and social welfare, and
store CO2 in large quantities. However, this CO2 is released maintaining a sustainable environment. Based on the results of
during reclamation, drainage or burning. Rising levels of CO 2 Connor et al., [34] population changes in a community have
in the air adds to the greenhouse effect and causes a gradual an impact on the external environment, with populations in
increase in air temperature, which has a negative impact on the peatland communities being affected by internal and external
Earth's climate system. According to Surahman et al, migration at different rates. Peatlands and wetlands bring
exploitation of Indonesian peatlands combined with improper together a large number of services and functions, especially
management has created vast areas of degraded peat ecological and social. Everything depends on the ecological
ecosystems. These regions have become a key source of CO2 quality of the ecosystem and on the equipment and services
emissions through peat decomposition. On the other hand, that enable it to be enjoyed. Tourism is an economic segment,
proper use of peat habitats for food production is likely to play contributing to coastal regions throughout the world.
an important part in the future due to increased food demand Therefore, complete management of the wetland environment
and inadequate land availability for agrarian development on must include a tourism perspective [35].
mineral soils [29]. Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been The management of social and cultural development
increasingly developed worldwide for the treatment of policies in peat ecosystems includes a variety of key steps.
rainwater and wastewater. In this context, CWs have been seen Firstly, it aims to increase income levels and empower local
as an economically attractive, energy-efficient way to provide communities to carry out environmental-based economic
high standard wastewater treatment [30]. activities. It also targets an improvement in the way human and
Peat ecosystems provide various ecological functions, both environmental resources support each other, with a paradigm
directly and indirectly. Direct functions include fisheries, approach to developing the local economy. The development
transportation and forest resources. Indirect functions include of social resilience is another goal, with aims to increase
hydrological regulation, providing habitats which increase appreciation for the elderly, to improve people’s awareness
biodiversity and climate stabilization. Furthermore, Fujita et towards social problems and to increase accessibility for
al., [31] showed that natural peat swamp forests have an disabled people. Additionally, improving population welfare
irreplaceable value for biodiversity conservation. In through policies that take into account the environmental
comparison, poorly maintained rubber plantations provide aspects central to development can also help. Finally, another
low-quality habitats for forest-dependent species and offer important step is the development and promotion of the
very little support to bird diversity. Built and natural wetlands national culture. This includes the encouragement of
have been used successfully in the treatment and polishing of Indonesian cultural values, the development of creativity
municipal wastewater throughout the world. Natural wetlands freedom in the arts and the Indonesian film industry, and the
are able to reduce quite a lot of heavy metals in city dumps preservation of traditional arts and cultures as a vehicle for
during their trips to the wetlands. This can make water tourism development. Tourism development should be
downstream of wetlands safe for rural communities to use conducted with a holistic approach based on community
water for irrigation purposes [32]. empowerment.
Peat ecosystems have a great potential for hydrological Peat ecosystem management is inseparable from the role of
regulation. They function as catchment areas for water during civil society, especially in communities living around peatland
floods and then release this water gradually during the dry areas. Policy strategies for community empowerment should
season. Therefore, peatlands provide an important water focus on social development among communities that practice
source for agricultural activities, while also preventing salt cultivation, especially in the plantation and industrial
water intrusions. For local people, peat swamp forests are

1123
plantation subsector. Maintaining local wisdom of peat separately and have limited economic multipliers.
habitats is also important, along with promoting discussions
related to utilizing ecosystems in a way that maintains an 3.5 Peat land use model
environmental balance and sustainable development. In terms
of policy strategies, these include transferring agricultural Peat ecosystem restoration can be carried out through
technology that is adaptive to the unique characteristics of peat rearranging the hydrological function where the peat dome is
ecosystems. Furthermore, building a strong farmer used as water storage for the long storage of water. Water
institutional system as well as access to local farmers' capital system restoration is prioritized in the peat dome area by
system will also help to achieve management goals, along with completely closing it. These activities can take the form of
developing cultivation systems by improving knowledge of blocking of canals construction. Peatland management
local people and migrants. Hergoualc'h et al revealed, programs can be carried out by, among others: 1) Constructing
explained that peatland restoration is a potential solution, but canal blocks in each of the existing canals so that the peatlands
one that faces issues arising from conflicts between around the canals become wet. The construction of canal
stakeholders who have differing interests in the land. blocking can involve the local community. These activities can
Successful restoration programs will depend on how these absorb local workers; 2) Revegetation above the bulkhead is
differing interests are reconciled, while also requiring expected to strengthen the bulkhead construction. To prevent
improved governance and an increasing technical capacity abrasion on the sides of the canal walls, it is necessary to plant
based on community interests and sustainable development [4]. a variety of native peatland endemic plants that have the
Showed that peat conservation incurs high costs, but that potential as a source of income for the local community.
native and adaptive plants have the potential to develop further Highly recommended for activities in the peat protection
markets, cultivation techniques for paludiculture and function zone. Rehabilitation of vegetation on peatlands aims
management options to restore habitats [36]. Stated that the to restore land cover so that the function of the peat ecosystem
utilization of tropical peatland forests has contributed to the can be restored to normal.
timber industry, but with a side effect being the massive In the cultivation function zone area (outside the protection
degradation and deforestation of tropical forest areas. As a function), a variety of peatland farming has been developed,
result, serious reductions in wood resources and such as specific fruit trees for peatlands, food crops, non-
environmental services occur in peat forests, with land timber forest products including natural rubber, rattan, honey
managers caught between the needs of timber production, bees and plants that produce energy wood, timber plants an
conservation and restoration of environmental services [37]. alternative source of fiber. Community involvement in the
Peatland utilization by communities in coastal areas has vegetation rehabilitation process can be developed through
made economic contributions both regionally and nationally. local community-based nurseries by developing endemic
For rural communities living in these ecosystems, land has plants. In addition to developing the community's economy, it
traditionally been used as a source of income and local wisdom is also at the same time educating the local community in
of peat utilization has been maintained for a long time [38]. increasing environmental awareness on peatlands. Potential
Peat ecosystems provide habitats for various types of commodities that are suitable for development on peatlands
freshwater fish, including those with commercial value, such include coconut, sago, rubber, oil palm, coffee, cocoa, and
as cork fish (Chana sp.), Catfish (Clarias sp.), Betok (Anabas areca nut. Particularly for commodity, Sago is a wetland plant
testudineus), sepat (Trichogaster sp.), and tambakan that can maintain a balance in peatland areas, indirectly
(Helostoma sp.). Fishing in these areas has the potential to be preventing the potential for peatland fires. Syahza et al,
a key income source for surrounding communities. sustainable use of peatlands contributes to local community
Furthermore, rivers flowing on peatlands are also the main income. The welfare index in rural areas increases through
means for transportation in the surrounding community. community-based fighting development [38]. Tropical
Research conducted by Syahza [39], stated that the welfare peatland forest has contributed to the timber industry but has
index of rural communities from 2012-2018 showed positive led to degradation and deforestation in massive tropical peat
results. For example, during the period of 2012-2014, the swamp forest areas [37].
welfare index increased by 27%. Likewise, in the periods of
2014-2016 and 2016-2018, the welfare index in rural areas
increased by 31% and 16% respectively. The impact of 4. CONCLUSION
agricultural development in rural areas, along with the major
commodities of coastal regions, shows that the multiplier Peat ecosystems provide many benefits to local
effect (ME) index is also positive. In coastal areas, the ME communities, for example playing an important role in storing
index for sago commodities in wetlands amounted to 2.28. and controlling rainwater and surface flow. This minimizes the
This means that an investment of $1 in a sago farm will result danger of flooding during the rainy season. Sustainable
in a return in the next period of $2.28. Sago commodities management of peatlands will have an impact on overall
therefore provide opportunities for economic development for community welfare. Ecosystem management based on local
farmers in coastal areas. In peat ecosystems, the main wisdom and community welfare needs to focus on socio-
commodity in Sumatra and Kalimantan is palm oil. Syahza economic and cultural development strategies. The overall
and Asmit [40], stated that the ME index of oil palm farming goal of habitat management is to improve the welfare of
in 2018 was 1.93. This means that an investment of $10 in people living in peatland areas. Utilization of this ecosystem
palm oil commodities resulted in a return in the next period of by communities in coastal areas has made economic
$19.3. Furthermore, research by Obidzinski et al. [41], showed contributions both regionally and nationally. This is especially
that investment in palm oil increases economic output in the true for rural communities, who use the land as their main
province, generates employment and increases workers' source of income. For example, peat areas are used by the
salaries. This is partly because oil palm businesses operate community to grow commodities such as oil palm, coconut,

1124
rubber, sago, coffee, cocoa and areca nut. H. (2014). Canal blocking strategies for hydrological
Strategies for community empowerment in efforts to protect restoration of degraded tropical peatlands in Central
peat ecosystems include: 1) Promoting social development Kalimantan, Indonesia. Catena, 114: 11-20.
among communities that practice cultivation, especially in the https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2013.10.009
plantation and industrial plantation subsector; 2) Ensuring that [8] Syahza, A., Asmit, B. (2020). Development of palm oil
local wisdom is maintained in the community; and 3) sector and future challenge in Riau province, Indonesia.
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environmental balance and sustainable development based on 2018-0073
local wisdom. [9] Miettinen, J., Liew, S. (2010). Degradation and
In terms of policy strategies, transferring agricultural development of peatlands in Peninsular Malaysia and in
technology that is adaptive to the unique characteristics of peat the islands of Sumatra and Borneo since 1990. Land
ecosystems should be a key target. This needs to be combined Degradation & Development, 21(3): 285-296.
with building a strong farmer institutional system, providing https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.976
access to the local farmers' capital system, and developing [10] Miettinen, J., Wang, J., Hooijer, A., Liew, S. (2013).
cultivation systems by improving knowledge of local people Peatland conversion and degradation processes in insular
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT [11] Lawson, I.T., Kelly, T.J., Aplin, P., Boom, A., Dargie, G.,
Draper, F.C.H., Hassan, P.N.Z.B.P., Hoyos-Santillan, J.,
Thanks to the Institute of Research and Community Kaduk, J., Large, D., Murphy, W., Page, S.E., Roucoux,
Services (LPPM), Riau University, Ministry of Environment K.H., Sjögersten, S., Tansey, K., Waldram, M., Wedeux,
and Forestry that has facilitated research activities in Riau B.M.M., Wheeler, J. (2015). Improving estimates of
Province, Contract Number SPK-110A/PPK-PKG/07/2016. tropical peatland area, carbon storage, and greenhouse
This paper is also supported by the results of the Higher gas fluxes. Wetlands Ecol Manage, 23: 327-346.
Education Basic Research (PDUPT) grant for the 2018-2020 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-014-9402-2
fiscal year. Contract number 205 / SP2H / LT / DRPM / 2019. [12] Mendes, C., Dias, E., Rochefort, L., Azevedo, J. (2020).
Regenerative succession of Azorean peatlands after
grazing: Vegetation path to self-recovery. Wetlands
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