InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - Indonesia's peatland ecosystem continues to face serious threats due to unsustainable human activities. Kaoem Telapak and Pantau Gambut released a joint study titled "Tracing the Management of Peatlands: Threats, Conflicts, and Sustainable Futures." This study discusses the threats to peatland due to land-use changes and forest fires, as well as challenges in implementing environmental regulations at both national and international levels.
The history of peatland degradation in Indonesia shows how vulnerable this ecosystem is to exploitation. Widespread land clearing for Industrial Plantation Forest (HTI), palm oil plantations, and national strategic programs such as Food Estate are the main causes of peatland ecosystem degradation. Currently, approximately 9.5 million hectares of peatland are under plantation, logging, and HTI concessions.
According to Wahyu Perdana, Advocacy and Campaign Manager at Pantau Gambut, peatlands can store up to 30% of the world's total soil carbon reserves. "This makes them one of the significant natural carbon sinks, as well as a lifeline for Indigenous Peoples and local communities who depend on natural resources around peatlands," he explained during the launch of the Peatland Study Report, a collaboration between Kaoem Telapak and Pantau Gambut, attended by InfoSAWIT on Tuesday (February 25, 2025).
The study's findings indicate poor governance of peatland ecosystems, particularly in three concessions in Central Kalimantan. Several issues revealed include recurring fires in concession areas, conflicts with local communities, and overlaps with Food Estate projects. These findings reflect weak protection of peatland ecosystems and the government's indecisiveness in law enforcement.
Additionally, the study reviews the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification and the European Union Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR). It reveals that ISPO certification still faces serious challenges, including weak oversight and non-compliance of corporate practices with ISPO standards based on Ministerial Regulation 38/2020. Meanwhile, the EUDR is considered to inadequately address peatland ecosystems because the definition of "forest" used does not encompass this unique ecosystem.
Meanwhile, Kaoem Telapak Campaigner Ziadatunnisa Latifa emphasized that the analysis of these regulatory weaknesses aims to provide concrete recommendations to strengthen peatland protection. "This is to ensure that Indonesia meets its commitments in mitigating global climate change and preventing large-scale deforestation in the future," Zia stated.
The study also revealed non-compliance by several companies with national and international regulations regarding peatlands. Some companies in Central Kalimantan, such as PT Agrindo Green Lestari, PT Citra Agro Abadi, and PT Bangun Cipta Mitra Perkasa, have been found to engage in deforestation and conversion of protected peatland into palm oil plantations. For instance, PT Citra Agro Abadi has been reported to plant palm oil in protected peat areas that should not be utilized for commercial purposes. Meanwhile, PT Bangun Cipta Mitra Perkasa has a history of recurring land fires since 2015 and overlapping land conflicts with Food Estate projects.
Efforts to protect peatland ecosystems require a multi-faceted approach. "This includes strengthening regulations and law enforcement related to palm oil plantation governance on peatlands, enhancing community participation in regulatory improvements, coordination among relevant ministries and agencies, and advocacy to palm oil-consuming countries regarding the vulnerability of peatland ecosystems. Sustainable certifications like ISPO and strengthening regulations like EUDR must also receive more attention," Zia concluded. (T2)
