Presented by Muhammad Askary, Deputy Director for Sources Control of Peatland Ecosystem Degradation, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia, on the ITPC side event “Could a virtual collaborative platform help to preserve tropical peatlands?” at the XV World Forestry Congress, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 5 May 2022.

1. Muhammad Askary, SSi., MSc
Deputy Director for Sources Control of Peatland Ecosystem Degradation,
Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia
Mr. Muhammad Askary is a senior officer in the Directorate General of
Pollution Control and Environmental Degradation, Ministry of Environment and
Forestry, Indonesia. He has spent 29 years of his career in the field of
Environmental Protection and Management, both in policy development and
technical implementation, including environmental laboratory, environmental
impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment, hazardous
waste management, and pollution and environmental degradation control. In
the last 7 years (2015-2022), he has led his team to restore the hydrological
function of more than 3,6 million hectares of degraded peatlands ecosystem in
Indonesia which significantly contributed in alleviating global climate changes.

2. Government Peatland
Knowledge Platform
Sharing of Indonesia’s experience
in peatland restoration
Muhammad Askary
Deputy Director for Sources Control of Peatland Ecosystem Degradation,
Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia

3. Presentation Outline
1
2
3
Background
Concept
Achievement
4 Conclusions

4.  The total global peatland ecosystem in the
world is around 4.23 million km2, which
corresponds 2.83% of the Earth’s land
surface: spread in Asia (38.4%) and North
America (31.6%, mostly Canada &
Alaska), European peatlands make up
12.5%, followed by South America
(11.5%), Africa (4.4%), and Australasia
and Oceania (1.6%). ( Source: Xu et al,
2018)
 Peatland Ecosystem has significant role on the world environmental sustainability and climate stability
 Countries contribution in individual, bilateral and multilateral collaboration is essential for global achievement and
beneficiaries.
 Peatland ecosystem is exist in more than 180 countries and covering about 3 percent of the world land and
storing nearly 30 percent of its soil carbon including the tropical peatland ecosystem at about 10-16 percent of
the global peatland lies in 60 countries.
1.

5. BENEFIT:
Forestry,
Flood control and water supply,
Fire risk control,
Eco-tourism,
The livelihoods of local communities (fisheries,
agriculture, plantation),
Climate stability,
Biodiversity,
Education and research.

6. DRAINAGE
(Poor Water
Management)
DRY PEAT LAND and
FOREST FIRE
GHG
EMISSION
SUBSIDENCE
(Land and Water
Table)
LAND
DEPRESSION
FLOODS
The Challenge: Hydrological Management, Preserve the vegetation and Ecosystem, and improve local Community Livelihoods

7. Total :
865 PHU
Sumatera : 207 PHU, Sulawesi : 3 PHU,
Kalimantan : 190 PHU, Papua : 465 PHU,
13
Total :
865 PHU
Sumatera : 207 PHU, Sulawesi : 3 PHU,
Kalimantan : 190 PHU, Papua : 465 PHU,
MOEF Decree No.
SK.129/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/2/2017
regarding
DETERMINATION OF NATIONAL PEAT HYDROLOGICAL
UNITY MAP
MOEF Decree No.
SK.129/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/2/2017
regarding
DETERMINATION OF NATIONAL INDICATIVE MAP OF
PEAT ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION

8. 12,098,284 ha
24,202,561
Hectares
of PHU
Peatland Hydrological Unit (PHU)
12,104,277 ha
Protection Function
Cultivation Function

9. 1992
PP No. 57 / 2016
Change over PP No. 71 / 2014
UU No. 24 / 1992
SPATIAL PLANNING
Inpres No. 6 / 2013
Indicative Map for Delays on
Granting New Permits (PIPIB)
Inpres No. 2 / 2007
Acceleration of Rehabilitation and
Revitalization of Peatland Development
Zone in Central Kalimantan
UU No. 32 / 2009
Environmental Protection
and Management
PP No. 71 Th. 2014
Protection and Management of
Peat Ecosystems
Inpres No. 8 / 2015
Indicative Map for Delays on Granting
New Permits (PIPIB)
1990 1997 2016
2014
2011 2013
2009
2008 2015
2007
2006
2000
PP No. 150 / 2000
Control of Soil Degraded for
Biomass Production
MOEF Regulation
Keppres No. 32 / 1990
Management of Konservation Area
PP No. 47 / 1997
National Spatial Planning (RTRWN)
UU No. 26/2007
SPATIAL PLANNING
PP No. 26/2008
National Spatial Planning
(RTRWN) Inpres No. 10 / 2011
Indicative Map for Delays on
Granting New Permits
National Strategy
Peatlands Management
MOA Regulation No. 14/2009
Guidelines for the Utilization of Peat Land for
Oil Palm Cultivation
Peat protection function: Thickness > 3m in the upper river and swamp
Standard criteria for peat degradation: Surface water level > 25 cm
Peat protection function: min. 30% of the PHU area + Thickness >3m, etc.
Criteria of degradation for cultivation function: Surface water level > 0,4 m
P.17_2017
Change over P.12_2015 related
Development of Industrial Plantation
Forest
P.16_2017
Technical Guidelines for
Restoration of Peat Ecosystem
Functions
P.15_2017
Procedure of Water Table
Measurement at Peat Ecosystems
Compliance Point
P.14_2017
Procedures for Inventory &
Determination of Peat Ecosystem
Functions
SK.130_2017
Determination Function of Peat
Ecosystem Map
SK.129_2017
Determination of Peat
Hydrological Unity Map
P.10_2019
Calculation and Determination of
Peatland Dome
P.60_2019
Procedure for developing,
determining and amending of
Peatland Ecosystem Protection and
Management Plan
SK.246_2020
National Peatland Ecosystem
Protection and Management Plan

10. NATIONAL LONG TERM PLANNING FOR
PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF
PEATLAND ECOSYSTEM (2020-2049)
GUIDELINES FOR COMPILATION,
STIPULATION AND ADDENDUM OF
PLANNING FOR PROTECTION AND
MANAGEMENT OF PEATLAND ECOSYSTEM
STATES OF PEATLAND ECOSYSTEM
DEGRADATION [COVERS OF 24
MILLION HECTARES]
10

11. HUMAN
WEATHER
LAND
SOIL
BIOGEO-
PHYSIC
SOSIO-
ECONOMIC
CULTURE
ELNINO-
RAINFALL-
INTENSITY
OF SUN
RADIATION
MAIN
CONTRIBUTING
FACTORS IN LAND
& FOREST FIRE
3
11
2.

12. Concept
Restore and preserve the water,
Restore and preserve the vegetation,
Improve local community livelihood, and
Law enforcement
12

13. Bring back and preserve the water, bring back and preserve the
vegetation, and improve local community livelihoods
13
Canal blocking either in concession or
community areas
Canal blocking construction is to preserve the
peatland water and rewetting the areas those
prone to forest and land fires.
The canal blocking also provides water for fish
pond.
Rehabilitation of vegetation
Rehabilitation of vegetation can be carried out
by replanting of local timber tree and/or natural
succession.
Economic value plants can be applied for
rehabilitation of vegetation in community areas.
Improve community
livelihoods
The canal blocking also
provides water for fish pond
and peatland friendly
agriculture production to
improve community
livelihood

14. UNIVERSITY/
LOCAL GOV’T
FACILITATOR
TRAINING
IMAS
TK-PPEG RKM
IMPROVEMENT OF
ECONOMY, SOCIAL &
ENVIRONMENT
BEHAVIORAL CHANGES
(SOCIAL)
SELF-SUFFICIENT AND
PEATLAND CARE
COMMUNITY
TK-PPEG=Tim Kerja
Perlindungan dan
Pengelolaan Ekosistem
Gambut
IMAS = Indentifikasi Masalah dan
Analisis Situasi
RKM = Rencana Kerja
Masyarakat
14
CONCEPT OF PEATLAND RESTORATION
IN COMMUNITY AREAS
[SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION]
Social mapping
Explanation from university
Transect walk
FGD to establish TK-PPEG
Meeting with community
Training of facilitators

15. FIELD VISIT ON IMPROVEMENT OF PEATLAND WATER
MANAGEMENT IN CONCESSION AREAS

16. CANAL BLOCKINGS
IN TAJUNG SARI VILLAGE,
RIAU [27 JULI 2019]
LOCATION 2
LOCATION 1
PEAT WATER LEVEL IS RAISED UP IN
SURROUNDING AREAS OF
CONSTRUCTED CANAL BLOCKING
AND NO FIRES [LOOK TO THE
WATER LEVEL IN CANALS]
16

17. More than 67
commodities has been
grown in peatland
Corn
harvesting
with the
team of
MoEF, IFAD,
local gov’t
and
community
Commodities
for Livelihood
> 20 types of vegetables
Harvested in < 8 months
> 20 types of crops
Harvested 8 - 24 months
> 27 types of endemic
vegetation
Harvested > 24 months
t1
t2
t3

18. TK-PPEG GOES GLOBAL
PRODUCT OF HARD WORK,
COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION

19. As of 25 April 2022
Industrial
Pulpwood
Plantation
Palm Oil
Pantation Total
 company 73 258 331
Areas of Peatland Ecosystem
Restoration(ha)
2,268,755.24 1,429,806.59
3,698,561.82
 of compliance point for
monitoring of peat water level
(unit)
Manual: 4,464
Logger: 622
Total: 5,086
Manual: 4,874
Logger: 586
Total: 5,460
Manual: 10,546
Logger: 1,194
Total: 10,546
 Rainfall Station(unit) 269 617 886
 Constructed canal blockings
(unit)
Existing: 8,081
Plan: 5,752
Ponds: -
Flip gate: 319
Existing: 23,128
Plan: 3,414
Ponds: 542
Flip gate: 1,619
Existing: 31,209
Plan: 9,166
Ponds: 542
Flip gate: 1,938
Rehabilitation and Revegetation of
secondary forest (replanting) --
burnt area [ha]
27,251.76 3,953.14 31,204.90
Rehabilitation and Revegetation of
secondary forest (ha)
64,799.96 n/a 64,799.96
Natural Succession in secondary
forest (ha)
5,943.67 n/a 5,943.67
Peatland
Ecosystem
Restoration
Concession
areas
estoration of hydrological fuction
Rehabilitation of vegetation
49.874,7 hectares have
been restored through rewetting,
rehabilitation and revegetation,
and improve community livelihood.
19
Community area
3.

20. DISTRIBUTION OF 222 SELF SUPPORTING VILLAGES FOR PEATLAN PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT
“DESA MANDIRI PEDULI GAMBUT [DMPG]”
ACEH
27 VILLAGES
7 DISTRICT
IMPLEMENTED IN :
• 9 PROVINCE
• 38 DISTRICT
• 222 VILLAGES
INVOLVING 12.676 WORKERS
• MAN 8.963
• WOMEN 3.713
DEVELOPED 1.474 units of
CANAL BLOCKING
REWETTED AREA: 49.874,7
HECTARES
REVEGETATION AND IMPROVE
COMMUNITY LIVELIHOOD:
implementing agroforestry,
agrosilvofishery with several
agriculture commodity
[paludiculture] and forest plant
SUMUT
40 VILLAGES
6 DISTRICT
WEST
KALIMANTAN
4 VILLAGES
3 DISTRICT
RIAU
20 VILLAGES
6 DISTRICT
JAMBI
12 VILLAGES
2 DISTRICT
WEST
SUMATERA
6 VILLAGES
3 DISTRICT
EAST
KALIMANTAN
11 VILLAGES
5 DISTRICT
CENTRAL
KALIMANTAN
55 VILLAGES
4 DISTRICT.
SOUTH
KALIMANTAN
4 VILLAGES
2 DISTRICT

21. CANAL BACK FILLING TYPE 12 M
(LENGTH 250 M) IN FOREST AREA
21
CANAL BLOCKING WITH SPILLWAY
IN COMMUNITY AREA

22. http://sipalaga.brg.go.id/
● Peatland Restoration Agency (BRGM) also developed a real time
web based water level monitoring called sipalaga.brg.go.id, its
produce data and make ALARM SYSTEM hour to hour
Peatland Water Level Monitoring System
22
REAL-TIME PEAT
GROUND WATER LEVEL
IN NON-CONCESSION
AREAS

23. PEAT GWL
BUOY
23
HOW IT WORKS?
AUTOMATIC FDRS SIGNBOARD
IN COMMUNITY AREAS

24. FDRS (FIRE DANGER RATING SYSTEM)
FOR PEATLAND WATER MONITORING IN COMMUNITY AREA

25. 25
Canal
Blocking
MANUAL WATER
LEVEL MONITORING
STATION
DATA
LOGGER
OMBROMETER
The SiMATAG-0.4m
 Daily Water level
monitoring in concession
area
 10.546 units of water
level monitoring station
(manual: 9,338 units &
logger: 1,208 unit)
 886 units rainfall
monitoring station
 Coverage: 3,6 MHa
SiMATAG-0.4m – PEAT WATER LEVEL MONITORING SYSTEM
Minister of Environment
and Forestry Launched the
SiMATAG-0.4m, APFW 2019

26. Capacity for Overlay
Data on:
-PHU Distribution
-Peatland Depth
-SiMATAG-0.4m
-Hotspot (Terra/Aqua,
SNPP, NOAA20,
Landsat8)
-Canal
-Canal Blocking
-Vegetation change
-Concession Area
-7 Days Weather
Forecast
-Wind Direction
-Rainfall, etc.
8 Applications:
-Peatland Quality Index
-Water Balance
-PPEG PLAN -2020-2049
-PROPER
-COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
-GHG EMISSION REDUCTION
-EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
-WATER LEVEL MONITORING (SiMATAG-0.4m)
MULTI LAYER MONITORS OF INTEGRATED SMART WEB BASED OPERATIONAL ROOM [FOR PLANNING, OPERATION, DATA
BASE, SURVAILANCE, EARLY WARNING SYSTEM, CALCULATION OF GHG EMISSION, CALCULATION OF WATER BALANCE, etc.]

28. Hotspot with a confidence level > 80% in the period 15 – 31 March 2022 occurred outside
the KHG and outside the concession area [HTI and Palm Oil Plantation]

29. ● The prediction of the next 5 days (until April 11, 2022) for the Drought Code Index that almost the entire PHU area is safe. Several
locations with heavy rainfall potential in Kalbar [Kubu Raya: Sungai Raya, Sungai Ambawang, Kuala Mandor-B, Sungai Kakap;
Pontianak City: East Pontianak, North Pontianak, Pontianak City, South Pontianak, West Pontianak, Southeast Pontianak;
Mempawah: Siantan, Segedong; Hedgehog: Sebangki]
● Prediction for the next 5 days (until April 11, 2022) for the Fire Weather Index that almost all K areas are safe, except for PHU in
Pesisir Selatan Regency (WEST SUMATERA), PHU Sungai Mejunto - Aek Selangkanan, Muko Muko Regency (Jambi)

30. CO2
emission
from
peatland
Vegetation
change
Peat
Subsidence
Peat water
manage-
ment
Land & forest
fire
4 contributing
factors in CO2
emissions from
peatland

31. SiMATAG-0.4m
WATER BALANCE
SiPPEG
Source:
2013 Supplement to
the 2006 IPCC
Guidelines for
National Greenhouse
Gas Inventories:
Wetlands
SiPongi
31

33. Calculation of CO2 emissions
from raising of peat GWL
MITIGATION ACTION CONTRIBUTOR
BASELINE
(tCO2eq)
ACTION
(tCO2eq)
MITIGATION
(tCO2eq)
Peatland restoration
(reduction of peat
decomposition by construction
of rewetting infrastructure)
Industrial Forest
Plantation
257.140.461,40 85.713.487,13 171.426.974,26
Palm Oil Plantation 140.773.865,23 46.924.621,74 93.849.243,49
Community land 2.508.870,00 1.672.580,00 836.290,00
Total 400.423.196,63 134.310.688,88 266.112.507,75
Total CO2 emission reduction in 2020 is
266,112,507.75 CO2-equivalent
CO2 emission = 91 x groundwater depth [R2 = 0,71; n = 8]
33

34. 34
1. Indonesia keeps its strong commitment for further achievements in ecosystem restoration,
including restoration of peatland ecosystem.
2. Indonesia has set the standard of achievement on peatland restoration through
Restoration of Hydrological Function, Revegetation and Natural Succession, involving all
parties (government, private sector and local community).
3. Indonesia has restored the Peat Ecosystem of 3,698,561.82 hectares, which is
divided into 2,268,755.24 hectares in Industrial Plantation Forest and 1,429,806.59
hectares in Oil Palm Plantation, and 49.874,7 hectares of peatland in community areas. It
contributes to CO2 emission reductions for Indonesia in 2020 for about 266,112,507.75
CO2-equivalent [Hoojier, et.al] or 29.243.132,72 CO2-equivalent [Evans, et al].
4. Indonesia has established The SiMATAG-0.4m and the SIPALAGA which has been
internationally recognized as the most massive of ground water peatland monitoring
system in the world. The SiPPEG is the latest dynamic platform for Integrated Information
System to Monitor, Evaluate, prediction event in the peatland has also established.
5. Indonesia is ready to share its experience in peatland protection and management to
other countries as a coherent action on alleviating global climate change.
4.

35. SOURCES OF
INFORMATION
●http://pkgppkl.menlhk.go.id/v0/
●https://sipongi.menlhk.go.id/
●http://sigap.menlhk.go.id/sigap/peta_
interaktif.php
●https://signature.bmkg.go.id/weather
●http://sipalaga.brg.go.id/
●https://prims.brg.go.id/
BENEFICIAL WEBSITES
35

36. Muhammad Askary
MoEF, Indonesia
Thank you.