PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – A recent study by Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) revealed that peatland restoration through rewetting significantly contributes to climate change mitigation. The research, conducted in collaboration with Tanjungpura University, IPB University, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and leading international universities, was published in the journal *Science of The Total Environment*.
Indonesia’s tropical peatlands, much of which have been converted into palm oil plantations, have the potential to store far more carbon than tropical forests in mineral soils or mangrove areas. However, degradation and peat drying have been major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions.
The study examined the impact of rewetting degraded peatlands, finding that the intervention reduced carbon dioxide emissions without increasing methane levels. By restoring canals in palm oil plantations, the rewetting process slowed peat decomposition by up to 34% compared to areas without rewetting.
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“The study really proved that rewetting activity could be the effective solution in climate change mitigation,” Wahyu Catur Adinugroho from BRIN, said, as in the official statement to Palmoilmagazine.com, Thursday (12/9/2024). Nevertheless, the contribution from peat restoration would not be fully described to nationally determined contribution of Indonesia because of the limited data available.
By this good result, Indonesia would potentially realize emission reduction significantly through natural climate solution in natural base, including the forest protection, sustainable forest cultivation/management, and peat ecosystem restoration. The researchers predicted this would potentially contribute up to 13% of the total natural climate solution mitigation.
“It needs to remember that even though peats where there was not activity, would deliver bigger climate advantages, peat restoration in the degraded areas, positively proved the positive,” Nisa Novita from YKAN, said. It is hoped this would encourage Indonesia to realize its ambitious emission reduction targets in national scale.
The research would be not only the practical success from the peat rewetting, but also mean to continue and expand peat restoration to protect the environment to be better and more sustainable in the future. (P2)
