So, why do we need a moratorium on peat conversion? Indonesia is home to the largest area of tropical peatland on Earth. This incredible environment plays a key role in storing carbon globally. Peatlands only occupy about three percent of earth’s land surface. They are important ecosystems that sequester around 44 percent of all soil carbon. Indonesia’s peatlands are among the most carbon rich ecosystems on the planet. Agricultural expansion and land conversion are grave threats, imperiling not just the environment but the vibrant species that sustain these unique habitats.
The rich ecosystem of peatlands not only combats climate change, it serves as a habitat for endangered species like orangutans. Additionally, these regions provide habitat for some of our most economically valuable fish species, highlighting their value far outside of their climate mitigation potential. The delicate nature of peatlands, often described as neither fully land nor water, necessitates careful management to sustain their health.
The Role of Peatlands in Carbon Sequestration
At the same time, peatlands are famous for being AMPs, because that’s what makes them nice and boggy, slowing decomposition and creating a carbon-rich peat. This unique feature has made them the world’s “lungs.” They provide clean air and water, prevent flooding, and sustain wildlife, making them the keystone of our communities. By protecting these industrial corridors of carbon, Indonesia can become a climate change hero.
Indonesia’s peat swamps have historically been drained and destroyed to make way for monoculture plantations. This change sometimes necessitates removing the water needed to sustain the fish, bird, and invertebrate diversity that has created an ecological balance to these unique ecosystems. The draining process destroys the area’s natural hydrology, causing catastrophic impacts to our nation’s biodiversity and climate stability.
That much was driven home in 2015, when Indonesia suffered disastrous fires following land conversion for agricultural development. These were largely sustained by emptied and desiccated peatlands, leading to an environmental calamity without precedent. The fires destroyed an area 4.5 times the size of Bali. This destruction had two immediate effects – killing large amounts of wildlife habitat and releasing millions of tons of carbon into the atmosphere.
Economic Impacts and Environmental Consequences
The holistic costs of the 2015 peatland fires were mind-blowing. Indonesia’s expenditure was about $16.1 billion. At the time, this cost was equal to roughly two percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Her burden of cost shows just how interrelated our environmental health and economic security are. If we don’t prioritize peatland conservation, Indonesia’s economy may suffer greatly.
By 2023, only 18.4% of Indonesia’s peatlands are still considered to be in a “undisturbed” state. This shocking statistic serves as a reminder of how quickly and urgently we need to pursue conservation. This irrevocable damage to biodiversity is compounded by the loss of Indonesia’s undisturbed peatland, which represents a significant part of Indonesia’s overall ability to adequately address climate change.
Restoration and protection of peatlands must be a priority. Together, community organizations and local policymakers are developing new sustainable practices that put conservation before conversion. These programs focus on restoring damaged peatlands and educating the public on their environmental importance.
The Fight for Peatland Preservation
Local communities are an important force in the global struggle to keep peatlands untouched. Many Indigenous Indonesians rely on these ecosystems for their livelihoods, making it imperative that their voices are included in conservation discussions. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, NGOs, and local populations can lead to more effective management strategies that balance economic needs with environmental sustainability.
With enforcement alone not enough to achieve safety, education and awareness campaigns are equally important in this fight. Restoring public awareness about the role of peatlands is one important step in creating a culture of conservation. This, in turn, improves environmental quality and public health. Reforesting these degraded lands and transitioning to agroecological farming practices are both key, complementary efforts. These actions will help foster stronger resiliency to upcoming environmental catastrophes.
Long-term relief will only come through a combination of stronger land use regulations, restoration efforts and community involvement. Only with concerted action will Indonesia be able to protect its irreplaceable peatland ecosystems for future generations.