Of the 27 million hectares of peatswamp forest originally found in Indonesia and Malaysia, 13 million hectares (48%) have already been intensively logged and drained for a variety of land uses. Despite the fact that  Indonesia and Malaysia’s degraded peatland covers only 0.1% of the world’s land area, its destruction is causing the release of an alarming 2000 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year - equivalent to 8% of all global fossil fuel emissions.

These figures have radically changed the global picture of carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, if the CO2 emissions from peatlands were included in the calculations used to rank countries according to their carbon emissions, Indonesia would be ranked third after the USA and China.

Support and incentives

While Indonesia acknowledges that addressing peatland degradation is its own responsibility, the country needs international support and incentives to achieve its aims. Policies therefore need to be put in place to encourage international donors to invest in peatland conservation and reward these countries for reductions in peatland emissions.

Wetlands International conducts several projects in South-east Asia to restore peatlands. Click here for the site a major conservation and restoration project in the peatlands of Central Kalimantan.

Economic value of peatswamps

By curbing the drainage of peatswamps and using their stored carbon to offset emissions elsewhere (carbon trading), the tropical peatswamps in South-East Asia could be worth as much as 29 billion euros (US$39 billion) per year.

This calculation is based on the UN’s current estimate that traded carbon is worth US$14.59 per tonne, and on the PEAT-CO2 research report by WL/Delft Hydraulics and Wetlands International, which shows that 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide are being lost from tropical peatswamps every year.

Costs of restoration

The most effective way of ensuring peatland conservation on South-East Asia is to conserve the remaining peatland forests, while at the same time rehabilitating degraded peatland. The natural water table regime should be restored as much as possible by improved water management - by reducing drainage or stopping it altogether by,  for example closing drainage canals or erosion gullies by dams.

After this, the areas should be replanted to assist natural regeneration and to boost the speed of recovery of the peat soils. Replanting activities should use indigenous tree species which are tolerant to the harsh conditions found in burnt peatlands.

Involving local communities in peatland conservation and restoration and creating alternative livelihoods that do not harm the peatlands is crucial for its success. See more about this in our paper on field experiences.

This technical process will lead to costs of approximately only 1 euro for every avoided tonne CO2 emissions. Providing alternative livelihoods will increase the costs to 5 euros  for every avoided tonne CO2 maximum.

Fund for restoring peatlands

In absence of any international finance mechanisms for peatland conservation and restoration, Wetlands International has established the Global Peatland Fund to enable rapid action for the rehabilitation of degraded peatland.

More information

Threatened mires and peatlands of the world - International Mire Conservation Group