JAKARTA, NETRALNEWS - To strengthen the implementation of peat restoration, The Peatland Hydrological Unit (KHG) of The Peat Restoration Agency (BRG) and WWF-Indonesia Foundation have agreed to cooperate in saving peat ecosystems in four provinces.

Head of BRG Nazir Foead said the four provinces are Jambi, Riau, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. Peat restoration efforts need cooperation from many parties, so the contribution of those parties is important.

"For example, WWF-Indonesia, which has experience of peat restoration in Sebangau, Central Kalimantan, this becomes an added value for this cooperation," Nazir said in a press release on Tuesday (10/17/2017).

According to him, the restoration of the peat ecosystem is part of the Indonesian government's target to reduce emissions by 29 percent on its own effort and with international cooperation by up to 41 percent.

Data from Indonesia's Contribution document in reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases (Nationally Determined Contribution/NDC) reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) states that 63 percent of Indonesia's total emissions come from land conversion, peatland damage and forest fires.

Based on these data, it becomes very strategic for Indonesia to restore peatland to achieve the emission reduction target.

"We have achievements to save Indonesia's forests and biodiversity, some of which are on peatlands," said WWF-Indonesia CEO Rizal Malik.

Rizal added that currently Indonesia has 24 million hectares (ha) of total peatlands, 12.2 million ha are in damaged condition, and 2 million ha are in critical condition whose control is in the hands of private, public, and central and local governments.

To achieve the prescribed peat restoration target it is not possible for BRG to do it by itself, but it needs many parties to contribute to the achievement of this target.