Information Media of Indonesia Climate Change Center
Photo by: Budhi Marta Utama/ICCC
4th Edition - November 2013
IS INDONESIA READY?
To successfully achieve emission reduction by 2020
By Dadang Hilman
Peat should receive more serious attention to achieve Indonesia’s target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon emissions by 26-41% in 2020. If the extent of burning of peatlands is not ‘under control’, Indonesia’s peat which stores almost a quarter of world’s soil carbon will be a significant source in increasing of GHG emissions.
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he forest fires, including peat fires, that regularly occur in Indonesia must be overcome. Ultimately, Indonesia risks being considered a failure country in tackling this problem and could lose credibility on world stage, especially with respect to the climate change issue that is now becoming an international priority issue.
states that the peat fires revealed biomass lost of 92% from initial 154 t/ha. Other researchers, Hashimoto and Hiratsuka conducted field inventory measurement in East Kalimantan on a burned forest area and found remaining 8-10 t/ha and 9-17 t/ha. This comparison shows that the amount of remaining biomass after fire events is similar.
GHG emission characteristics from peat fires are very complex. Many factors need to be calculated to estimate the emissions from peat fires, including the burned area, fire types, vegetation structure, hydrology, weather history, how much biomass burns, what kind of biomass burns, and how the biomass burns.
It has already been established that the emissions from the forest, including peat fires, is one of the targets for reducing GHG emissions in Indonesia and this has been written in Presidential Regulation No. 61/2010 regarding National Action Plan for GHG. In the document, government institutions and related institutions have to implement of the efforts to manage peatland (fires). (continue to page 7)
From the study that has been done by Englhart in 2013,
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ICCC Highlights
ICCC Highlights
Peat and Peatland Mapping:
A Challenge for Indonesia
O
n 23rd September 2013, the Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) started a study to investigate the potential of using biomass for ethanol fuel and their wastes for electricity to gain energy independence in remote areas. The study is about Crop to Energy on Degraded Land as a step toward Energy Independence, Carbon Sink Agriculture and Protection of REDD+ Designated Areas. Artissa Panjaitan, Low Emission Development Strategy Cluster Coordinator of ICCC, says that, “Ethanol for fuel can be started in Indonesia using first generation technology based on starch or sugar materials, such as cassava. At the same time, fast growing tropical crops that have little or no lignin can be processed using anaerobic digesters to produce biogas for electricity. In the future, bio-ethanol should be run from cellulosic materials to avoid competition
By: Eli Nur Nirmala Sari
with food. We will develop this study for plant and technology alternatives.” In order to bring this idea into reality, critical issues that have hindered this initiative in the past will be addressed, such as: where biomass farm should be located, the policy to support bio-ethanol as a transportation fuel, inclusion of local people in the sector, protection of forest areas, avoiding competition between food and fuel production and designing the economic impact of this initiative. The results are expected to help policy makers in designing Indonesia biofuel industry, the use of degraded land and protection of forests. The study will analyze stakeholders’ perspectives through desk studies, interviews, focus group discussion and workshops. ICCC hopes to finalize the results in early 2014. (*)
Established in October 2011 under the US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, the Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) is a platform of network that reaches scientist communities, international organizations, Indonesia ministries, and academics to encourage robust science-policy linkages in support of actions to deal with issues on climate change in Indonesia. Info ICCC is a quarterly newsletter which serves information on issues and study result conducted by ICCC. ICCC encourages free dissemination of information available on this newsletter for non-commercial purpose with acknowledgement of Info ICCC as the source. Steering Committee: Rachmat Witoelar, Agus Purnomo, Amanda Katili Niode, Murni Titi Resdiana, Farhan Helmy, National Council on Climate Change (DNPI). Editor in Chief: Arfiana Khairunnisa, Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC). Contributors: Artissa Panjaitan, Dadang Hilman, Eli Nur Nirmala Sari, Harityas Wiyoga, Eryka Dwi Surya Purnama, Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) Feedback and suggestion can be sent to email info@iccc-network.net or address Gd. Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi (BPPT), 16th Fl. Jl. M.H.Thamrin 8, Jakarta 10340. Further information of ICCC is available on www.ICCC-network.net.
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4th Edition - November 2013
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Photo by: Matt Warren/USFS
By: Artissa Panjaitan
he prevailing message from agricultural sector states that the expansion of agricultural land will be required to fulfill the needs of global food in 2025.
The most ideal land for agricultural activities in Indonesia is highly productive rice-fields, but these fields have been converted into industrial areas, housing, and other facilities to meet the urban needs. On other side, cropland has been converted to plantations, such as palm oils and rubbers. As a result, agricultural land will be expanded to a suboptimal soil such as peat and other degraded lands. Indonesia has a diverse peatland, both in type and utilization. For example, in Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan, the local people use peatland to grow vegetables for more than 100 years. However, increasing of local needs causes threat to the sustainability of peatland that lead to the increasing of greenhouse gases emission. Therefore, integrated spatial planning is needed to achieve sustainable peatland management. Although 25-35% of peatland in Indonesia has agronomic and economic potential, peatland is considered as the last option to be utilized as an agricultural land since the priority of agricultural development is still focused on mineral soil.
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From the perspective of agricultural sector, primary peat forest should be conserved, while degraded peat forest must be restored. If possible, a peatland is restored as industrial forest plantations (HTI) since it’s productivity is high and it’s carbon emission is low. The Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) identified peatland as an area with an accumulation of partly decomposed organic matter, which has ash content equal to or less than 35%, peat depth equal to or deeper than 50cm, and organic carbon content (by weight) of at least 12%. Therefore, if there is wetland depth of less than 50cm, it can be used for agricultural or other crop production. In Indonesia, spatial planning is regulated by Law No. 26/2007. In accordance with this law, the following factors should be taken into account, including: (1) Physical condition; (2) The potential natural resources, human resources, and man-made resource; economic condition, social, culture, politic, law, security, environment, science, and technology, and; (3) Geostrategic, geopolitics, geo-economics. (continue to page 7)
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ICCC Highlights
ICCC Highlights
Peat and Peatland Mapping:
A Challenge for Indonesia
O
n 23rd September 2013, the Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) started a study to investigate the potential of using biomass for ethanol fuel and their wastes for electricity to gain energy independence in remote areas. The study is about Crop to Energy on Degraded Land as a step toward Energy Independence, Carbon Sink Agriculture and Protection of REDD+ Designated Areas. Artissa Panjaitan, Low Emission Development Strategy Cluster Coordinator of ICCC, says that, “Ethanol for fuel can be started in Indonesia using first generation technology based on starch or sugar materials, such as cassava. At the same time, fast growing tropical crops that have little or no lignin can be processed using anaerobic digesters to produce biogas for electricity. In the future, bio-ethanol should be run from cellulosic materials to avoid competition
By: Eli Nur Nirmala Sari
with food. We will develop this study for plant and technology alternatives.” In order to bring this idea into reality, critical issues that have hindered this initiative in the past will be addressed, such as: where biomass farm should be located, the policy to support bio-ethanol as a transportation fuel, inclusion of local people in the sector, protection of forest areas, avoiding competition between food and fuel production and designing the economic impact of this initiative. The results are expected to help policy makers in designing Indonesia biofuel industry, the use of degraded land and protection of forests. The study will analyze stakeholders’ perspectives through desk studies, interviews, focus group discussion and workshops. ICCC hopes to finalize the results in early 2014. (*)
Established in October 2011 under the US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, the Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) is a platform of network that reaches scientist communities, international organizations, Indonesia ministries, and academics to encourage robust science-policy linkages in support of actions to deal with issues on climate change in Indonesia. Info ICCC is a quarterly newsletter which serves information on issues and study result conducted by ICCC. ICCC encourages free dissemination of information available on this newsletter for non-commercial purpose with acknowledgement of Info ICCC as the source. Steering Committee: Rachmat Witoelar, Agus Purnomo, Amanda Katili Niode, Murni Titi Resdiana, Farhan Helmy, National Council on Climate Change (DNPI). Editor in Chief: Arfiana Khairunnisa, Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC). Contributors: Artissa Panjaitan, Dadang Hilman, Eli Nur Nirmala Sari, Harityas Wiyoga, Eryka Dwi Surya Purnama, Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) Feedback and suggestion can be sent to email info@iccc-network.net or address Gd. Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi (BPPT), 16th Fl. Jl. M.H.Thamrin 8, Jakarta 10340. Further information of ICCC is available on www.ICCC-network.net.
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4th Edition - November 2013
|
T
Photo by: Matt Warren/USFS
By: Artissa Panjaitan
he prevailing message from agricultural sector states that the expansion of agricultural land will be required to fulfill the needs of global food in 2025.
The most ideal land for agricultural activities in Indonesia is highly productive rice-fields, but these fields have been converted into industrial areas, housing, and other facilities to meet the urban needs. On other side, cropland has been converted to plantations, such as palm oils and rubbers. As a result, agricultural land will be expanded to a suboptimal soil such as peat and other degraded lands. Indonesia has a diverse peatland, both in type and utilization. For example, in Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan, the local people use peatland to grow vegetables for more than 100 years. However, increasing of local needs causes threat to the sustainability of peatland that lead to the increasing of greenhouse gases emission. Therefore, integrated spatial planning is needed to achieve sustainable peatland management. Although 25-35% of peatland in Indonesia has agronomic and economic potential, peatland is considered as the last option to be utilized as an agricultural land since the priority of agricultural development is still focused on mineral soil.
|4th Edition - November 2013
From the perspective of agricultural sector, primary peat forest should be conserved, while degraded peat forest must be restored. If possible, a peatland is restored as industrial forest plantations (HTI) since it’s productivity is high and it’s carbon emission is low. The Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) identified peatland as an area with an accumulation of partly decomposed organic matter, which has ash content equal to or less than 35%, peat depth equal to or deeper than 50cm, and organic carbon content (by weight) of at least 12%. Therefore, if there is wetland depth of less than 50cm, it can be used for agricultural or other crop production. In Indonesia, spatial planning is regulated by Law No. 26/2007. In accordance with this law, the following factors should be taken into account, including: (1) Physical condition; (2) The potential natural resources, human resources, and man-made resource; economic condition, social, culture, politic, law, security, environment, science, and technology, and; (3) Geostrategic, geopolitics, geo-economics. (continue to page 7)
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Peatland Story
Visiting Peatland in Pelalawan By: Eli Nur Nirmala Sari
The beauty of Kerumutan River. All photos taken by: Eli Nur Nirmala Sari
M
ay 2013. After about 2 hours our ketinting boat took us down the Kerumutan River to travel upstream, and finally reached the first point where we would take our first measurement of peat depth. Along the journey on Kerumutan River, which has a width of 16 meters, the thick vegetation was dominated by pandanus, helophytes, and jambujambu (Eugenia sp), all of which could be seen along the bank the river.
The two boats took us to the bank of the river between a small canal and Kerumutan river. When I stepped out from the boat and stepped on the ground, my foot sank into the soil. This was my first indication that I was on wet peat, if it is in wet condition everything sinks into it. The water around was black, the color is produced by organic compounds of peat which mix in the water. We walked down along the small canals heading for the peat forest, away from the river, to arrive at the point where we could drill the peat to find out its depth. We had identified this location from 50 points of measurement targets in Pelalawan peatland.
The Peatland and Peatland Mapping Cluster of the Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) had assembled a team of 10 people to undertake our first Peatland is very important for the “ground truthing” of a peatland people in Kapau. Most of Kapau measurement methodology. people are living from growing We departed from Kapau crops on the land around hamlet in Kerumutan village, them and on peatland, and Kerumutan sub-district, also fishing in the river near Pelalawan district, Riau them. The nature around province. In that place, them still provides a lot of we would test the recently natural resources that can developed methodology for be utilized, although there peatland mapping that has is a decline of quantity and been formulated by the ICCC in quality compared to many years collaboration with a panel of peat Peat depth measurement by auger ago. Many people take advantage experts. Before leaving, we stayed of non-timber forest products, such as over for one night at the local people’s rattan, mushrooms, medicinal herbs, honey house in Kapau, which was about 300 km or and hunting animals. about 5 hours driving by car from Pekanbaru.
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4th Edition - November 2013
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Rice cultivation has become one of the main traditional sources of livelihood in the area. Shifting cultivation had become common practice until the late 1980’s. Moving from one place to another, the local people open the land by cutting the trees, growing rice on the open peatland and developing the same land to grow the rice. After the peat are drying and less fertile, then people leaving their dry field. The trees will grow on these abandoned fields, but will not be the same as the primary forest. In some cases, this kind of land management practice will result in subsidence (surface subsidence of peat), and according to the local people, the subsidence could be 50-60cm in 3 years as long as the rice cultivation followed by building canals. Since 1980’s, the local people have changed their agriculture practice from shifting cultivation to land-based farming method. In general, the local people prefer to expand their farm land on mineral soil or shallow peat. This is because the mineral soil or shallow peat is more fertile than the deep peat, therefore it is easier to manage and low cost maintenance.
|4th Edition - November 2013
H o w e v e r, as seen in the area where we were, the borders of Nephentes sp the agriculture lands were moving to the deep peat due to limitation of availability of land. Because peat has its unique characteristics and functions, one of which is as the carbon store. It seems that the information to the public about the importance of peatland should be promoted more. ICCC Peatland and Peatland Mapping Cluster will continue its work on sustainable peatland management methods that can be well applied in the field. (*)
Peatland Story
Visiting Peatland in Pelalawan By: Eli Nur Nirmala Sari
The beauty of Kerumutan River. All photos taken by: Eli Nur Nirmala Sari
M
ay 2013. After about 2 hours our ketinting boat took us down the Kerumutan River to travel upstream, and finally reached the first point where we would take our first measurement of peat depth. Along the journey on Kerumutan River, which has a width of 16 meters, the thick vegetation was dominated by pandanus, helophytes, and jambujambu (Eugenia sp), all of which could be seen along the bank the river.
The two boats took us to the bank of the river between a small canal and Kerumutan river. When I stepped out from the boat and stepped on the ground, my foot sank into the soil. This was my first indication that I was on wet peat, if it is in wet condition everything sinks into it. The water around was black, the color is produced by organic compounds of peat which mix in the water. We walked down along the small canals heading for the peat forest, away from the river, to arrive at the point where we could drill the peat to find out its depth. We had identified this location from 50 points of measurement targets in Pelalawan peatland.
The Peatland and Peatland Mapping Cluster of the Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) had assembled a team of 10 people to undertake our first Peatland is very important for the “ground truthing” of a peatland people in Kapau. Most of Kapau measurement methodology. people are living from growing We departed from Kapau crops on the land around hamlet in Kerumutan village, them and on peatland, and Kerumutan sub-district, also fishing in the river near Pelalawan district, Riau them. The nature around province. In that place, them still provides a lot of we would test the recently natural resources that can developed methodology for be utilized, although there peatland mapping that has is a decline of quantity and been formulated by the ICCC in quality compared to many years collaboration with a panel of peat Peat depth measurement by auger ago. Many people take advantage experts. Before leaving, we stayed of non-timber forest products, such as over for one night at the local people’s rattan, mushrooms, medicinal herbs, honey house in Kapau, which was about 300 km or and hunting animals. about 5 hours driving by car from Pekanbaru.
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4th Edition - November 2013
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Rice cultivation has become one of the main traditional sources of livelihood in the area. Shifting cultivation had become common practice until the late 1980’s. Moving from one place to another, the local people open the land by cutting the trees, growing rice on the open peatland and developing the same land to grow the rice. After the peat are drying and less fertile, then people leaving their dry field. The trees will grow on these abandoned fields, but will not be the same as the primary forest. In some cases, this kind of land management practice will result in subsidence (surface subsidence of peat), and according to the local people, the subsidence could be 50-60cm in 3 years as long as the rice cultivation followed by building canals. Since 1980’s, the local people have changed their agriculture practice from shifting cultivation to land-based farming method. In general, the local people prefer to expand their farm land on mineral soil or shallow peat. This is because the mineral soil or shallow peat is more fertile than the deep peat, therefore it is easier to manage and low cost maintenance.
|4th Edition - November 2013
H o w e v e r, as seen in the area where we were, the borders of Nephentes sp the agriculture lands were moving to the deep peat due to limitation of availability of land. Because peat has its unique characteristics and functions, one of which is as the carbon store. It seems that the information to the public about the importance of peatland should be promoted more. ICCC Peatland and Peatland Mapping Cluster will continue its work on sustainable peatland management methods that can be well applied in the field. (*)
ICCC Highlights
ICCC Highlights
ICCC: Attract Renewable Energy Investment to Indonesia By: Artissa Panjaitan
Despite its large potentials for electricity from RE sources, Indonesia’s RE investment is not yet close to its maximum level. Government of Indonesia has changed feed-in tariff schemes several times to improve investment attractiveness but yet the investment trend is not sustainable. ICCC hypothesizes that Indonesia’s RE risk profile is not matching investors’ return expectations.
ICCC Supports Indonesia Peatland Mapping By: Eli Nur Nirmala Sari
T
he Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) supports the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG)’s commitment to map Indonesia peatland at 1:50.000 scale. This scale of map is required to ensure sufficient detail for both understanding the status of the peatlands and for making sound policy decisions to manage peat sustainably. The availability of an accurate peatland map is expected to be used as the basic reference for many purposes related to peatland management. The important thing to consider at this moment is that peatland is in use for various purposes. A variety of land uses requires that we not only have detailed information, but we also need to determine how to manage peatland and how to rehabilitate degraded peatland. ICCC is therefore conducting the project of peatland mapping in Pelalawan District, Riau Province, and Katingan District, Central Kalimantan Province to support BIG and Ministry of Agriculture with the peat depth data, and to identify the best practice management in peatland. ICCC will also conduct the project to support the sustainable peatland management across sectors which will enable Government of Indonesia to evaluate the purpose of the use of the peatland. (*) Photo by: Budhi Marta Utama/ICCC
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4th Edition - November 2013
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Risk profile of a country can affect capital cost and industry profitability from pre-operating costs, legal aspects, price-market competition, input costs, payment terms & conditions, insurance protection and market growth potential. To attract more RE investments, especially in biomass power sector, ICCC considers 5 policy imperatives: (1) Security of biomass feed stock, (2) Removing investment barriers, (3) Providing investment incentives, (4) Punishment for delinquency, (5) Adequate presentation and promotion of investment opportunities. This study is expected to produce final results in early 2014. (*)
Source: UK renewable energy installer
On 26th September 2013, Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) initiated a study to generate a renewed perspective to attract Renewable Energy (RE) investments to Indonesia – in crop to energy case.
Is Indonesia Ready?
Peat and Peatland Mapping
A detailed framework (KKR) and detailed mechanism of work (MKR) across ministries or agencies to encourage an integrated collective efforts must immediately be formulated including how the relation with the Presidential Regulation No. 71/2011 on the implementation of inventory for GHG. In addition, there should be a wide space for the participation of the non-governmental parties, so the governance management of sustainable forest and peat can be achieved.
The Ministry of Public Works emphasizes other factors that also need to be considered in peatland spatial planning such as regulation, capacity building, implementation, and supervision.
The accurate measurement and accounting of GHG emission from peatland is one point that must be addressed. Without accurate measurement, wrong policy decisions could be made. Therefore, the formulations of KKR and MKR should be placed in the monitoring frame and achievement evaluation of the National Action Plan on GHG with coordination between the National Planning and Development Agency and the Ministry of Environment.
The challenge of sustainable peatland management is the availability data resided in the various institutions that most of them have different data acquisition periods. Also, each institution has different management objectives, therefore they have also different indicators and criteria. Spatial planning is essential for sustainable peatland management, particularly it’s significant contribution to carbon emission. Responding the issue, in April 2013 ICCC facilitated peat experts meeting to share views and knowledge on the important role of spatial planning for sustainable peatland management. The issues of collaborative and synergize efforts have been a critical issue for peatland management. (*)
We hope the implementation of national commitment mentioned above can be monitored based on clear and measurable indicators. (*)
|4th Edition - November 2013
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ICCC Highlights
ICCC Highlights
ICCC: Attract Renewable Energy Investment to Indonesia By: Artissa Panjaitan
Despite its large potentials for electricity from RE sources, Indonesia’s RE investment is not yet close to its maximum level. Government of Indonesia has changed feed-in tariff schemes several times to improve investment attractiveness but yet the investment trend is not sustainable. ICCC hypothesizes that Indonesia’s RE risk profile is not matching investors’ return expectations.
ICCC Supports Indonesia Peatland Mapping By: Eli Nur Nirmala Sari
T
he Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) supports the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG)’s commitment to map Indonesia peatland at 1:50.000 scale. This scale of map is required to ensure sufficient detail for both understanding the status of the peatlands and for making sound policy decisions to manage peat sustainably. The availability of an accurate peatland map is expected to be used as the basic reference for many purposes related to peatland management. The important thing to consider at this moment is that peatland is in use for various purposes. A variety of land uses requires that we not only have detailed information, but we also need to determine how to manage peatland and how to rehabilitate degraded peatland. ICCC is therefore conducting the project of peatland mapping in Pelalawan District, Riau Province, and Katingan District, Central Kalimantan Province to support BIG and Ministry of Agriculture with the peat depth data, and to identify the best practice management in peatland. ICCC will also conduct the project to support the sustainable peatland management across sectors which will enable Government of Indonesia to evaluate the purpose of the use of the peatland. (*) Photo by: Budhi Marta Utama/ICCC
6
4th Edition - November 2013
|
Risk profile of a country can affect capital cost and industry profitability from pre-operating costs, legal aspects, price-market competition, input costs, payment terms & conditions, insurance protection and market growth potential. To attract more RE investments, especially in biomass power sector, ICCC considers 5 policy imperatives: (1) Security of biomass feed stock, (2) Removing investment barriers, (3) Providing investment incentives, (4) Punishment for delinquency, (5) Adequate presentation and promotion of investment opportunities. This study is expected to produce final results in early 2014. (*)
Source: UK renewable energy installer
On 26th September 2013, Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) initiated a study to generate a renewed perspective to attract Renewable Energy (RE) investments to Indonesia – in crop to energy case.
Is Indonesia Ready?
Peat and Peatland Mapping
A detailed framework (KKR) and detailed mechanism of work (MKR) across ministries or agencies to encourage an integrated collective efforts must immediately be formulated including how the relation with the Presidential Regulation No. 71/2011 on the implementation of inventory for GHG. In addition, there should be a wide space for the participation of the non-governmental parties, so the governance management of sustainable forest and peat can be achieved.
The Ministry of Public Works emphasizes other factors that also need to be considered in peatland spatial planning such as regulation, capacity building, implementation, and supervision.
The accurate measurement and accounting of GHG emission from peatland is one point that must be addressed. Without accurate measurement, wrong policy decisions could be made. Therefore, the formulations of KKR and MKR should be placed in the monitoring frame and achievement evaluation of the National Action Plan on GHG with coordination between the National Planning and Development Agency and the Ministry of Environment.
The challenge of sustainable peatland management is the availability data resided in the various institutions that most of them have different data acquisition periods. Also, each institution has different management objectives, therefore they have also different indicators and criteria. Spatial planning is essential for sustainable peatland management, particularly it’s significant contribution to carbon emission. Responding the issue, in April 2013 ICCC facilitated peat experts meeting to share views and knowledge on the important role of spatial planning for sustainable peatland management. The issues of collaborative and synergize efforts have been a critical issue for peatland management. (*)
We hope the implementation of national commitment mentioned above can be monitored based on clear and measurable indicators. (*)
|4th Edition - November 2013
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ICCC Activity
Workshop on Methodology Development for Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Peat Fires By: Arfiana Khairunnisa
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he Indonesia Climate Change Center with the support of the National Council on ClimateChange and United State Forest Service had facilitated a workshop that involved international and national peat fire experts, representatives from the ministries and related governmental institutions, NGOs and other related institutions. The workshop entitled “Development of Methodology for Estimating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Peat Fires” was held in Jakarta on 3rd October 2013.
explained about the complexity of estimating carbon emissions from peat fires. According to Kevin, estimating emissions from peat fires is different from estimating emissions from other fire events. Many factors need to be calculated, including above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, current and previous weather condition, hydrology condition and fires or smouldering; so there is no “quick fix” for the estimation from peat fires.
The participants discussed several important issues including the limited quality and quality data for reporting GHG emissions from peat fires. These issues should be addressed immediately to avoid misleading policy developments.
The other key speaker Dr. Mark Cochrane, who is a remote sensing expert, explained the potential of remote sensing in detecting burned peatland. Mark gave an example how MODIS satellite works to detect the hotspot.
The first Indonesia’s National Communication to the UNFCCC stated that peat fires contributed 20-40% to GHG emissions while another recent study stated that burned peat lands contributed 13% of the total national GHG inventory in 2000. Meanwhile, other studies show different results. This situation is worsened by the absence of IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) guidelines, particularly in the estimation methodology of GHG emissions from peat fires.
“However, MODIS fire detections are only telling part of the story about flaming surface vegetation fires, therefore it doesn’t detect many of the fires and doesn’t provide an accurate calculation of area burned.”
Dr. Kevin Ryan, one of the key speakers on the workshop
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estimate GHG emission from peat fires and its link to the development of the MRV (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification) system. A more precise data is needed including in calculating the total emissions. Therefore, a collaborative efforts among government institutions, non-governmental institutions, and peat experts is a key to overcome the data gap.” The participants have expressed concern about incomplete inaccessible, unreliable data from various data sources. In conclusion, the participants recognized the need for a reliable institution that has responsibilities to estimate the emissions from peat fires. The workshop also recommended ICCC for further works on pilot testing sites, for example the estimation test, examination and review of the data related to peat fires, and also an MRV workshop for peat fires. (*)
Farhan Helmy, Secretary of the Mitigation Working Group of National Council on ClimateChange, says, “The ICCC is developing the methodology to 4th Edition - November 2013
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