Peatland Conservation & Restoration - Katinga, Indonesia
This Peatland Restoration and Conservation Project REDD+ project has the potential to deliver emissions reductions of an average of 7.4 million tonnes of CO2e per year.
Project Summary
Peatland is a valuable carbon sink with stocks which globally stores 20 times more carbon than that stored in both trees and vegetation.
Indonesian Borneo, known as Kalimantan, has 5.7 million hectares of peatland and it is rapidly being lost to the expansion of industrial plantations. The clearing, draining and burning of peatland is estimated to contribute 18-20% of Indonesian’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
This project works to protect 149,800 hectares of peatland and provide a more sustainable source of income to local communities.
The Impact
- Conservation of 149,800 hectares of peatland, preventing loss to industrial timber plantations for pulpwood.
- Preservation of precious biodiversity in the area: field surveys identified 67 mammals, 157 birds, 41 reptiles, 8 amphibians, 111 fish, and 314 floral species.
- Stops the release of 14,254,599 tonnes of carbon in vegetation and 546,767,493 tonnes stored in the peatland.
- Planned reforestation of 4,433 hectares.
- A community-led agroforestry approach means that economically valuable local species will be planted to support local communities and livelihoods.
- Rewetting will be undertaken where peatland in the area has already been subject to draining canals.
Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established by United Nations as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity. There are 17 goals in total and this project is aligned to the following SDG goals:
SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth
One of the main objectives of the project is to provide economic opportunities to local people. The community-based business development program directly contributes to community benefits by increasing livelihood options and local incomes, and improving land use practices.
SDG 13: Take urgent action on climate
Given the huge amounts of CO2 stored in our global peatland, this project is protecting a vital carbon sink and in so doing, helping to limit climate change.
SDG 15: Protest, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
This project protects a vital ecosystem which supports traditional livelihoods such as fishing, provides clean water and is home to many species, including some of
the world’s most endangered, such as the Bornean Orangutan and the Proboscis Monkey.