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Indonesia Needs High Accuracy Peat Map

To protect peat as potential carbon storage, Indonesia prepared high accuracy peat map. The map later became the main reference, so there is no overlap between land and peat area management.

Currently, according to the Coordinator of Peat Cluster and Peat Mapping of Indonesia Climate Change Center (ICCC) Eli Nur Nirmala Sari, the peat coverage areas data owned by various agencies still vary. Consequently, it is difficult to take the right policy for peat management.

“One map for peat should be created because the map will make it easier to allocate the land utilization and management in the coming years,” said Eli.

Further, Eli explains, currently the accuracy of peat map isn’t good. Area, depth, and type of peat isn’t complete registered, whereas the carbon emissions and its potential in saving varies depend on the characteristic of the peat.

Research and field data collection is necessary to verify long rage sensing data, often used as a source of map making. “That’s why ICCC supports the making of peat map with with higher accuracy and better mapping methodology.”

Eli explained, currently Indonesia has embarked on a similar map making by involving Geospatial Information Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of forestry, Wetlands International, assisted by a number of experts from the University.

As pilot project, there are two complete peat map for Pelalawan Regency, Riau and Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan. In the future, this project will be extended to 15 other locations. The target is in 4-5 years, the making of this national scale map is complete. “So all sectors concerned with land can use it. No overlap and faults in the peat management,” said Eli.

Meanwhile, the president’s special staff for climate change, Agus Purnomo said that peat is the main carbon storage in Indonesia. About 60 percent of total carbon stored in the land while other 40 percent is in the forest.

While peat area reached 15 million hectares. “However, the management and its utilization is still very weak, even continued to suffer degradation and damage,” said Agus. Januar Hakam.

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