Research need
This project aims to ascertain and create the biophysical information required by community and government stakeholders to equitably and sustainably restore, monitor and manage Indonesia's tropical peatlands.
The peatlands of Indonesia are a globally important terrestrial carbon resource and an important area of biodiversity. They are also significantly degraded and are exposed to fire risks that cause a smoke haze over large parts of South-East Asia during the dry season, and particularly in El Nino years. Restoring peatlands, reducing the incidence of fire, and ensuring peatland environments are sustained is important for the economic stability of Indonesia and for the health and wellbeing of a large population in Indonesia and in the region.
Despite significant investment in restoration programs, there is a lack of experience and knowledge related to peatland restoration, resulting in limited evidence of successful restoration efforts. This project aims to address the gap by understanding the biophysical information needs of stakeholders and supporting integration of knowledge and information sharing within the institutional and governance arrangements around peatland restoration and management. It will contribute to a body of work supported by ACIAR that will provide knowledge, build capacity and deliver methods, processes and tools for peatland restoration. It will improve the targeting and efficacy of efforts to assess, restore and maintain healthy peatland environments and provide meaningful livelihoods to peatland communities.
