Peat, the Undervalued Cinderella

Indonesia has extensive peatlands, but many people are not aware of peat’s benefits. 

1. British consumers use three million liters of peat annually, most of which is imported from Ireland and Baltic countries. Farmers mix peat in compost fertilizers used on their agricultural land. Peat has many benefits for humans. For example, it can be used to fertilize food sources and tree seedlings. It is used in the seeding process, because peat is rich in nutrients and holds water, which opens the oxygen supply to plants’ roots. It helps trees grow faster and healthier. 
2. In the UK in the 1970s, peat replaced soil as one of the main components of compost due to its nutrient value and water storage capacity. Peat has the ability to assist the plant growth process, which is why many plants grow well in peatland. 
3. Peat can be used as an alternative fuel source and a raw material in bricks. Activated charcoal bricks can be made by mixing tapioca adhesive with peat before drying. 
4. Based on preliminary research conducted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, peat beds that are at least two meters deep can also be used as an energy source.  
5. Peat is likewise useful in accelerating the reforestification process, because its rich nutrient contents make plants grow easily. 
6. Peat can only grow one millimeter per year, so it takes more than 9,000 years to grow ten meters of peat. However, the Earth’s current peat reserves could run out in less than 50 years. Consequently, effective peat management is critical to ensuring peat is not needlessly depleted. 

Based on these facts, we can see that peat has abundant benefits and is a necessity for many people. Peat is beneficial for agriculture, provides fuel and other energy sources, and supports reforestation. However, many people still believe that peat renders land useless, and waste it by converting peatlands to farms, plantations, and even settlements. This disregard for peatland is why the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) describes it as an undervalued “Cinderella” habitat. 

It is time to “give back Cinderella’s slipper” and make peatland beautiful again, returning peat ecosystems to their natural balance. Restoring peat will also restore its critical functions in the ecosystem.