In a meeting on peatland restoration, President Joko Widodo reminded related ministries and institutions of his aim to restore 2 million hectares of peatlands by 2020. The government target for peatland restoration in 2017 is 400 hectares.
In this meeting, he asked all ministries, institutions, and government officials to fully support the achievement of this restoration target in 2017. He explained:
“To achieve the 2017 restoration target, BRG cannot work on its own; it needs full support from all ministries, institutions, and regional governments.”
President Joko Widodo further added two key points related to peatland restoration efforts:
- Based on the Peatland Restoration Map, peatland restoration must be undertaken in areas designated for cultivation, ranging from production forests to non-forest estates, with and without permits. Restoration is also necessary in 685 thousand hectares of protected and conservation forests. In regard to peatland restoration in cultivation areas, President Jokowi emphasized the importance of:
- Socialization and education for peatland communities
- The involvement of private sector actors and BUMN (State-Owned Enterprises) holding concessions
- Strict enforcement of environmental laws
- Evaluation of concession permits issued to those who burn or cultivate land in protected peatland areas
- The president requested that all policies or permits that ministries issue regarding exploitation of peatlands — particularly the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Agriculture — must preserve peatlands’ hydrological function and the prosperity of local communities.
For the approximately 6.1 million hectares of intact peatlands, President Joko Widodo requested that protection is performed to the maximum. He emphasized,
“No more new permit issuance, apart from permit for ecosystem restoration with community. And for intact peatlands with concession permits, I request that they are stipulated to be protected zone of the companies."