Katingan Peatland Restoration and Conservation Project

How it works

Peatland forests are rare, forming as a result of a slow process that begins with the silting up of a body of water or the swamping of a dry area. An important characteristic of these forests is their predisposition to capture and store a high amount of CO₂, which is higher than in traditional forests. Peatlands are often drained for agricultural use; as the peat dries, it becomes a fuel. After drainage, residual biomass is removed (often through fires) to balance the acidity of the soil to make the land suitable for agriculture.

Where does it develop?

Katingan Peatland Restoration was developed to protect an area of 150,000 hectares by preserving the natural ecosystem that annually captures 7.5 million tons of CO₂.

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Certifications

Biodiversity also finds refuge in the natural ecosystem of Katingan Peatland Restoration, Indonesia is home to multiple endangered species such as orangutans, rhinos, and tigers. Protecting a wide variety of animals (studies have found more than 390 species) has enabled the project to achieve Verra CCB (Climate, Community and Biodiversity) certification.

Benefits

Local communities actively participate in the project in fact without their support the project would not have started. As a result of the funding received some of the local community members have obtained jobs. Katingan Peatland is not limited to forest protection but takes part in social initiatives such as poverty alleviation.

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The project in brief

- Preservation of biodiversity
- Economic and social development
- Improvement of air and soil conditions