Enviro News Asia, Belém — The Forestry Interim Secretariat of the International Tropical Peatlands Centre (ITPC) emphasized the critical role of tropical peatland restoration in achieving Indonesia’s Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 target and advancing global climate-mitigation efforts. The message was delivered during a Dialogue Session titled “Integrating Peatland Restoration and FOLU within the Global Carbon Market Framework” held on 21 November 2025 at the Indonesia Pavilion, COP30, in Belém.
The session highlighted the need to strengthen tropical peatland governance as international carbon-market mechanisms expand. Speakers noted that carbon-market incentives could accelerate restoration and emission-reduction efforts in peat-rich countries.
Indonesia manages approximately 24 million hectares of Peatland Hydrological Units, 74 percent of which lie within state forest areas. These ecosystems store an estimated 89 gigatons of carbon—roughly equivalent to two decades of global fossil-fuel emissions. Effective restoration and management could curb annual emissions by 1.3–2.6 GtCO₂e, positioning peatlands as a central pillar in meeting the FOLU Net Sink 2030 target.
The dialogue brought together representatives from international institutions engaged in tropical peatland issues, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Greifswald Mire Centre (GMC), the Congo Peat Project, and the Indonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI).
Martin Klause, UNEP Director for Climate Change, stated that South-South cooperation on peatland management can strengthen climate diplomacy and broaden access to mitigation and adaptation finance. “Carbon-market incentives are expected to reinforce peatland restoration efforts and enhance the FOLU sector’s contribution to achieving the NDC,” he said.
FAO’s Amy Duchelle outlined lessons from tropical countries that have reduced emissions in forestry and land-use sectors. Simon Lewis, Head of the Congo Peat Project at the University of Leeds, stressed that climate strategies in the Congo Basin must be science-based to deliver lasting impact. Similarly, Franziska Tanneberger of the Greifswald Mire Centre underscored the need for scientific evidence to guide policy, capacity development, and governance in an evolving carbon-market landscape.
From a technical standpoint, JICA expert and Japan Peatland Society President Mitsuru Osaki affirmed that Indonesia’s use of Tier 3 MRV has improved carbon-accounting accuracy in the FOLU sector and must continue to align with national and international standards. APHI representative Dian Novarina highlighted the private sector’s role in peatland restoration and its opportunities to link with global carbon-market platforms to secure long-term financing.
Closing the session, Bambang Supriyanto, Deputy Chair of the Forestry Interim Secretariat ITPC, called for stronger leadership among tropical peatland countries. He emphasized that members of the Forestry Interim Secretariat ITPC—including Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and Peru—must emerge as “peatland country champions” to strengthen climate diplomacy and mobilize global funding for large-scale restoration and improved governance of tropical peat forests. (*)
