The Indonesian government recently revealed that they are the third largest contributer to greenhouse gases in the world. 80% of this is due to large-scale deforestation and significant peatland loss in the area. Projected levels see the gases reaching 2.3 gigatons (billion metric tons) by 2030.

In Southwest Asia, the peatswamps often lose their soil carbon stocks due to drainage for logging, agriculture, palm oil and pulp plantations. Once drained, microbiological processes turn the organic carbon into carbon dioxide.

Wetlands International, an NGO that has been strongly advocating the need to address peatland degradation, has welcomed the acknowledgment of the issue by the Indonesian government. But, while the government does acknowledge this, they have yet to cease their work in the forests and the peatlands.

In fact, the Indonesian government recently issued a decree to allow further development in the peatlands, and they still issue permits to allow the conversion of natural forests and peatlands to pulp wood plantations.

Marcel Silvius, Programme Manager of Wetlands International, says that while they welcome the recognition of the Indonesian government of the impact that the peatland degradation is having, they should also recognise the need to react now and end policies that allow deforestation and peatland degradation.

With peatland loss having such a profound impact on greenhouse houses, one would think that somebody, like the UN, let’s say, should say something about it. Unfortunately peatland emissions are not addressed through the polices of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Deforestation on the other hand is on their agenda with their REDD Scheme (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation), but this seems to focus on the above ground biomass, while organic peat soils contribute to anywhere between 30-40% of all emissions from ecosystem loss.

Hopefully this new information will help to promote new policies that will place this urgent issue high on the agenda.

To find out more visit www.wetlands.org