Indonesia

Indonesia is home to some of the world’s largest tropical peatland ecosystems, concentrated mainly in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua. These waterlogged landscapes have accumulated organic material over thousands of years and contain vast amounts of carbon, while supporting unique and highly diverse ecosystems.

Over recent decades, large areas of Indonesian peatland have been drained and converted for agriculture, plantations and other land uses. When peat dries out, it becomes vulnerable to oxidation, subsidence and severe fires, releasing large amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere. The restoration of Indonesia’s peatlands therefore focuses strongly on rewetting, restoring vegetation and preventing fire, while finding sustainable ways for local communities to use these landscapes.

For Restore Carbon, Indonesia represents an important opportunity to explore how innovative approaches to long-term carbon storage can contribute to the restoration and protection of these globally significant peatland ecosystems.