06/12/2022 - Community based peatland management Indonesia

This case study documents the experiences, results, and lessons learned from the Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) project undertaken by Wetland International in Indonesia with funding from the Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG-INTPA), European Commission (EC). The objective is to upscale community resilience through Eco-DRR activities in selected areas of Indonesia.

The project was implemented from May 2019 to June 2022 in two villages: Muara Manompas and Terapung Raya of South Tapanuli district in Northern Sumatera. These areas were selected because they experience frequent prolonged fooding, peat fires, and land subsidence due to desiccated peatlands that are prone to fire. The frequent and massive fires caused by peatlands over-drainage effect millions of hectares and cause enormous economic damage and human suffering (particularly health impacts and loss of livelihoods). As most peatlands are located in tidal and lowland areas, subsidence will often lead to increased and prolonged fooding of these areas, ultimately resulting in loss of productivity and abandonment. This will enhance fre risks in the dry season, increase poverty, and reduce resilience of the communities that cannot go elsewhere.

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