Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan (RPPEG)
Indonesia has a very large, fourth largest peatland in the world after Canada, Russia and the United States. Peat Ecosystem can produce various kinds of food products, boards, medicines, and so on. In the form of environmental services, Peat Ecosystem is able to regulate the water system and climate balance (carbon storage). Indonesia holds peat carbon stocks reaching 46 giga tons, or about 8-14% of the carbon contained in the world's peat.
The Republic of Indonesia Government Regulation Number 71 of 2014 as amended by the Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 57 of 2016 concerning Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management mandates the need to develop a Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan. Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan, called RPPEG, is a written planning document that contains potential, Peat Ecosystem problem, as well as its protection and management efforts within a certain period of time.
Rencana Perlindungan dan Pengelolaan Ekosistem Gambut (RPPEG) merupakan sebuah upaya corrective action dalam pengelolaan ekosistem gambut. Indonesia pernah mengalami kebarakaran hutan dan lahan gambut pada tahun 2015 lalu yang mencapai 2,6 juta hektar. Hal ini merupakan bukti dari salah urusnya pengelolaan ekosistem gambut. Pembukaan lahan gambut secara masif disertai pembuatan saluran drainase menyebabkan lahan gambut menjadi kering dan mudah terbakar.
RPPEG is expected to be able to prevent peat ecosystems damages through good management of peat ecosystems. RPPEG directs that peat ecosystems protection and management carried out in a systematic, harmonious and synergistic manner with various other development plans, such as the Long Term Development Plan (RPJP), Medium Term Development Plan (RPJM), Spatial Plan (RTRW), National Forestry Plan (RKTN), and other strategic or sectoral plans, both at the national and regional levels.
Preparation of RPPEG
The Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan is prepared in accordance with the level of authority, including the national RPPEG by the Minister, the provincial RPPEG by the Governor, and the district/city RPPEG by the Regent/Mayor. RPPEG’s drafting process is hierarchical in which the drafting process at the lower level refers to the planning document above.
The content of Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan include the use of Peat Ecosystems, control of Peat Ecosystems, preservation of Peat Ecosystems, and adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
The first step taken in the protection and management of peat ecosystems is an inventory of peat ecosystems, followed by the determination of the function of peat ecosystems as a protection and cultivation function. The map of peat ecosystems function and its existing conditions will have implications and problems that can affect the utilization of peat ecosystems carried out by various sectors, regions and communities.
In this regard, the Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan must accommodate various interests (social, economic and environmental) by taking into the diversity of characters and ecological functions, distribution of population, distribution of natural resource potential, local wisdom, community aspirations, climate change, and spatial plans to ensure the sustainability of peat ecosystem functions that can support the lives of both current and future generations.
RPPEG Preparation Activities
Article 19 of the Republic of Indonesia Government Regulation Number 71 of 2014 concerning Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management mandates the preparation of guidelines for the preparation, determination and amendment of RPPEG. The guideline aims to provide references in the preparation, determination, amendment of RPPEG, monitoring and evaluation, as well as financing for the Government and Regional Government. Directorate of Peat Degradation Control, Directorate General for Pollution and Environmental Degradation Control is preparing a draft Ministerial of Environment and Forestry regulation on guidelines for preparation, determination and amendment of RPPEG.
After the determination of Map of the National Peat Peat Ecosystem Function 1: 250,000 scale through Decree of the Minister of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia Number SK.130 / MENLHK / SETJEN / PKL.0 / 2/2017, Directorate of Peat Degradation Control is preparing a National RPPEG. At the same time, this is as an exercise in the implementation of regulation design on guidelines for the preparation, determination and amendment of RPPEG. The stages of RPPEG preparation are carried out through data and information collection, data processing and analysis, as well as the preparation of potential, problems, direction of policies, strategies, programs and activities on the use, control, maintenance, and adaptation and mitigation of climate change from the Peat Ecosystem.
At the same time, in order to improve the understanding of the parties regarding the preparation of Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan, especially for the government and regional governments, there was also a dissemination of the policy on Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management and public consultation on the drafting of the National RPPEG. From the central government elements, the main parties involved include Bappenas, Ministry of ATR, Ministry of PUPR, and Ministry of Home Affairs. Then from the elements of regional government, namely the agency that deals with the environmental sector of the province and district/city that has a peat ecosystem.
In order to create a pilot project for peat protection and management planning at the base level, in this case KHG, the Directorate of Peat Degradation Control also compiles RPPEG KHG model. In one regency, it is possible to have several Peat Hydrological Units (KHG), which have different conditions, potential resources, and ecosystem problems, so that they also need different protection and management. Therefore, RPPEG at the level of KHG or RPPEG KHG becomes important and needed to be considered in the preparation of District RPPEG. In 2018 the model of RPPEG KHG of Kapuas River - Terentang River, Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan Province was prepared. This KHG is one of the KHG that has been assigned a map of its function on a scale of 1: 50,000.
In order to prepare guidelines for the preparation of the RPPEG and the draft of National Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan (RPPEGN) and to capture input and refine the draft, Directorate of Peat Degradation Control, Directorate General for Pollution and Environmental Degradation Control receives input from the parties in the preparation. This input can be submitted by telephone (021) 8580110, 8580067-69 and emailing rppeg.pkg@gmail.com.
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